MORATUWA — 1990 · Unsolved Case
The Murder of Richard de Zoysa
Richard de Zoysa, 32, a journalist, broadcaster, poet and actor, was taken from his home in the Welikadawatte housing estate in Colombo by armed men on the night of 17–18 February 1990. He was a correspondent for the Inter Press Service and had recently been posted to its Lisbon bureau. His body was found the next day on Lunawa beach in Moratuwa, about 20 km south of Colombo. In 2005 three police officers were tried, but the Colombo High Court acquitted them all, finding the prosecution's evidence contradictory and not credible. The murder remains unsolved and a symbol of impunity for attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka.
- Date
- 1990
- Place
- Western Province, Sri Lanka, Moratuwa, LK
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 6.7881, 79.8828 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 18 February 1990De Zoysa was taken from his home in Colombo.
- February 1990His body was found on Lunawa beach in Moratuwa.
- 2005Three police officers were tried.
- 9 November 2005The Colombo High Court acquitted the accused.
Sources
- Colombo Telegraph — Richard was murdered 22 years ago colombotelegraph.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Richard de Zoysa en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Colombo Telegraph
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.