Phone records wiped off device belonging to soldier who claimed he killed Lasantha

Police teams have found that records on the phone belonging to the soldier who killed himself last week, after claiming responsibility for the death of Lasantha Wickremetunga, have been wiped out.

Police have contracted the help of the mobile phone provider, to track down records of the deleted short message service (sms) and phone conversations the retired soldier had, in the days leading up to his death.

The body of 51-year-old Illandarige Jayamanne was found hanging in his house, alongside a note claiming responsibility for the murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga.

Lasantha Wickremetunga was murdered by armed men on his way to work on the morning of January 8, 2009.

The solider Illandarige Jayamanne had retired from service in 2007.

In his note Jayamanne had asked that Prem Ananda Udalagama, and ex-army intelligence officer, currently in custody as suspect in the murder of Lasantha Wickremetunga be released.

Prem Ananda Udalagama is also prime suspect in the assault of Upali Tennakoon, the Editor of the Rivira and Dinamina newspapers in January 2009, no less than two weeks after the murder of Wickremetunga.

Illandarige Jayamanne, a father-of-three, had been alone in his house at the time of his death. His wife is employed in the Middle East; his oldest son had been away at work.  

His younger son had been away in India attending a sporting event and his youngest at the home of a relative, studying.

The inquest conducted by Romesh Alagiyawanna, the Judicial Medical officer in Kegalle, ruled that death was due to asphyxiation from hanging.

Illandarige Jayamanne's older son Chathura Jayamanne confirmed the handwriting on the note claiming responsibility for the death of Wickremtunga, was his father's own. 

Police are also looking into why the ex-Army intelligence officer Prem Ananda Udalagama is refered to as Malinda Udalagama, in Illandarige Jayamanne's note.

The former soldier  Jayamanne, had been previously arrested for maintaining an armoury at a safe house at Millenium City, initial investigations revealed.