( CNN ) -- A Sri Lankan journalist who was fatally shot last year has been recognized by the International Press Institute as a hero for freedom of the press , the group announced Thursday . The institute said it is naming Lasantha Wickrematunge , who was editor of Sri Lankan newspaper The Sunday Leader , as an IPI World Press Freedom Hero . Wickrematunge , a fierce critic of the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger militants , was shot dead near Colombo on January 8 , 2009 . More than a year later , the killing has not been solved , IPI said . `` The murder of Wickrematunge was a shocking reminder of the dangers facing Sri Lanka 's courageous journalists , for whom death is all too often the ultimate form of censorship , '' IPI Director David Dadge said in a written statement . `` By naming him an IPI World Press Freedom Hero , IPI honors his memory and his sacrifice , and sends the strongest message possible to the Sri Lankan government that the international community will not forget his murder and that the perpetrators must be found and punished . '' Three days after his death , The Sunday Leader published a column in which Wickrematunge had predicted his own death . The column anticipated his killing by government forces and defended the craft of journalism in his country , which is enduring a bitter civil war . Wickrematunge wrote that he was twice assaulted and his house was fired upon . `` Despite the government 's sanctimonious assurances , there was never a serious police inquiry into the perpetrators of these attacks , and the attackers were never apprehended , '' he wrote in the column . `` In all of these cases , I have reason to believe the attacks were inspired by the government . When finally I am killed , it will be the government that kills me . '' Asked last year about threats to journalists , Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa voiced assurance that no journalist or media institution had cause to fear any threats or attacks by the government , according to a statement on the government 's official Web site . `` The government had no interest whatever in seeking disgrace through any attacks on the media , '' he said , and he assured media leaders that the culprits would be captured and brought to justice , the statement said . Wickrematunge 's brother , Lal Wickrematunge -- chairman of Leader Publications Ltd. , which includes The Sunday Leader -- told IPI that the slain editor had known he was in danger . `` But he continued in his journey unbowed and unafraid . He felt total commitment to his work , '' Lal Wickrematunge said . Lasantha Wickrematunge 's killing spurred a demonstration in Colombo by 4,000 people , which Reporters Without Borders said was the largest since Rajapaksa took power in 2005 . He was re-elected to a second term last month . Sinhalese-dominated government forces have been working to eradicate the last vestiges of Tamil Tiger separatists in Jaffna peninsula , a rebel-held northern region . The 25-year-old civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead . According to IPI figures , 17 journalists have been killed in Sri Lanka over the past decade . Two of them were killed in 2009 . Wickrematunge will be among 60 World Press Freedom Heroes honored in a ceremony in September , IPI said .
Lasantha Wickrematunge was editor of Sri Lankan paper The Sunday Times . Wickrematunge was shot dead near Colombo on January 15 , 2007 . He was a fierce critic of Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger militants .