The army intelligence sergeant arrested over the murder of former Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge was remanded till July 27 by the Maount Lavinia Magistrate's Court.

The CID was yesterday given court permission to detain and question him. He was produced before the Magistrate today and was ordered to be remanded.

Wickrematunge was murdered on January 8, 2009, while on his way to work. The police reopened the investigations in to the murder following the election victory of Maithripala Sirisena in 2015.

This is the first arrest made in connection with the incident.