Killing a journalist because of their reporting should never be seen as an official state act, slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga's daughter, Ahimsa Wickrematunga said.

Her response came after the District Court of California dismissed her case against former Defence Secretary and SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa against the murder of her father.

"My lawyers and I will continue to fight to ensure perpetrators of these abuses do not escape justice,” Ahimsa Wickrematunge said, indicating that she would appeal against the US court decision on Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Ahimsa Wickrematunga filed a case against Rajapaksa in the Court of Central California, alleging his involvement in her father Lasantha Wickrematunge’s 2009 assassination. Rajapaksa was the Secretary to the Defence Ministry at the time of Wickrematunga's assassination.

On 27 June, a petition was filed on behalf of Rajapaksa before the District Court, requesting dismissal of Ahimsa Wickrematunge’s civil suit.