Former Minister Mervyn Silva's statement to the CID - in which he dubbed ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa of conspiracy as the man behind Lasantha Wickrematunga's murder - will play a key role in the renewed investigation into the brutal assassination of the former Sunday Leader Editor, a top government spokesperson told Asian Mirror on Wednesday.

Based on that statement, he said, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will record a statement from former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

He also added that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's "infamous" response to the news of Wickrematunga's murder would also be investigated.

According to Lasantha's wife Sonali Samarasinghe's account, when the journalist was killed, Rajapaksa had been attending a meeting with representatives of four coconut industry associations.

The meeting - which was held on January 08 - was attended by the Coconut Product Exporters Association, the Coir Products Association, the Horticultural Exporters' Association and the Poultry Association where representatives of these bodies were making presentations setting out the current problems facing exporters.

"While the Coconut Product Association presentation was being made by its representatives Rajapakse was to get a phone call. He would listen attentively interjecting only once to say 'oluwatada wedune' before terminating the call " Samarasinghe wrote in an article that was published subsequent to her husband's death.

After a pause of a few seconds,Samarasinghe said, Rajapaksa had given the green light to coconut industry representatives to proceed with the meeting.

Meanwhile,  Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday confirmed that the killing of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga would be probed under the new government.