Mel Gunasekera, 40, was found murdered at her Colombo suburb home, police spokesman Superintendent Ajith Rohana said.
"Her parents and the brother found her murdered at around 8:15 this morning when they returned home after attending church service," Rohana said.
She had cut injuries on head and face, he said.
Six teams have been formed to investigate her murder.
Gunasekera, a well known business journalist, had served at Sunday Times, Lanka Business Online and also at the Colombo Bureau of the French news agency AFP.