Lakshman Kadirgamar

Lakshman Kadirgamar (April 12, 1932 – August 12, 2005 in Colombo, Sri Lanka) was a Sri Lankan politician. He was foreign minister of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2001 and again from April 2004 until his assassination in August 2005.

Death

On August 12, 2005, around 2300 (UTC+6), Kadirgamar was shot by an unidentified sniper in Colombo as he was getting out of the swimming pool at his private residence. Early reports indicate he was shot twice in the head, once in the neck, and once in the body. He was rushed to the National Hospital, where he died. An anonymous government source indicates that he died as a result of his wounds. The BBC reports that he underwent emergency surgery before death a short time later. http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-12T192334Z_01_EIC269752_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-CRIME-SRILANKA-MINISTER-C-COL.XMLhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4147196.stm

Related Topics:
August 12 - 2005 - UTC - Sniper - Colombo - Swimming pool - BBC - Surgery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando said two snipers were hiding in buildings near Kadirgamar's heavily guarded home in the capital's diplomatic district. Though officially there is no word yet on the identity of his assassin, Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando blamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam according to Reuters. http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-12T194424Z_01_EIC266292_RTRUKOC_0_UK-CRIME-SRILANKA-SHOOTING.xml It has been believed that he may have been on the hitlist of LTTE as early as 1994, given his successful efforts in getting that organization banned internationally.

Related Topics:
Chandra Fernando - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - 1994

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Tamil Tigers, however, have denied responsibility for the killing and put the blame on other forces opposed to the cease fire agreement. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1460673,000500020002.htm The Tamil Tigers in denying responsibility have pointed to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist political party and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a Sinhala nationalist political party who are opposed to any concessions to the LTTE, a terrorist group banned in many countries including in USA and UK. The JVP, a former militant organization that was involvement in terrorism, is opposed to the current cease-fire agreement. The Tamil Tigers stated that any damage to their international reputation by Lakshman Kadirgamar was already done and it would not risk the cease-fire agreement by carrying out this assassination. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7752_1462206,004100180006.htm

Related Topics:
Cease fire agreement - Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna - Jathika Hela Urumaya

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, JVP and JHU were strong supporters of Kadiragamar for his strong stand against the LTTE. Besides, neither the JVP (after giving up violence in 1989) nor the JHU have been seriously accused or found guilty of any assassinations. In fact, Kadirgamer himself was a vocal critic of the ceasefire agreement http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4147482.stm, and for this reason, one of the demands of JVP in forming a coalition government with PA was that Kadirgamar be named as the Prime Minister, instead of popular Sinlaha MP Mahinda Rajapakse http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?artid=15615&catid=79.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

LTTE's denial is not likely to be taken seriously in the international arena. LTTE initially issued a similar denial when it assassinated former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, but now officially accepts that the assassination was carried out by them. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FG10Df03.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mr Kadirgamar on many occasions mentioned the LTTE's threats to his life. Speaking to The Hindu, he said "They can get me anytime. I get very serious reports things are hotting up".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/13/stories/2005081318810100.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Hindu editorial on 15/08/2005 strongly condemned LTTE and held it responsible for the assassination. "There is not the slightest doubt that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam planned and executed this fiendish crime. The highly accomplished Mr. Kadirgamar was known to be at the top of the LTTE's hit list, just below President Chandrika Kumaratunga"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/15/stories/2005081501741000.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(September 5) Sri Lankan police have arrested two Tamils, Muttiah Sahadevan alias Devan (Kadirgamar's neighbour's gardener) and Isidor Arokya Nathar alias Babu . They have confessed to having met the infamous Charles of the LTTE intelligence and helping out the two assassins. This is seen by many analysts as proof that the LTTE was behind his assassination as originally suspected. http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=15543

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

International reaction

Neighbouring India condemned what the foreign ministry described as a "terrorist crime" and offered its full support.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who last met Mr Kadirgamar in June, condemned the assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister as a "senseless murder and vicious act of terror" and urged Sri Lankans not to let it lead to resumed civil war. She praised Mr Kadirgamar as a man of "dignity, honour and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to Sri Lanka".

Related Topics:
US - Condoleezza Rice

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency: "Sri Lanka has lost a deeply respected statesman dedicated to peace and national unity."

Related Topics:
UN - Kofi Annan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer paid tribute to Mr Kadirgamar saying he played a key role in bringing forward the peace process in Sri Lanka. "Lakshman Kadirgamar was an eminent statesman and a distinguished representative of Sri Lanka," he said. "He was a man of moderation who sought the path of peace and worked tirelessly for his country."

Related Topics:
Australia - Alexander Downer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Berlin, 14 August, (Asiantribune.com): The Killing of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka was a senseless and cowardice act of the LTTE terrorists and those responsible has to be arrested and brought before the justice said Joschka Fisher, the Foreign Minister of Germany.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Peace brokers Norway also condemned the assasination, with Foreign Minister Jan Petersen describing it as "an atrocious crime and a tragedy for Sri Lanka."

Related Topics:
Norway - Jan Petersen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~