SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MINISTER KILLED BY SUSPECTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001417

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2015
TAGS: PTER PGOV CE LTTE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MINISTER KILLED BY SUSPECTED
LTTE ASSASSINS

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES F. ENTWISTLE. REASON: 1.4 (B,D
).


1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was
shot by suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
assassins at his Colombo home between 10:30 - 11:00 p.m.
local time on August 12. He died shortly after midnight
August 13. The cold-blooded killing of this prominent,
vocally anti-LTTE politician can be construed as nothing
other than a carefully calculated broadside aimed at ending
the ceasefire. As of 2:00 a.m. August 13, Colombo streets
were calm, albeit heavily guarded by security forces. The
Embassy has activated its warden system, advising Americans
to exercise extreme caution in the days ahead. At this time,
we do not foresee any threats against Americans, but will
continue to monitor the situation closely. End summary.


2. (SBU) Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot by
suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) assassins
at his Colombo home, reportedly as he was taking a late-night
swim, at about 10:30 - 11:00 p.m. local time August 12.
(Note: The residence of an Embassy officer is on the same
street.) Kadirgamar, who suffered one gunshot wound to the
head and one to the chest, was rushed to Colombo General
Hospital, where he died shortly after midnight August 13.
According to media sources, the shots were fired from a
neighboring house overlooking the pool. Two suspects were
reported arrested at about 2:00 a.m. local time on August 13.


3. (C) Shortly after Kadirgamar's death was announced,
Charge' spoke with Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara and
conveyed condolences. Palihakkara expressed appreciation and
asked that the U.S. condemn the assassination strongly.
Norwegian Ambassador Brattskar told Charge' shortly after
Kadirgamar's death that he has no doubt that the
assassination was the work of the LTTE and said he is at a
loss to understand why the terrorist organization would carry
out such an attack now.


4. (SBU) The Embassy activated its warden system in the
hours immediately following Kadirgamar's death. As of 2:00
a.m., the local streets remained calm and relatively
deserted--except for the increased presence of security
forces. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared August
13 until the day of Kadirgamar's (as-yet unscheduled) funeral
as days of national mourning.


5. (C) Comment: Throughout the course of the insurgency,
the Tigers have ruthlessly and systematically eliminated
scores of moderate Tamil politicians who opposed their
terrorism; Kadirgamar, on the Tiger hit list for the past 10
years, had been one of the very few remaining. His killing
bears all the hallmarks of a classic Tiger hit--brutal,
meticulously planned and flawlessly orchestrated. During an
August 11 meeting with Charge' and visiting SFRC Professional
Staff Member Jonah Blank, Kadirgamar chatted casually about
the recent arrest of two men who had been casing his private
residence while posing as tourists and referred to some of
the other LTTE attempts against his life over the years.
Kadirgamar had always maintained a high level of security but
in conversation was quite fatalistic about the possibility of
an assassination attempt one day succeeding.


6. (C) Comment (continued): There seems to be little doubt
that the Foreign Minister's assassination is a deliberate
attempt by the Tigers to scuttle the foundering peace
process. There could be several reasons why they have chosen
this particular moment to do so--anger at the joint mechanism
on tsunami relief being eviscerated by numerous court
challenges, disquiet about possible elections, a
determination, however reached, that they can gain nothing
more from negotiations. Whatever the reason, Kadirgamar's
killing has only strengthened the hand of anti-peace forces
in the south--like the Sinhalese nationalist Janatha Vimukthi
Peramuna (JVP). At this time, we do not foresee any threats
against Americans, but will continue to monitor the situation
closely.
ENTWISTLE