US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1417

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 - Peace Process 
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