The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot in the head outside his private residence in the city of Colombo. He was pronounced dead approximately an hour later after being rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Government officials in Sri Lanka immediately suspected the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE). Authorities say they arrested two members of the LTTE outside of Kadirgamar's office videotaping the area earlier this month.
The shooting took place late Friday night, local time. Kadirgamar had just finished swimming in his new residence. As he walked from the pool towards the house, three shots rang out. Kadirgamar was hit in the head and the chest.
He was quickly rushed to National Hospital for emergency surgery but doctors were unable to save his life.
An uneasy truce has existed between the government and the LTTE since 2002 but it had been strained due to ongoing violence as of late. It is almost certain that the truce will face further difficulties in the wake of today’s assassination.
