Nation Mourns for Kadirgamar

FOREIGN MINISTER Lakshman Kadirgamar, was assassinated by a sniper bullet fired by an unidentified gunman in Colombo last night around 11.35.

The government today declared a period of mourning as a mark of respect for the slain Foreign Minister. The mourning period is to be continued until the funeral is over.

Meanwhile Police have arrested two people in connection with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. "We took into custody two people from the nearby area," a police source said. No details of their identities were available.

Meanwhile Police have arrested two people in connection with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. "We took into custody two people from the nearby area," a police source said. No details of their identities were available.

Kadirgamar, a close confidante of President Kumaratunga, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital Colombo critically wounded with head and chest injuries. Three doctors had carried out emergency surgery to save Kadirgamar's life, but he succumbed to his injuries, sources told. Police indicate that the gunman had shot the Minister from higher elevation close to his heavily guarded private residence at Bullers Lane, where he used to go for his daily swim. He has just got out of the swimming pool, when he was shot.

According to informed sources, the shots had been fired from a neighbouring house of a Tamil resident where the sniper was allegedly mounted.

Kadirgamar was a man highly respected by foreign leaders and Governments. One of the top class orators especially in English, next to President Ranasinghe Premadasa, he was the most high profile figure assassinated.

Kadirgamar, President's Counsel, entered Parliament for the first time in 1994 when the People's Alliance Government was formed under the leadership of President Kumaratunga.

Born in April 12, 1932, he was educated at Trinity College, Kandy where he won the Ryde Gold Medal for the Best All Round Student. He passed out from the University of Ceylon in 1953 and was placed First Class in the Advocates Intermediate Examination the same year.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1955 winning First Class at the Advocate Final Examination of the Ceylon Law College. He was admitted to the United Kingdom Bar as a Barrister at Law, Inner Temple.

He was awarded B. Lit by the University of Oxford where he served as the President of the Oxford Union.

He was honoured by the Oxford Union by unveiling his portrait at the Union Hall. He practised at the Ceylon Bar from 1960 to 1971 and before the Privy Council, London. He was also a consultant to the International Labour Organisation in Geneva in 1974.

He was a world authority on Intellectual Property Law and was the Director of the Intellectual Property Organisation from 1976 to 1988.

Kadirgamar was 72 years old and father of two. He entered Parliament as a National List MP served as the Foreign Minister in the United People's Freedom Alliance Government at the time of his demise. (FS)