Kadirgamar on a diplomatic visit to France, January 1996.
Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar (April 12, 1932 – August 12, 2005) 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 supposedly by the LTTE.
Early life
Kadirgamar was a Tamil Christian but was a great grand son of a Tamil Hindu who converted to Christianity. Although he was born a Christian, he followed principles of Buddhism. He had a Statue of Lord Buddha in each of the rooms in his official residence and was a regular visitor of temples. He was born in Manipay, Jaffna. He was educated at Trinity College (Kandy), and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University of Ceylon in 1953. He also had a B.Lit. from Oxford University, where he was a President of the Oxford Union and later, a honorary fellow of Balliol College. He was admitted to the Ceylon Bar in 1955 and to the United Kingdom Bar in 1958 as a Barrister at Law, Inner Temple. He practiced law at the Ceylon Bar and in London until 1974, when he became a consultant to the International Labour Organization in Geneva. Kadirgamar was married three times in his life and was married to Sugandi when he died. He had several children from his previous marriages.
Political career
Kadirgamar speaking at the U.N
Although he had never been elected and had never addressed a political rally, he was selected as national list MP in 1994 on the Peoples Alliance list. He was Foreign Minister in the PA government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. After the defeat of the government in 2001, he became special adviser on Foreign Affairs to the President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga. Despite himself being a Tamil(Although he was neither able to converse nor communicate in Tamil, he always called him a Tamilian), he strongly supported the Bandaranaike government's policy of not negotiating with the Tamil Tigers insurgents in northern Sri Lanka. He has also been critical of the Norwegian mediators in the period 2001 to 2004, claiming they have been biased towards the Tamil Tigers. He was further responsible for getting LTTE banned as a Terrorist organization in U.S, U.K, and Australia. His critics say that he is a "political coolie" (paid employee) for the Bandaranaike family.
In 2003 Kadirgamar was a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, but was defeated by Don McKinnon of New Zealand.
Following the victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance in the April 2, 2004 Sri Lankan legislative elections, he was mentioned as a candidate for Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, but on April 6 President Kumaratunga appointed Mahinda Rajapakse to the post. Four days later, however, he became foreign minister again in the new cabinet.
International Missions
[Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar is recognized as the intellect, who made the Sri Lankan foreign policy known to the world]
Kadirgamar with Collin Powel (U.S)
Kadirgamar at an international delegation
Religious
Kadirgamar was born a Christian but he brought a proposal to the UN the "Vesak Day" as an international celebration day. The full moon day which of Lord Buddha's birth (prince Siddhartha), enlightment and attain Nibbana.
Humanitarian
Kadirgamar was a humanitarian and expressed concern for war-affected children worldwide except in his own country. He responded to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees saying "They should be more concerned with malaria and mosquitoes - not domestic political issues" when they expressed concern over Navaly St Peters Church bombing which killed over 150 Tamil refugees.
Death
Kadirgamar's assassination outraged the world
On August 12, 2005, around 2300 (UTC+6), Kadirgamar was shot by a member of the LTTE sniper gang 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 instantly died. His hospital report indicates that he died as a result of his wounds.
Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando said two snipers belonging to the LTTE were hiding in buildings near Kadirgamar's heavily guarded home in the capital's diplomatic district. There was enough evidence that Lakshman Kadirgamar's assasins were from LTTE, Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando blamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam & it made headlines around the world (Reuters) [1] It has been suggested that he may have been on a target for the LTTE as early as 1994, given his successful efforts in getting that organization banned internationally. The ruthless assassination of the foreign minister outraged the international community who took an even harder stance on the Tigers.
The Tamil Tigers have denied responsibility for the killing and put the blame on the forces opposed to peace process in Sri Lanka. 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. However the international community did not buy into these allegations, as European Union went ahead in banning the LTTE as a terrorist organization from operating in their countries.
Protest carried against the killing of Kadirgamar
A picture from a protest held in London, England
The assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar sparked rotests world wide (High level protests in Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, U.S, U.K, E.U, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy and Middleast) asking for a full international ban on the LTTE.
The LTTE's denial has been largely ignored by the international community. The group initially issued a denial following the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, but Indian investigations suggested otherwise. Later in 2002, LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham, when asked whether they still deny the assassination, merely said "I know this is a sensitive issue, not only for you but for us as well. You are raising an issue that happened 10 years ago. We want to have friendly relations with India." without any denial [2]. Mr Kadirgamar on many occasions mentioned the LTTE's threats to his life. Speaking to The Hindu, he said "They [LTTE] can get me anytime. I get very serious reports things are hotting up". [3]
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 [LTTE] 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" [4]
(September 5) Sri Lankan police arrested two Tamils, Muttiah Sahadevan alias Devan (Kadirgamar's neighbour's gardener) and Isidor Arokya Nathar alias Babu . They have confessed to having met Charles of the LTTE intelligence and helping out two alleged assassins. This is seen in some quarters as proof that the LTTE was behind his assassination. [5]
International reaction
Sri Lankans launched a web site against the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar - www.kadirgamar.net
Neighbouring India condemned what the foreign ministry described as a "terrorist crime" and offered its full support.
U.S. 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".
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."
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."
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 assassination, with Foreign Minister Jan Petersen describing it as "an atrocious crime and a tragedy for Sri Lanka."
Anecdotes
Kadirgamar was known for his combative and ready wit. When Shane Warne justified Australia's decision to not play in Colombo during the 1996 Cricket World Cup due to the terrorist threat by saying that he can be targeted by a drive-in bomber while he is shopping, Kadirgamar is reported to have said "Shopping is for sissies."
Kadirgamar commented later "There was a storm of protest in Australia. A TV interviewer asked me whether I had ever played cricket.I said I had played before he was born - without helmets and thigh guards, on matting wickets that were full of holes and stones, and I had my share of broken bones to show of it. My friend the Australian foreign minister was drawn into the fray. He phoned me. We decided to cool things down... When the whole episode was over I sent a bouquet of flowers to my Australian counterpart. Flowers are also for sissies."
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