Eelam War IV - Assassinations

Assassinations

• Then Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, a Tamil who was highly respected by foreign diplomats and who had been sharply critical of the LTTE, was assassinated at his home on August 12, 2005, allegedly by an LTTE sniper. His assassination led to the marginalisation of the LTTE from the international community.
• The assassination of well renowned Tamil diplomat the Deputy Peace Secretariat General for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) Mr. Kethesh Loganathan on August 12, 2006 at Dehiwala by shooting at around 9:30 PM. He has been very keen to bring peace to the country also participated in Thimphu peace talks in 1980s. Rajapakse condemned the murder and blamed the LTTE.
• The assassination of the head Priest of the Santhiveli Pilleyar Kovil Rev Selliah Parameswaran Kurukkal on February 7, 2007 in his home Batticaloa. The LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government blamed each other for this murder.
• UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheshwaran
• A roadside bomb killed Non-cabinet Nation Building Minister, D. M. Dassanayake on January 8, 2008 at Ja-ela town located 19 km north of Colombo city.
• A suspected LTTE suicide bomber killed cabinet Minister of Highways & Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on April 6, 2008 at Weliveriya Gampaha district.