Sri Lanka in state of emergency after slaying of foreign minister

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s president declared a state of emergency Saturday after the foreign minister was assassinated at his home. The military blamed the Tamil Tiger rebel group, which the slain official worked to ostracize internationally as a terrorist organization.

The killing of Lakshman Kadirgamar, 73, was sure to put pressure on the cease-fire between the government and the separatist rebels – a truce already shaken by a two-year stall in peace talks.

Kadirgamar, himself a member of the ethnic Tamil minority, was shot in the head and heart about 11 p.m. Friday after finishing a swim and was rushed to the National Hospital, where he died. Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando said two snipers were hiding in buildings near Kadirgamar’s heavily guarded home in the capital’s diplomatic district.

Authorities made two arrests at a neighboring house.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a nationwide state of emergency today to “facilitate enhanced security measures and effective investigations of this act of wanton terror,” her office said.

“The president appeals for calm and restraint in the face of this grave and cowardly attack upon Sri Lanka.”

As dawn broke, dozens of military trucks moved in and soldiers were seen positioning at all important road intersections in the capital.