Mr. Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has issued the following statement regarding the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar:

SLMM strongly condemns the brutal assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The barbaric act is a huge blow to the peace process as a whole. Such brutal violence creates, fear, distrust and insecurity within society, and therefore represents a serious threat to the ceasefire.

I sincerely hope that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE will continue in their effort to maintain the ceasefire and to implement confidence building measures at this fragile moment. SLMM will continue to do its utmost to assist the parties to the CFA.

On behalf of the SLMM, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Kadirgamar on their tragic loss.

By Hagrup Haukland
Head of the Mission