2ND LEAD:

Thousands mourn Kadirgamar, Colombo security tightened

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 August 2005, 09:07 GMT]
Thousands of people were seen standing in queues to pay their last respects to the remains of kadirgamar at his official residence situated at the highly residential Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo. The capital city has been put under tight security following the arrival of foreign dignitaries including the Defence Minister of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and the Indian Foreign Minister Mr. Natwar Singh for the funeral of the slain Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Monday.



Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, clad in white saree addressing to the country via the state television Rupavahini on Sunday, said that the death of Kadirgamar was an irreparable loss to the country and her government would not bow down to the threat of terrorism.

Although the LTTE had denied its involvement, "the evidence contradicts that claim", she claimed in her address.

Police investigators said that 28 suspects have been questioned so far and the forensic tests were being carried out from the lethal weapon and various other suspicious items recovered from the next door compound of Mr.Kadirgamar's private residence where the assasins had taken position to gun down the Lankan Foreign Minister.

Several roads leading to Independence square where the last rites are to take place were closed down.

Schools in Colombo remained closed.

Meat and liquor shops were also ordered to remain closed in view of the state funeral accorded to Lakshman Kadirgamar.