News
Arrest of Kadirgamar assassination suspect
Sri Lanka’s mission in Berlin is awaiting information from Germany’s Ministry of Interior, on the German police’s arrest of a suspect in the 2005 assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Ambassador Karunasena Hettiarachchi said Sri Lanka was willing to cooperate and assist in any investigation, should a request be made by the Germans.
The German Embassy in Colombo declined to comment.
Police arrested 39-year-old Navanithan G. in southwestern Germany on Wednesday and searched his home, said German Federal Prosecutors. He is accused of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation, murder and attempted murder.
The prosecutors suspect that the accused was also involved in the attempted killing of Eelam People’s Democratic Party leader Douglas Devananda, the reports said.
Two suspects, Muttiah Sahadevan and Isithor Arokyanathan wre charged with 5 separate offences in the Colombo High Court under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for aiding in the assassination. Second suspect Isithor Arokyanathan was acquitted and released in November 2018, 13 years after the assassination of the former Foreign Minister.
Former Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was assassinated on the night of August 12, 2005.