Four hardcore LTTE cadres, wanted in connection with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, had been killed during Eelam war IV. This was revealed yesterday when the Kadirgamar assassination case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickramasinghe.

Under cross examination by Deputy Solicitor General Kapila Waidyaratne, SSP Ajith Wickramasekera said that a sniper had used a tripod to mount the gun used in the killing and six empty shells had been found at the scene.

The witness said he had rushed to the residence of Kadirgamar at 42, Buller’s Lane, Colombo -07, soon after the incident and examined the scene.

When the prosecution produced the empty shells from a sealed pack and asked the witness whether he recognised them as the shells that were found by him at the scene of the murder, the SSP said they were similar.

Prosecution further cross examined the witness showing him a photograph of the scene of the murder.

The witness said the tripod had been placed near the bidet, from where the sniper shot the former Minister and when one looked out of the window of the bathroom, the swimming pool, the summer hut and the backyard of the former Minister’s residence could be clearly seen.

"The killers had removed the louver above the window of the bathroom from where the killer shot the Minister and the louvre was found lying in the sink in the bathroom.

Prosecution showed him a blue nylon rope and asked the witness whether he recognised it. He answered in the affirmative and said that the rope was hanging from the main beam of the roof through the ceiling and there were foot marks on the wall.

The Former Foreign Minister was shot dead by an LTTE sniper on the night of 12th August 2005, from the bathroom of the adjoining house, as he came out of the swimming pool in his back yard.

The first and the second accused are Muttaiah Sahadevan and Isidor Arokyanathan alias Babu. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Former Leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran, its intelligence head Pottu Amman, Charles Master alias Charles and Komathi Manimekala were also accused in this case but their names have been deleted by the Court from the charge sheet since they are not among the living.

Deputy Solicitor General Kapila Waidyaratne and Senior State Counsel Shanil Kularatne appeared for the prosecution.

Attorneys at law A. Vinayagamoorthy and Thavarasa appeared for the first and second accused.

The case will be taken up on May 17.