US mourns Sri Lanka’s loss
[August 17, 2005 - 10.00 GMT]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C. yesterday to pay her respects to Sri Lanka’s slain Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Minister Kadirgamar was assassinated Friday, August 12, 2005.

In a message of condolence Ms. Rice said, “ I have come on behalf of President Bush and on behalf of the American people to honour the memory of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar. I had the honour and pleasure of meeting him just a few weeks ago when he was here in Washington. He will be greatly missed. He was a man of courage. He was a man of integrity. He was a man who dedicated his life to search for peace and for a better life for the Sri Lankan people.”

The Secretary of State furthers says that America too mourns Sri Lanka’s loss and hopes that despite this tragedy Sri Lankans would once again commit themselves to peace saying, “There can be no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence.”

Ms. Rice said America was impressed with President Kumaratunga’s vision and with the people of Sri Lanka and “how they have responded to this tragedy.”

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Last Updated Date: August 17, 2005 - 10.00 GMT