US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice had condemned the killing of Sri Lankan foreign minister. In a statement issued by the Canadian foreign ministry, the assassination was described as an unconscionable act against a member of the Sri Lankan government.

The acting head of the Sri Lanka ceasefire monitoring commission, Hagrup Haukland, has described the assassination as a ceasefire violation. He also told the BBC the killing would have a heavy impact on Sri Lanka's fragile peace process.

Mr Kadirgamar, 73, underwent emergency surgery after the shooting, but doctors were unable to save him, officials say.

Police said the minister was shot near his heavily-guarded home in the city by an unidentified attacker.

There was no early word on the motive for the attack, but correspondents say suspicion is likely to fall on the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.