Lanka probes intelligence failure

Two suspected Tamil rebel snipers gunned down Kadirgamar, 73, after he emerged from the swimming pool at his private residence in Colombo's fashionable residential quarter of Cinnamon Gardens.

"The security was mainly focused on protecting the minister when he was travelling," said a senior police officer who declined to be named. "Three days ago there was a move to increase the number of vehicles in his motorcade."

The officer said questions were being raised about intelligence gathering and screening of the ministers' neighbours as evidence suggested the snipers had set up just two doors away from his home.

"Obviously they had not checked the neighbours as thoroughly as they should have," the officer said.