UNP says the government should take 'full responsibility'

Colombo additional magistrate, Ravindra Premaratne, also announced on Friday that investigations have revealed that the gunshot wounds of the suspect were caused by the shots fired by MP's security guard.

The United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian T Maheswaran was shot dead on 01 January at a Hindu temple in the capital, Colombo.

Outspoken critic

Mr. Maheswaran, a former minister and an outspoken critic of government's policy towards minority Tamils, was clinically dead when he was taken to the hospital.

The legislator's security guard has managed to shoot the suspect, identified as Johnson Collin Wasanthan Valentine.

	Government admitted that the suspect worked for the state

UNP and opposition leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, said the government should take the full responsibility of the killing as the government has reduced Maheswaran's security despite serious threats to his life.

The UNP said the government has taken the decision after Mr. Maheswaran refused to vote with for President Rajapaksa's budget proposals.

Defence affairs spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, told BBC Sandeshaya that the suspect has worked for the state.

'Worked for the state'

"He has earlier served in MP Maheswaran's and Minister Devananda's security contingents," Minister Rambukwella said.

	Mr. Rajapaksa (L) says the Tamil Tigers have killed the UNP MP

However, Sri Lanka's powerful Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has told the media that the killing was a work of the Tamil Tigers.

The late MP had failed to settle his business deals with the LTTE, President Rajapaksa's younger brother said.

The judiciary ordered Colombo Crime Division to continue investigations and report on the progress when the case is taken for hearing on 07 February.