The Tamil Tigers separatist group has denied involvement in the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar.
The group said in a statement that forces within the government were trying to sabotage a truce by resorting to violence and blaming them.
A state of emergency has been declared in the country following the assassination.
The 73-year-old was shot by an unidentified sniper in the garden of his home in the capital, Colombo.
Police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting, which they believe was carried out by the Tamil Tigers
The Tamil Tigers group has been observing a ceasefire since 2002, but there have been outbreaks of sporadic violence in recent months.
Although Mr Kadirgamar was a member of the minority Tamil community he was a close aide of the Sri Lankan President.
The rebels regarded him as a traitor to their cause of setting up a homeland for mainly Hindu Tamils. Mr Kadirgamar led a campaign which led to the Tigers being outlawed abroad, including the US and Britain.
He was the most senior Sri Lankan leader to be assassinated since a bomb attack killed president Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993.
