Following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Colombo on 12 August, President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency in the whole territory “to ensure the security of the nation and also to assist in the search for the assassins of the Minister, and other terrorist operatives”. Under the Emergency Regulation the security forces can deploy troops, arrest and detain persons without charge, and search and demolish buildings.