COLOMBO - THE editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper highly critical of the government's escalating war against Tamil Tiger rebels was to be buried on Monday, four days after he was shot by unidentified gunmen.

Some Sri Lankan newspapers, opposition politicians and media groups have blamed the government for the death of Lasantha Wickrematunga, who was murdered while he drove to work.

His Sunday Leader newspaper has been virulently anti-establishment and regularly savaged the government for waging its costly and bloody war against Tamil guerrillas.

Gunmen on motorcycles blocked Wickrematunga's car and shot him at close range before escaping in an area near the capital Colombo where the military has a large presence as part of security for a nearby airbase.

'The manner in which the killing was carried out seems to point directly at the government,' the privately-run Island newspaper said in a commentary on Sunday.

Journalists' trade unions and publishers gathered with family and friends to bury Wickrematunga, 52, and take part in a silent protest against his killing.

President Mahinda Rajapakse has quickly condemned the murder, saying it highlighted 'the existence of forces that will go to the furthest extremes in using terror and criminality to damage our social fabric.'

But Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders issued a sharp statement saying Mr Rajapakse's government was directly to blame for the death of the editor as they had 'incited hatred against him.'

Sri Lanka's main opposition has demanded an international probe into the killing Thursday, which drew condemnation from the US, the European Union and many media rights groups.

Wickrematunga was shot two days after unidentified attackers torched the private Maharajah TV network offices near the city. -- AFP