Mangala insists SL stands by Palestine

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday defended Sri Lanka’s decision to abstain from voting on a UNESCO resolution, denouncing Israeli violations in and around the Temple Mount compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds.

Sri Lankan Muslim groups are planning protests on Friday against the Government decision to abstain, which is seen as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. 

“Sri Lanka always stands for the Palestinian cause,” the Minister said during a press briefing yesterday. 

He charged that those who were arranging protests on Friday had not shown the feeling for their kith and kin who were being persecuted by the Rajapaksa Government with the assistance of the Bodu Bala Sena. These groups were being misled, the Minister added.

Responding to questions about the fallout from President Sirisena’s speech against the Bribery Commission recently, the Minister said he was urging people to judge the Government not by their words, but by their actions.