Government supporters protest over Libya near UN’s Sri Lanka office

Colombo – Government supporters protested outside the United Nations office in Sri Lanka’s capital Thursday, condemning the UN’s stance on the Libyan conflict and airstrikes carried out there.

An estimated 500 pro-government supporters chanted slogans and displayed placards against the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon and the organization.

‘We are against the biased behaviour of the UN on Libya in favour of the US and Britain,’ said the leader of the National Freedom Front party, Wimal Weerawansa, who is also a cabinet minister.

‘The people of Libya should decide how to resolve their own internal problems,’ he said.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday condemned the airstrikes on Libya.

External Affairs Minister G L Peiris told Parliament that Sri Lanka does not approve of the US-led airstrikes.

‘The airstrikes are harming civilians and are a violation of the territorial integrity of an independent country,’ the minister said.

Sri Lanka has had a close relationship with Libya. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Libya in September 2009 to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the revolution that brought Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi to power.