COLOMBO- Hundreds of Sri Lankan activists led by a Cabinet minister on Tuesday protested at the UN office here against a world body panel set up to probe allegations of human rights abuses during the LTTE war, a day after detained ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka asked the government to face it with courage.

Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, shouting slogans along with other protesters, demanded withdrawal of the advisory panel by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
He said his party, the National Freedom Front (NFF), fears that the appointment of the panel could be a precursor for the establishment of an international war tribunal to investigate the alleged offences.
The NFF is a constituent of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The operation against the LTTE, which was defeated in May last year, was initiated purely on the people's demand under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to release innocent Tamil civilians in the North and East, Weerawansa said.
He said if the UN tries to have a postmortem to find the facts in favor of the LTTE, then people should stand up against the world body decision as well.
Weerawansa also criticized Fonseka's alleged inclination to give evidence before the panel.
Fonseka, an opposition MP from DNA, told Parliament yesterday that the war against LTTE was carried out in line with international conventions and covenants.
(Source: Express India)