The government may tender an apology to the United Nations (UN) over comments made by government Minister Wimal Weerawansa urging the public to surround the UN office in Colombo and prevent the staff from leaving the premises in protest over the UN panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon, a UN spokesman said today.

Responding to a question posed by a journalist from Innercitypress at a media briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York a short while ago, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that the UN has received some indications that an apology might be in order.

“We have received some indications that an apology might be in order and we will see if there is any clarification or apology coming from the (Sri Lankan) government,” the UN spokesman said.

The spokesman also reiterated that the Sri Lankan government has assured the UN that the comments made by Weerawansa was his individual opinion and did not reflect the policy of the government.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa had this week urged the public to surround the UN office in Sri Lanka and trap the staff inside until a decision is taken by the UN Secretary General to dissolve the panel he appointed on Sri Lanka.

Weerawansa told reporters that the appointment of the three-member advisory panel by UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon is the primary step that would prompt the Sri Lankan leaders to be produced to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). (Daily Mirror online)