Minister begins death fast

8 July 2010 05:13 am

By Supun Dias and Lakna Paranamanna

Minister Wimal Weerawansa started a fast unto death in front of the UN office in Colombo a short while ago demanding the abolition of the war crime panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. 

Minister Weerawansa took part in a pirith ceremony afterwhich he told reporters in the area that he would even sacrifice his life to safeguard the soliders who had fought the war against the LTTE.

Minister Weerawansa also urged the public to come in thousands and take part in protests and demonstrations all over the island in order to preassurize UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to dissolve the panel.

The three other National Freedom Front (NFF) MPs who were staging a fast in front of the UN office broke their fast just minutes before Minister Weerawansa began his sathyagraha. Weerawansa is currently taking part in the fast alone.

Meanwhile speaking at a media briefing in Colombo a short while ago, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said that Minister Weerawansa's fast was invain as Sri Lanka could not be brought before the International War Crimes Tribunal as the country had not ratified the Rome statute.

MP Jayasuriya said that since the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe who was the then Prime Minister refrained from signing the Roman statute in 2002, Sri Lanka has not ratified to abide by its regulations.

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