Ex-President Rajapaksa's supporters protest against Lankan war crimes probe

Tens of thousands of supporters of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa held a protest march accusing the ruling government of betraying the nation by agreeing with the United Nations to investigate allegations of war crimes during the civil war.

The protesters reached the capital, Colombo, on Monday after marching for several days from the central town of Kandy, reports the Colombo Page.

They also accused the government of wanting to divide the country by granting more powers to ethnic minority Tamils.

The protest was the largest show of strength by Rajapaksa, who is currently a lawmaker, since he lost a re-election bid last year.

President Maithripala Sirisena-led government says the protest is part of pressure tactics aimed at blocking investigations into alleged corruption and misrule by the former government.