Sri Lanka monks protest UN rights chief's visit

A Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist group today staged a protest against the UN rights chief's visit, calling her maiden trip to Sri Lanka as "anti-Lanka".
Ravana Balaya Buddhist monks were, however, halted by the police while trying to move towards the United Nations compound as the UN Human Rights Commissioner Navy Pillay was having her day one engagements of her week-long visit to the country.
Pillay travelled to the Supreme Courts complex in central Colombo to meet with the Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Attorney General Palitha Fernando and the Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem.
Ravana Balaya monks, who started their protest walk to the UN compound, came to engage a blockade by the police as they attempted to walk nearer to the UN gate at Baudhaloka Mawatha in the high security zone here.

"Let us condemn Pillai's anti-Sri Lankan visit", a banner read.
Ittakande Sadhdhatiss, who was leading the monks, accused the police of taking the side of anti-Sri Lankan forces in the West.

"We tell the police this is our country. Our robes are more powerful than police uniforms. If anything bad happens to this country after Pillay's visit, they must take responsibility", he said.
Pillay arrived here yesterday on a week-long visit to begin a fact-finding mission on the alleged war crimes by the military during the nearly three-decade-long conflict with the LTTE.
Her visit is being opposed by nationalist groups who are also unhappy with the government for allowing her into the country.