JVP leader's statement was made 'without doing proper research'

The UN body has condemned the Sri Lanka Air Force bombing on Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio station.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama, told the parliament that the government 'was surprised' that UNESCO 'considered it fit' to condemn the attack on Tigers' clandestine radio station.

'Double standards'

While many countries including EU, USA and the UK have banned the LTTE as a terrorist outfit, the minister said, it was surprising that UNESCO Executive Director Koikuro Matsuma described VoT as a civilian media station.

UNESCO informed its concern to the US military even before the US-led military action begun Wijayananda Jayaweera, UNESCO

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), meanwhile, accused the UN body of double standards.

JVP parliamentary group leader, Wimal Weerawansa, said the UNESCO was silence when US-led forces destroyed artefacts in Iraq.

However, UNESCO officials categorically denied the accusation.

Iraqi artefacts

Director, International Programme of Development communication, Wijayananda Jayaweera, told BBC Sandeshaya that UNESCO constantly raised concern over artefacts in Iraq being destroyed.

	Government was 'surpirsed' at UNESCO statement, the FM says

"UNESCO informed its concern to the US military even before the US-led military action begun," he said.

Speaking from Paris, he once stressed that the statement by Director General was made based upon a principal that journalists are usually civilians.

"We maintained that a military attack on a radio station is against the Geneva convention and cannot be condoned whatever the message the station was carrying out," Vijayananda Jayaweera added.

International support

The main opposition, United National Party (UNP), also voice concern over the UBNESCO statement.

UNP strongman Lakshman Kiriella told parliament that the party did not approve UN body's statement.

How can the government get international support when their ministers describe senior UN official a terrorist Lakshman Kiriella, UNP MP

However, it was a clear example that the government has failed in its attempt to gain international support for the government's agenda, he added.

"How can the government get international support when their ministers describe senior UN official a terrorist," UNP legislator queried.

Chief Government Whip, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai, called UN Assistant Secretary General John Holmes a terrorist after he raised concern over Sri Lanka's human rights record.