Colombo – Sri Lanka on Wednesday condemned airstrikes on Libya saying it was a violation of the territorial integrity of an independent country.
'The airstrikes are harming civilians and a violation of the territorial integrity of an independent country,' External Affairs Minister GL Peiris told Parliament.
He said the airstrikes were contrary to a UN resolution that was adopted with the aim of alleviating the suffering of civilians in that country.
Sri Lanka's government itself came under criticism over the deaths of civilians during its conflict with ethnic Tamil separatist rebels, which ended with the rebels' defeat in May 2009.
The United Nations estimated that 7,500 civilians were killed in the final stages of the conflict, but the government has denied the charge.
Peiris spoke Wednesday during a debate on the situation in Libya, in which ruling party members strongly condemned the airstrikes but opposition members refrained from making any comments.
Sri Lanka has a longstanding relationship with Libya, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Libya in September 2009 to attend the 40th anniversary of the military coup that brought Moamer Gaddafi to power.
A UN-mandated no-fly zone was imposed over the weekend by a coalition led by the United States, Britain and France after Gaddafi ordered his military to confront demonstrators seeking to remove him from power.
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Colombo – Sri Lanka on Wednesday condemned airstrikes on Libya saying it was a violation of the territorial integrity of an independent country. 
