Thousands of people on Friday rallied against last month’s NATO attack on Pakistan’s military checkposts in Mohmand that killed 24 soldiers and injured 13.
The Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association organised the demonstration after Friday prayers outside the Devatagagha mosque in Town Hall.
The demonstrators condemned the blatant NATO/US-ISAF aggression and the unprovoked attacks and called for impartial inquiry.
Western Province Governor Hon Alvi Maulana, several government ministers, including Minister Mervin De Silva, the deputy mayor of Colombo Municipality and several high profile personalities participated in the peaceful protest against the blatant violation of Pakistan’s air and ground space.
People from all communities of Sri Lanka gathered in an exceptional display of solidarity with Pakistan – which has assisted Sri Lanka in its testing times throughout its history.
The organisers of the demonstration, ministers and representatives of political parties addressed the protesters and called for a resolute stand against the aggression.
“Stop terrorising Pakistan,” the protestors chanted.
The speakers of the rally were of the opinion that the US had begun an undeclared war on Pakistan and its drones had killed thousands of innocent citizens in the Tribal Areas in the name of collateral damages.
Meanwhile, various civil society organisations and unions joined the peaceful rally and recorded their protest against the NATO attack. A heavy contingent of police provided security to the protesters and no unwanted incident took place throughout the protest.
The demonstrators said the US was pressing Sri Lanka to inquire into the recently-ended 30-year-old civil war, while on the other hand, it was killing innocent people in the name of democracy and peace.