Addressing a news conference in Colombo, the party's Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe scorned the United Nations and its General Secretary, when he said that; "we are among those who feel that the United States and their allies had no choice but to intervene in Iraq as the failure of the United Nations has created the need for a world policeman," the Premier made these remarks during his address at the 58th UN General Assembly.

"We wonder if the UN General Secretary can come to Sri Lanka, after such a statement," Mr. Weerawansa said. He added that his party however believes that Mr. Annan should not come as the Premier had expressed disrespect to the UN.

The JVP Propaganda Secretary said that in the past Sri Lanka had always been a non-aligned country, but not anymore. Since this government took over the administration of the country it has been following principles of powerful Western Nations.

"While the entire world, including the Arab nations and the non Arab nations are against George Bush and Tony Blair's action over Iraq Ranil Wickremesinghe is patting their backs" Mr. Weerawansa said.

He said that the Muslim politicians who accept the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe should seriously think whether they need a leader of his calibre Ranil Wickremesinghe who is justifying the Iraqi invasion.

"We ask the Muslim politicians from A.H.M. Azwer to Rauff Hakeem, whether they endorse the comments made by Ranil Wickremesinghe, if not we urge them to make an immediate political decision," he said.

We also call upon the Muslims living in Sri Lanka to show their disapproval of the Premier's Iraqi remarks, he said.

Mr. Weerawansa also ridiculed the Prime Minister's invitation to the Portuguese Premier to come to Sri Lanka in 2005 to celebrate the completion of 500 years since the Portuguese invasion.

"This must be the only country that celebrates an invasion," he said.