Dozens of Sri Lankan nationalists rallied outside the United Nations compound in Colombo yesterday as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the island, protesting against the UN’s actions during a prolonged civil war. 
Police held back the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks as they tried to march on the compound just before Ban arrived on the first full day of his two-day visit to Sri Lanka. 
 “UN, where were you?” said one placard, which carried a photograph of a victim of a bombing blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels who were crushed by security forces in May 2009. 
 The protesting ultra-nationalists accuse the UN of siding with Tamil rebels while hardliners in the Tamil community also criticise it for failing to protect civilians during Sri Lanka’s 37-year ethnic war.
“The UN was silent when Tiger terrorists were bombing and massacring our people,” Buddhist monk Akmeemana Dayaratne said as protesters handed over a petition to the UN office to be given to Ban. 
 “Now the UN is asking for investigations to punish us for defeating terrorism,” he said, referring to the UN’s call for the island to probe war crimes committed during the conflict.
A police official outside the UN offices, located in a tightly guarded area of the capital, said officers had obtained a court order preventing protests to avoid breaches of the peace.
 “We did that because we feared that any protest could lead to unrest,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Ban’s convoy arrived at the compound shortly after the protesters had been peacefully dispersed.
The UN leader held talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday evening after arriving in Sri Lanka from Myanmar.
Ban met president Maithripala Sirisena yesterday after addressing a youth conference in southern city of Galle. He is scheduled to visit former northern war zone of Jaffna today.
Speaking in Galle, Ban said young people needed to help the island emerge from the trauma of deprivations and injustice, and play a part in creating a better future.
“Please continue to prove that Sri Lanka is emerging from decades of adversity, suspicion and divisiveness. Please lead the way towards rebuilding, reconciliation and an appreciation of diversity in unity,” Ban told the gathering.
In Jaffna, relatives of people missing, suspected of having been killed or taken to covert detention centres, told Reuters that wanted to meet Ban.
The government estimates there are around 65,000 people missing in the war and another insurrection, with victims’ families and rights groups accusing the government of mostly being responsible for their disappearance during the height of the conflict.
“If we have a chance to talk to him, we’ll tell what happened to my husband,” said Easwary Mariyathas, a mother of three, who said her husband was arrested by the navy in 2009.
“I am pressurised to accept death certificate. We want justice, we expect a definite reply. I want to tell the truth to my kids. I can’t cheat them saying their dad will come tomorrow and day after tomorrow.”
The prime minister has said there are no longer any secret detention centres. The government has established an office to find missing people. 
Sri Lankan diplomats said they were keen to discuss the new government’s reconciliation efforts following the civil war that claimed at least 100,000 lives between 1972 and 2009.
The UN has been pushing for a special court to investigate allegations that up to 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by government forces in the final months of fighting.
President Sirisena, a member of the majority Sinhalese community who came to power in January last year, has pledged to punish those responsible for war crimes during the conflict.