Former minister Mangala Samaraweera accused the Rajapakse government of failing to investigate extra-judicial killings and using "terrorism" to fight Tamil Tigers rebels. Mr. Samaraweera said the ongoing visit to the island by the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, underlined the

international focus on the island's worsening rights record

He said because of the government to face terrorism with terrorism, Sri Lanka is now being branded a terrorist state.

“The international community has branded the LTTE as "terrorist organisation", and Colombo is also now facing same criticism”, he said, adding, "The Arbour visit shows the international concern about what is happening here and what harm we are causing to our image."

Samaraweera, who was sacked by President Mahinda Rajapakse in February, accused the government of failing to investigate grave human rights abuses, including the massacre of 17 employees of the French charity Action Against Hunger in August last year.

Sri Lanka is resisting moves by the United Nations to set up a human rights mission despite allegations that violations have increased with the escalation of fighting between government forces and Tamil Tigers.

Rights groups are continuously accusing the government and the LTTE of gross rights abuses, summary killings and scores of disappearances of civilians and political activists.

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