Britain, France, Germany and Switzerland have jointly issued a statement condemning the disruption of the War Widows meeting on Monday by pro-government activists.

The meeting was conducted to aid the families of the disappeared during the civil war. The meeting was stormed by a group of pro-government activists led by Buddhist monks and have allegedly threatened the families of the disappeared and the US diplomats who were present at the gathering.

 “All those present felt that their security was under threat. We strongly urge the government to ensure and respect freedom of assembly and expression in Sri Lanka. We sincerely hope, the security of those who travelled from Northern Province will be assured upon their return,” the statement issued by the British embassy said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has extended the term of the Disappearances Commission up to February 15, 2015.

The United States embassy has also requested the Sri Lankan Government to take all the necessary action to ensure the safety of the families of the disappeared and also to make sure that the future discussions will be conducted uninterruptedly.