Sri Lanka's Ministry of External Affairs blamed a row between two NGOs for the disruption of a meeting for families of the disappeared from the North on Monday, claiming that police had brought the alleged altercation under control.

"According to reports, a meeting had been organized by the NGO 'Right to Life Human Rights Centre' involving families of disappeared persons from the North. However, another NGO, the 'Dead and Missing Person's Parents Front', had sought access to the meeting, demanding that their grievances be heard too. An ensuing argument had led to a tense situation which had subsequently been brought under control by law enforcement authorities," the Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Accusing the diplomats from western missions, who had been present at the meeting, of "being involved in a manner lacking objectivity", the Ministry said their behaviour had "led to the emergence of a pattern of such potentially volatile situations giving rise to the perpetuation of mistrust amongst communities at a sensitive juncture in the country’s history."

The Ministry's account runs contrary to reports by journalists present at the meeting, who described an angry mob led by Buddhist monks entering the building and shouting at Tamils gathered to discuss the disappearances of their loved ones. See here.

Condemning the disruption the US embassy on Monday expressed concern at the Sri Lankan police's failure to act as the mob brought the meeting to a halt, stating that the police had appeared to support the mob.

The disruption was also condemned by the embassies of the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland, whose officials had also been present at the meeting.

"All those present felt that their security was under threat," the missions said in a joint statement on Tuesday.