Colombo, Aug 1 : The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on Friday tendered an unqualified apology to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa over a negative article that appeared on its web site.

The article criticised Jayalalithaa for writing frequently to Prime Minister Modi on issues related to Sri Lanka and the fishermen's issue.

The apology from Colombo came after political parties in Tamil Nadu set aside their differences on Friday to strongly back Chief Minister Jayalalithaa after the Sri Lankan Army website carried an article critical of her, with an accompanying graphic image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A political furore arose hours after the article was published. The ruling AIADMK and Tamil outfits in various parts of Tamil Nadu staged protests.

NDA allies called on India to severe ties with Sri Lanka despite the offending article being removed from the website.

Jayalalithaa urged Modi to demand an unconditional apology from the Sri Lankan Government over the issue.

The Tamil Nadu BJP unit said publishing of such a derogatory article in an official website was not acceptable.

The party's state general secretary, Vanathy Srinivasan, said New Delhi should summon the Sri Lankan envoy and convey its objections to the article in the strongest possible manner.

The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) also criticized Colombo, saying that the article mocking Jayalalithaa's writing of letters to Prime Minister Modi on issues involving Sri Lanka, should be seen as "cheap".

PMK founder S. Ramadoss said that the article was in bad taste and not only demeaned Jayalalithaa, but also Modi. (ANI)