Sunday, 22nd June 2014
By Megara Tegal
President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he has instructed the police to take action against any individual or organization attempting to spread hatred among religions or any race.
In a special message issued last evening, the President warned that the peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka following the end of the war was now at risk.
The President said that some in the international community are attempting make use of the situation in Sri Lanka for their benefit.
President Rajapaksa urged all Sri Lankans to understand the situation at hand and work towards co-existence among all communities.
“No one can take the law into their own hands. I have instructed the police to take firm action against anyone violating the law,” he said.
Meanwhile President Rajapaksa had a meeting yesterday in Badulla with Muslim Government Parliamentarians on the recent violence in the country.
The President had called for the urgent meeting after a tense situation remained in the country even yesterday following the violence in Aluthgama last weekend.
The President is to appoint a special panel to investigate the recent incidents which took place around the country.
“I will be appointing a high-level panel to inquire in to recent disturbances,” the President said in a Twitter message.
The announcement of the panel being appointed and meeting held in Badulla came after the ‘No Limit’ store in Panadura was destroyed in a fire last morning.
There was speculation the Muslim owned store was attacked but the police said an investigation has been launched and till the probe is over nothing can be said.
From : http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/06/22/president-orders-crackdown-on-hate-groups/
