All political parties must reach consensus to ensure national unity - President

President Maithripala Sirisena has emphasized that the religious leaders should take the lead in mending the hearts of the people that were broken in the tragic incident of April 21st. 

The President has also pointed out that the politicians should fulfil their national responsibility in this regard leaving aside their narrow political agendas.

The President made these observations addressing the National Conference on Peace, Harmony and Coexistence held at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo yesterday (30), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Although the lives lost on the 21st of April cannot be restored, everyone can come together to defeat terrorism and ensure peace, unity and reconciliation in the country for the sake of the future generation, the President stressed.

The President added that the government has taken every possible step to eradicate the hatred, fear, suspicion and distrust among the people of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the terror incident on April 21st. He has further said that all the political parties should come to a consensus under the guidance of all religious leaders to ensure national unity.

The President has also pointed out that it is the responsibility of everybody to abstain from acts and conducts that create fear and distrust among the people.

This national conference was held with the participation of religious leaders and politicians.

The main objective of the conference is to promote peace, harmony, tolerance and trust among different ethnic groups and religions in Sri Lanka, to deliver the message to the world that different religious communities live in peace and harmony, and to ensure that the people of this country live in harmony and reconciliation, the PMD reported.

A large number of religious leaders and prominent politicians were present at the conference and foreign dignitaries including the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Mohammad Ibn Abdulkarim Alissa were also participated in this event, the PMD said.