Colombo (News 1st): President Maithripala Sirisena says certain statements made by a few persons have become a hindrance to the process of building national reconciliation while freeing the country from the challenge of terrorism.

The President made these remarks during a meeting held with the representatives of the Muslim Civil Organizations including the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, at the Presidential Secretariat.

During this meeting, President Sirisena said the responsibility of all the citizens who love the country should be to fulfil their respective responsibilities towards creating a peaceful environment where all the citizens of the country could live freely, while understanding the actual situation and the issues, but not to raise their voices in order to get narrow political gains.

The President further said that even though criticisms are necessary, those criticisms should be fair and unprejudiced.

The representatives of the Muslim civil organizations stated they do not consider the brutal terrorists who were involved in killing innocent people, as Muslims, and they condemn extremism and terrorism. They further added they would extend all possible support to the security forces to eliminate terrorism.

• The State and Public service trade unions collective plans to go on sick leave tomorrow.
• A person who illegally imported a consignment of foreign cigarettes into the island arrested at BIA.
• A fire has broken out at the Methsiri Sewana building in the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital
• State Minister of Defence says security at the Mihintale sacred site was not removed
• IPG Mediabrands Expand Asia-Pacific Footprint