Colombo, March 7 (newsin.asia): Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena rushed to riot-torn Kandy on Wednesday and held a special meeting with local officials as well as political and religious leaders.
The Buddhist Mahasangha led by the Anunayaka Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, Islamic Moulavis and other religious leaders, ministers, government officers, and chiefs of security forces participated in the discussion.
President Sirisena urged the religious leaders to assist in the task of bringing the situation under control and to avoid divisive statements and actions.
The religious leaders pointed out that exaggeration of minor incidents through various social media platforms was one of the main reasons for the conflict.
President Sirisena stressed the importance of communicating precise information to the public and instructed officers to inform the public about the true situation through religious leaders.
He pointed out the importance of making maximum efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents and building peace and reconciliation among all the communities in the country.
The President instructed the Police and the Tri-Forces to take necessary steps to ensure the security of the people in the area and take every possible step to ensure peace.
He specially requested the religious leaders to take the leadership in building peace and harmony among the different communities.
The Buddhist Maha Sangha, including Most Ven. Niyangoda Sri Vijithasiri Anunayake Maha Thero of Malwatta Chapter, Ven. Dibulkumbure Vimaladhamma Anunayake Thero, Most Ven. Wedaruwe Upali Anunayaka Thero of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Narampanawe Ananda, Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero, Ven. Dr. Medagoda Abayathissa Thero, Ven. Prof. Iduragare Dhammanandha Thero, the Moulavies including the Kandy Chief Moulavi Fazlur Rehman, Rev. Fr. Ivan Jayasundara ,the Parish Priest,St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy, the trustee of the Shri Selva Vinayagar temple in Kandy, Krishanmoorthy Govindasami, Ministers and MPs, Secretary to the President Austin Fernando, public servants and heads of security forces participated in the meeting.
