President calls on the Muslim community to trust him

President Rajapaksa has called on the Muslim community to place trust in him as he is their friend and relative. The President was addressing the National Congress Party meeting at the Public Esplanade in Akkaraipattu.

The President said all are children of one mother. There can be no differences. All have the freedom to live sans fear and suspicion. Incidents such as the Kattankudy mosque attack should not recur. No one should fear to visit the mosque, the paddy field, send children to school and go on fishing. It is not suitable to do communal politics. He reiterated that there are no minorities. There are only those who care for the country. All requests made by the Muslims had been fulfilled. There is a separate Provincial Council for the region. He called upon the Muslims not to be duped by canard spread by the opposition. Since he is the leader of the country, he called on them to trust him.

National Congress Leader A.L.M. Athaulla presented a memento to the President on behalf of the Eastern fraternity for liberating the country from terrorism. Ministers Douglas Devananda and Mervyn Silva and Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan were among those present on the occasion.