Law and Order Minister and Muslim organisations discuss preventing racial, religious violence

Minister of Public Administration and Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara on Thursday (15) met with representatives of Muslim religious organisations at the Ministry for discussions on the tense situation arisen in the country following the attacks on Muslim community in Kandy and on measures to prevent such attacks in the future.

At the meeting, Muslim leaders told the Minister that the Muslim community in the country had always worked with the Government in power to solve the problems of their community.

The Muslim leaders said that they expected to continue the status quo and stressed that need for equitable implementation of the law to everyone was essential.

Muslim leaders also said that they appreciated the effort by Minister Madduma Bandara as the new Minister of Law and Order.

The Minister told the Muslim leaders that the tense situation which erupted in certain parts of Kandy and in other places was a deliberate move by some organised group.

He said that an independent and impartial investigation was being carried out by the Police Department under the Ministry of Law and Order. He added that following the inquiry, actions would be taken to punish the perpetrators regardless of their status.

Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order Padmasiri Jayamanna and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration B.P.P.S. Abeygunarathna also participated.