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Mahinda Rajapaksa meets Muslims in Beruwala (Picture: @PresRajapaksa) |
President Mahinda Rajaksa this morning met with Muslims affected by the violence that gripped Aluthgama and surrounding towns on Sunday and Monday.
Rajapaksa said during the meeting in Beruwala, one of the towns targeted by Sinhala mobs, that an impartial inquiry into the attacks will be conducted.
“We can’t let anyone harm any person or property,” the president said, pledging that the government will rebuild homes and businesses destroyed during the violence.
The Buddhist and Muslim communities in the town told the president that they want to live together in peace, according to Rajapaksa’s official twitter account.
49 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, according to police spokesperson Ajith Rohana.
The military spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya meanwhile said that "this is not the time to give room for such action" as the country was facing international scrutiny, terming the incidents "unfortunate".
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