The government will never allow any force to destroy hard won peace and ethnic harmony and bring back the dark era again, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

He said the country is ruled with a clear people-friendly vision, safeguarding ethnic and religious harmony.

The President was addressing a UPFA election rally in Kantale on Friday. The rally was organised under the theme Surakshitha Hetak in support of UPFA candidate President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “The government is committed to create a better future for the younger generation. Even though the common opposition entered into agreements with several segments which are supportive of the LTTE and threatens the country’s sovereignty, the government will never allow anyone to harm the territorial integrity of our motherland,” the President said.

President Rajapaksa said several Muslim politicians assisting the common opposition are now trying to arouse communal feelings by levelling baseless allegations.

“These Muslim politicians are engaged in mud slinging campaigns. They are also destroying the country’s communal harmony through false propaganda campaigns. They say that I will not allow Muslim women to wear the Purdha after becoming the President again. However, the intelligent people of the country totally reject this,” the President said.

“The people of this country do not believe these fabricated stories since they are aware about the mud slinging campaigns,” President Rajapaksa said.

“The result of arousing hatred among communities and destroying communal harmony is dangerous. For instance, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc have been facing terrible consequences as a result of destroying ethnic and religious harmony in those countries,” the President said.

He said at the same time, several Muslim leaders are asking for a unit controlled by the Muslims while auctioning the votes of the Muslims.

Speaking about the politicians who crossed over, the President said these politicians thought only of themselves without thinking about the country and the people.

The President added that public entities have never been privatised under this government but the members of the common opposition privatised many government institutes for meager amounts.

“As I promised at the Presidential election in 2010, we regained several of these bodies including SriLankan Airlines and Shell Gas,” he added.

He said he is a person of one word.

“I say only what I can do and I do everything what I say,” he said.