Leaders and representatives of the Tamil business community from Colombo and several regions of Sri Lanka hailed the leadership given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in achieving peace in the country and unifying a divided nation.

Hindu religious leaders and prominent and influential leaders and representatives of the large Tamil business community in Sri Lanka were highly appreciative of the President’s recent announcement that there will not be any minority community in Sri Lanka, and that all Sri Lankans will be citizens in a single country with equal rights and status.

More than 800 representative of the Tamil business community felicitated the Sri Lankan President at Temple Trees, this evening (04), for the restoration of peace in the country, the new hope given to the Tamil people of being treated as equals and for being the only national leader since independence to disavow the division of the nation into majority and minority communities.

They pledged to support the President and government in the and said they were ready to support the President in achieving the new development goals for the country, and in the Governments plans to carry out urgent reconstruction and restoration work in the North, to resettle the people displaced due to the war to liberate the country and people from terrorism.

Addressing the gathering in the Tamil language only, President Rajapaksa the Tamil business persons should come forward to help the innocent Tamil people who had been freed fro terrorism, just as the Sinhalese were today helping the displaced Tamil people in the welfare villages.

“There can be no differences on community in the country from now on. I consider it both my duty and responsibility to protect the Tamil people, the President said, adding that everyone should be able to live without fear and mistrust, with equal rights, and that everyone should join to rebuild a beautiful land.