Sri Lanka to focus on reconciliation 6 years after war-end

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday said that his government will give priority for reconciliation, six years following the end of the civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Speaking at a war heroes' commemorative event held in the southern town of Matara, the president said that following the end of the war, a lot was done to rebuild damaged infrastructure but not the damaged hearts and lives of the people, Xinhua news agency report.

He said that while development following the war is important, the development process must go hand-in-hand with reconciliation.

President Sirisena also said that his government would ensure terrorism did not raise its head in Sri Lanka once again and that a strong national security plan was in place.

Sirisena said the role played by the security forces to bring peace to Sri Lanka was priceless and would never be forgotten.

The president also warned the public to be mindful of extremist forces who were attempting to divide the communities in the country.

Sri Lanka defeated the LTE rebels in May 2009 following 30 years of war in which thousands of people were killed.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and members of the government and opposition as well as the diplomatic community attended the Matara event.