Sri Lankan president calls for national unity

Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday called for national unity on the island, stating that despite the end of the country's civil war in 2009 there was still a need to reconcile the communities in the North and the South.

The president, speaking at the country's 67th Independence Day anniversary celebrations, noted that following the 30 years of war, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and former army commander Sarath Fonseka ensured the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and established peace in Sri Lanka.

He however said the hearts of the people in the North and South of the country have yet to reconcile and that would be one of the objectives of his government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Sirisena came to power following the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential election last month and has since then pledged to fight corruption and ensure the freedom of all communities.

Meanwhile, in a special peace statement read during the anniversary celebrations, the Sri Lankan government said while peace was now upon the island the government would ensure and pledge to never allow this land to be traumatised by the shedding of blood.

The government also paid homage to the victims and soldiers of the war and all the victims of violence since the country's independence.

"We want to advance national reconciliation in justice and equality for all citizens. We shall do this in a spirit of tolerance and compromise and uphold the unity and territorial integrity of the nation for the progress and development of our society," the government statement said.