Lanka needs to work with global community to defeat religious extremism: Sirisena

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said that the country needs to work with the international community to defeat the menace posed by religious extremism.

Addressing the 'National War Heroes Day' to mark the 10th anniversary of the government's victory against the LTTE, Sirisena also said that the country is capable of countering international terrorism with 30 years of experience in fighting and defeating local terrorism.

The President said that the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was welcomed by all and the focus later shifted to developing the country.

The President said that the Sri Lankan military and Police are now focused on defeating the new threat faced by Sri Lanka following the deadly Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed over 250 people and injured nearly 500 others.

He said that all those involved in the Easter Sunday attacks have either been killed or arrested.

However, he said no one can control the spread of religious extremism so Sri Lanka needs to work with the international community to defeat what is an international threat, Colombo Gazette reported.

Speaking at the occasion, the President said war heroes and the national intelligence were capable of eliminating international terrorism from the country.

Sirisena further said that the victory against a 30-year long brutal terrorism, the country has to face a totally different international terrorism in an unexpected manner.

He noted that war heroes sacrificed their lives to safeguard the country and its territorial integrity and for the future of the people.

At least 100,000 people were killed in the conflict between Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE. Thousands of people, including security personnel, are still reported to be missing after the war.

According to the Army, 27,000 soldiers lost their lives in the war.