Post-conflict reconciliation with Tamils a priority: Sirisena

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today said post-conflict reconciliation with minority Tamils was his government's priority while being committed to uphold human rights and democracy.

Addressing the state function commemorating the seventh anniversary of the end of the three-decade long brutal conflict between the LTTE and army, he said: "The main responsibility entrusted on my government was to achieve post conflict reconciliation."

"We will achieve that while paying tribute to the heroic forces who ended the war seven years ago, Sirisena said.

"My government will uphold human rights and democracy," he said.

Sirisena said his government had accorded utmost priority to the welfare of soldiers despite criticism from his political opponents.

The ceremony marked the official commemoration of the end to the LTTE's 30 year separatist campaign.

Sirisena's government in sharp contrast to the government of the predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken many a conciliatory steps towards the Tamil minority.

Rajapaksa who led the troops as the Commander in Chief enjoys hero status among the Sinhala majority.

The LTTE fought a war to carve out a separate homeland for the Tamils in the north and east of the island.

Sirisena since defeating Rajapaksa in the presidential poll has released the Tamils' lands acquired for military purposes by the previous government since the mid 1980's.

The Tamil groups while noting the steps taken want more concrete steps to allow political autonomy for them.