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Island wide religious amity committees
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wants strategies and plans on a multi-dimensional basis to be adopted, to deal with the recent eruption of religious violence, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office said.

The statement pointed out that it was the action of a small minority which had caused the problem and that the majority of the people obviously wished to live in peace and would not seek to provoke violence.

The decision to establish district peace and amity committees and to formulate a action plan was reached at a meeting to prevent any religious violence in the future.

Accordingly all 24 District Secretaries and 315 Divisional Secretaries would be directed to establish peace and amity committees in their districts. The purpose would be to inform the local communities of the need to build bonds of amity between the various religious groups in the area. It had been decided that the committees should comprise persons who have a track record of promoting religious tolerance.

In addition representatives of the four religions, educationists and eminent social workers should be considered for appointment to the peace and amity committees. Whenever desirable, the police should also be represented.

It has also been agreed that all four Secretaries, of the Buddha Sasana, Christian Affairs, Muslim Affairs and Hindu Affairs Ministries would jointly formulate strategies and action plans to constructively and speedily address the dangerous situation.

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