Lanka committed to national reconciliation: Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa today said national reconciliation involving Tamils and other communities was a priority for his government after nearly three decades of ethnic war that led to liberation of the country from the clutches of "separatist terror".

"As we move into the new era of peace in our country, we are ready to face the challenges of the future. It is necessary that we give equal priority to the tasks of national reconciliation and the building of trust among all sections of our people," Rajapaksa, who was recently reelected to the top post, said on the eve of the country's Independence Day.

He thanked the people for their sacrifice in defeating Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after nearly three decades of conflict.

"The 62nd anniversary of independence we mark today has special significance being the first such celebration of our freedom since the defeat of terrorism in our country last year," he said.

Rajapaksa said the celebration was also taking place soon after the people expressed their firm and resounding commitment to democracy in the general elections that saw him getting re-elected for a six-year-term.

"The freedom from colonial rule that we gained 62 years ago is now more meaningful, because we have been liberated from the forces of separatist terror that marred our freedom for nearly half the period since independence," he said.

Rajapaksa said terrorism had also "gravely threatened" the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.