Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he is fully committed to seek justice for the alleged war time abuses and clear the name of the security forces regardless of the abuses, insults and allegations directed to him by narrow-minded political extremists.

Addressing the launching ceremony of the 'Virusara' Privilege Card, offered to the families of the disabled war heroes of the tri-forces by the State Ministry of Defense, at Temple Trees this evening (25), the President said he and his government were working towards rejuvenation of Sri Lanka's deprived national and international relations with the aim of creating a society that all ethnicities could live in harmony without any fear. He explained that Sri Lanka needs to clear the hurdles and convince both here and abroad that the government is genuinely committed to clear the name of the security forces.

"By holding proper investigations and applying the arm of law only we could think of getting our country's tarnished image removed. It does not mean that we are jeopardizing the security of our State Intelligence agencies, nor does it try to betray their services to the country." To bring about reconciliation, Sri Lanka needs to hold impartial inquiries into a few cases which sent shock waves among the locals as well as the agencies like the UN, he said.

"People in this country voted for us in 2015 to see that justice was applied. When justice does not work, civil organizations agitate and criticize us. If that credibility could not be restored, our troops will continue to be marginalized, discredited and condemned as an unprofessional group and will definitely have to face dire consequences," the President elaborated. President Sirisena said he is committed to make the Sri Lankan Tri-forces to a world renowned force while protecting the dignity of them.

"To avoid this risk and the danger, we got to find out the truth, we have to continue with credible processes, and that would be the only way out for our forces," the President underlined. He explained that when the government is setting the correct mechanism to investigate and extract the truth, it is accused of betraying the servicemen, sabotaging the intelligence networks, arresting those involved, dividing the country and reforming the Security Forces to the whims and fancies of foreign powers. Categorically denying having any ulterior motives, the President said all government attempts are geared to create a conducive environment where resurgence of another round of war does not find space in this country. He said it is time to remedy the root causes attributable to the emergence of the war.

"Sri Lanka has to go hand in hand with global developments and trends as we are now living in a world of digitalization. So are our armed forces. Therefore, we all have to work and think afresh and do our part for the sake of peace and reconciliation of this country, for the betterment of our future generation, not for gaining petty political advantages," he stressed. The President symbolically handed over the Virusara cards and 100 scholarships to the children from Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya at this occasion.

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to hold a series of meetings with the High Commissioners of South Africa and New Zealand, along with the Ambassadors of Iran and Myanmar, as well as a delegation from the European Union today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to demonstrations, the threat of terrorist attacks and crime, particularly in the Arugam Bay area.

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals.

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara asked why the government did not take action to beef up security for foreign tourists in advance if it had received information on a possible threat on October 7, according to the statement made by Acting Chief of Police.