President assures more facilities for pilgrims

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday assured he is dedicated to assert the rights of citizens to practice religions without any hindrance.

The President gave this assurance when he addressed a meeting to review the performance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs held at Temple Trees recently.

He said a citizen belonging to any community in this country has the right to live freely and he will never act with racial, religious or caste bias. The benefits of the development process should be shared by all people equally, he said.

The provision of facilities to devotees who visit India, Mecca and Holy Land was also discussed at this meeting with emphasis on air passage an board Mihin Lanka.

It was disclosed that the two storeyed pilgrims' rest at Anuradhapura built at a cost of Rs. 12 million is ready for accommodation and that lodging and transport facilities for the convenience of pilgrims visiting Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa would be improved.

It was also disclosed that adequate financial provisions have been made to improve facilities in Catholic sacred sites such as Thalawila, Thewatta, Wahakotte and Hiniduma.

The meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa was attended by Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Ministry Secretary Premadasa Kodituwakku, Commissioner of Religious Affairs H.W.D.Sunil and Heads of the Departments of Hindu, Catholic and Muslim Religious Affairs.