The Sri Lankan government today warned the people not to fall prey to elements creating racial and religious hatred in the country and to maintain law and to refrain from spreading rumors that cause unrest among ethnic and religious groups.

Issuing a statement, the Director General of the Government Information Department Professor Ariyaratne Ethugala said some local and foreign elements attempting to destabilize the country are behind these attacks and urged the public to be vigilant of those groups.
 
The statement also requested the public not to spread rumors that cause unrest among ethnic and religious groups and help the government to maintain law and order to secure the peace and harmony in the island at this decisive juncture.

“At a time elements with vested interest try to destabilize the country people should not fall prey to divisive forces,” Professor Athugala said.

Meanwhile the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said stern legal action would be taken against those who attempt to create unrest in the country using racism and religion and requested the public to inform such incidents to him.

The Defense Secretary said local and foreign elements against the country are attempting to destabilize the peace and reconciliation in the island achieved after eliminating three decades long terrorism.

He requested the public to act intelligently without giving opportunity to conspirators to destabilize the country.

Anti-Muslim campaigns in the country carried out by extremist groups has led the government to issue such warnings, which comes in the wake of an attack on a clothing store in Pepiliyana on Thursday.

The Bodu Bala Sena organization in a press conference yesterday denied responsibility over the attack.

It has been reported that four suspects have been arrested over the attack.