Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen urged all Sri Lankans irrespective of race or religion to act with patience and harmony in light of the tense situation that unfolded in several areas of Galle yesterday (17), due to a clash between two groups. 

Circulating a special message to the media, Minister Bathiudeen stated that he severely condones the acts of certain political activists who aim to create racial turmoil within Sri Lanka by instigating acts of violence. 

Certain radical individuals seek to destroy the camaraderie that has existed between the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities within Sri Lanka for generations he said. 

His statement further reads that the government will take steps to bring to justice the unseen forces responsible for creating a situation of turmoil that disrupted the peace of the people. 

The Minister of Industry and Commerce further stated that all citizens should act with care as any piece of property damaged during such protests would amount to the destruction of public property owned by the people of Sri Lanka. 

He also requested that all residents of the affected areas should cooperate with the armed forces in their attempt to apprehend the guilty parties connected to the unfortunate incident.