President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured that the government is always committed to protect the rights of all religious and ethnic groups living in the country when he met with the Muslim community of the Kandy district at the President's House in Kandy.

During the meeting, the President assured the Muslim community that the government is always committed to protect the rights of all religious and ethnic groups living in the country asked them not to be misled by the attempts by some groups to distance the Muslim community from the government.

Recalling the destruction of mosques and killing on Muslims in places of worship by the Tamil Tiger terrorists, the President said his government has taken steps to renovate the destroyed structures and restore the lives of affected people. All infrastructure facilities including hospitals and schools have been re-established during the past few years, President Rajapaksa noted.

The President stressed that he will be committed to strengthen fraternity with Muslims in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, Senior Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Deputy Minister Abdul Cader, MP A. H. M. Azwer also participated in the meeting in Kandy.

Later in the day addressing a massive election rally held at the Hatton Danbar Grounds in Nuwara Eliya, the President said the government will launch a housing programme to replace the line rooms in the tea estates.

He also said the government has launched programs to develop the schools in the estates to provide better education for the children of the estate workers.

A large crowed of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities gathered to the rally amidst heavy rain experiencing in the area.

Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mahinda Amaraweera, Premalal Jayasekera, MPs P. Digambaram, Vadivel Suresh and Lohan Ratwatte attended the rally.