Nearly 1,500 persons including Muslim Theologians and businessmen attended the meeting. President Rajapaksa who noted that the Muslim Community had faced an unprecedented catastrophe and destruction for nearly 30 years added that the Government was committed to erase the shadows of that dark era and grant them all their rights.

The President said an interested party was trying to spread fear into the minds of the Muslim Community by spreading a lie to the effect that the Government which suppressed terrorism was now on a mission to suppress Muslims and requested the Muslim Community to understand the Government efforts to improve their lot without falling prey to such malicious rumours.

The President who asserted that the Government was committed to bring justice and solace to any individual or section of society subjected to unfair treatment called upon everyone to stand for the truth by dismissing untruth.

"My sole ambition and objective is to resettle all displaced persons in their former lands and build a country where all can live in peace and harmony devoid of any petty differences as to race, religion or caste," the President added.

Several Muslim delegates who expressed their sentiments that no previous government was able to protect and safeguard Muslims when nearly 20,000 Muslims were evicted from Jaffna within two hours and the terrorists killed a large number of Muslims at Kattankudy.

They said President Rajapaksa and his Government was a blessing not only for Muslims but the whole nation as Muslims had been provided with full protection under their administration. The Muslim businessmen handed over to the President a donation to be credited to the 'Api Wenuwen Api' war heroes fund.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Service Chiefs, IGP and the Director General of the Civil Security Force were also present.