President promises fix for ethnic problem by end-2023

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday promised to resolve the ethnic issue by the end of the year.

“My intention is to address the ethnic problem in the country while implementing the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. We are currently in discussions, and I hope to reach a mutually agreeable solution by the end of this year,” the President said during his virtual address at his party UNP’s May Day rally at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

“To the Tamil parties, I say that it is futile to distance oneself from this endeavour. If we are to address the issues faced by the Tamil community in this country, let us collaborate within this system, particularly in the Parliament as part of the Government,” the President said.

“It is important for us to move forward while respecting and protecting the rights of all communities including the majority Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher minorities without marginalising anyone. We are all committed to achieving this goal,” he added.