Committee led by ex-PM to study tensions

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday pledged to appoint a committee to look into tensions rising between the Sinhalese and Muslim communities.

The decision followed an extensive discussion in the weekly cabinet briefing led by Justice Minister and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem and Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie regarding the prevailing halal controversy and the anti-Muslim sentiment propagated by some extremist groups

.  Following concerns raised by the senior Muslim cabinet ministers, President Rajapaksa said he would appoint a committee to study the developing situation. The Committee is to be headed by former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and is likely to include National Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.