T V Sriram

Colombo, Nov 6 (PTI) The Muslim community which co-exists peacefully with other communities in Sri Lanka's Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar districts was deprived of freedom by the vanquished LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said.

Rajapaksa, who was addressing Muslim women at his official residence here yesterday, said the community was subjected to LTTE's ethnic cleansing in the three northern districts in the 1990s.

"LTTE terrorists attempted to shatter the amity between communities by chasing away Muslims living in Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar districts," he said.

The displaced Muslims are now living in refugee camps in Puttalam district, the President said, adding that a resettlement drive is going on and they will be rehabilitated soon, state-owned Daily News reported today.

"The bond between communities is very strong. A number of development projects have been implemented in the Northern Province under the Uthuru Vasanthaya," Rajapaksa said.