President tells IGP:

No action will be taken against those vilifying him

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed that he would not take any action against those vilifying and slandering him.

President Rajapaksa has told the IGP that as a mature politician, there was no need for him to proceed with action against those who make false allegations and derogatory remarks against him at various public fora.

This follows media reports that the Police were pursuing cases against several politicians and others who had vilified President Rajapaksa in public. According to Presidential Spokesman Bandula Jayasekara, the President has taken a sympathetic view of the whole issue and suggested to put an end to probes underway.

The President, however, notes with concern the increasing defamatory attacks on ordinary people, businessmen, artistes and Government Servants and told the police to do justice to those affected.

Meanwhile, participating in a live television phone-in interview session on Friday night, President Rajapaksa said victory at the snap elections called for three Provincial Councils in September would silence his domestic and international critics.Addressing voters of the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces, the President said that his Government had faced unfair international criticism for ending three-decades of terrorism.

He said local and international critics point an accusing finger at his Government for human rights abuses to embarrass him and the Government and the voters of the three provinces have been given an opportunity to answer them in a fitting manner.The President said he would never permit communalism to raise its ugly head again and would treat all three major ethnic groups with fairness.