While claiming that there was no increase in crime in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that due to end of a three decade long war, several tiny incidents had been highlighted.

“When the country was in turmoil with a thirty year old war gong on, people did not think of the petty problems in the country, they were concerned for their children, their relations and for the safety of their families. But, after peace returned to the country small incidents have been highlighted, with some incidents being blown out of proportion and as a result people called on to take action, resulting in the country becoming agitated enough to believe that crime had gone out of control in the country,” the President said in Kandy after receiving the “Sannas Pathraya” from the Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela yesterday, formally announcing the end of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Speaking further the President said that “earlier the crime was not a concern, but after peace returned to the country it has been foremost in the minds of the people. When there is an accident people are concerned. He said that it signifies that the country has come back to normality. (L.B.Senaratne and J.A.L.Jayasinghe)