Speaking at an event in Galle, she said that the majority of those will betray all policies to secure power.

"If it was possible to come to power, steal repeatedly and remain in power until death, they would do so," she said.

But that is not what humanity is about, she further said.

"Every religious leader has urged their followers to live as noble men. We should belong to a single race and religion. That is the race of humans and the religion of humanity.

While we attempt to safeguard our own national and religious cultural traditions, we will lose nothing by admiring and appreciating the culture of another masses, Ms. Kumaratunga said.