He made the statement at the opening of the common candidate - Maithripala Sirisena's election office in Kantale, Trincomalee district.

Gunewardena charged that the government is showing a good face to the Muslims while at the same time it was using extremist religious groups to antoganise them.

He said it was no secret that it were the Muslim nations that supported Mahinda Rajapsksa and his government during the human rights sessions of the United Nations in Geneva.

He added that peace nor freedom will prevail in a country without religious coexistence.

(BBC Sandeshaya)