President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed to work closely with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in sorting out the country’s burning issues.

The President made this vow after a religious delegation that met him at his official residence in Fort yesterday, appealed for unity between the ruling party and the main opposition.

The local chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace that met President Rajapaksa insisted that the series of abductions taking place in the country had a negative impact on the economic and social growth in the country and that he in his capacity as the head of state should take serious steps to bring them to a halt.

The delegation requested the President to work in close relationship with the Opposition Leader in order to find solutions for many problems that have arisen in the country.

They had said given the present situation, it was essential for both the government and the opposition to work together without pulling strings from different corners.

“The President yesterday vowed to work closely with the opposition leader,” a spokesman for the delegation told The Bottom Line.

Meanwhile, the President also assured the religious dignitaries that he would put an end to abductions and extra-judicial killings in the country.

The President’s assurance was a sequel to an appeal made by the religious delegation to put an end to abductions and human rights violations taking place in the country.

The President, the spokesman said, had even admitted that there were series of abductions and extra-judicial killings taking place in the country.