Feb 04, Colombo: The Anti-Imperialist Peoples Movement (AIPM) of Sri Lanka says that there's an attempt to create a rift between the Muslims and Sinhalese in order to push the country's Muslim community to join forces with the Tamil community.

Co-convener of the AIPM, Ven. Dambara Amila Thero has said that international elements were behind the creation of an anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.

He has explained that foreign forces like the UN and the Commonwealth are trying to force Sri Lanka to hold a referendum to set up a devolution unit by merging the North and the East.

He has observed that the anti-Muslim campaign was being carried out in the country for a reason, which is to push the Muslims to join forces with the country's Tamil community to fight for a separate state.

He has said a Tamil-Muslim cooperation would be favorable to get a pro-merger result at a referendum.

According to Ven. Amila Thero, the country was heading to a decisive time period with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions this month and the Commonwealth summit in November.