Sri Lanka, Jan. 19 -- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has urged against labeling people as racists simply for practicing their religious beliefs, said that mutual respect among cultures is essential for national unity.

Addressing a public meeting in Thambuttegama, Rajapaksa said it was wrong to describe people of the South as racists when they visit Jaffna for spiritual observances, or to brand Northerners as racists when they travel to Kataragama for worship.

"Don't be ready to label the people of the South as racists just because they go to Jaffna to practice asceticism, and don't label the people of the North as racists when they come to worship Kataragama Devihamuduruwo. That...