Minister of National Languages and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanaykkara said new laws on hate speech will be included in the penal code in the near future. 

"Many people who have made derogatory remarks on other religions have been prosecuted before the court of law. This process will be further strengthened when such laws are introduced," the Minister said.

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The Minister says the government does not approve religious intolerance and harassment against ethnic minorities. He also stated that certain extremist and fundamentalist groups operating in various sectors could be construed as a hindrance to national unity.

When asked whether some extremist groups in the country are backed by the forces within the government, the Minister said he was not aware of anyone in the government who was against ethnic and religious harmony. "But I am not in a position to guarantee," the Minister said. 

Meanwhile, he added that he had already given a proposal to introduce a bilingual national language to Sri Lanka. Under the new proposal, the Minister said, the national anthem would be sung in both Sinhala and Tamil. However, no final decision has been made by the government in this regard.