President Maithripala Sirisena today said that the root cause for the demand for a federal solution should be found and answered to move forward as a unitary state.

Speaking at the SLFP May Day Rally in Galle, he said that the federal demand came from the north even in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

The government should take a conciliatory approach and grant the rights of the people of the country if it needs to move forward, he added.

Sirisena also said that it was the duty of the people to safeguard the hard-won democracy and called upon all people to join hands with the government to achieve this goal.