Sri Lankan President Mathripala Sirisena today criticised elements working against the reconciliation process in the country. Speaking at the 69th Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face in Colombo, the President said that the reconciliation process has drawn the praise of those in Sri Lanka and overseas. He said that those working against the reconciliation process are clearly working against the country. <br/><br/>The President called for support to take the country forward by winning international support and assistance. He said true independence means to free ourselves from shackles of poverty, ill-health and confines of divisive identities.<br/><br/>The President comments came as the reconciliation measures initiated by his government in the form of new constitution making and redressal of war crimes are facing stiff resistance from his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse. The latter, though belonging to same political party as President Sirisena, has formed an opposition block to halt such measures. President and minority ethnic groups have called upon Rajapakse to help them achieve reconciliation goals. Sri Lanka has suffered a three decades long ethnic conflict on the issue of separate Tamil homeland and delegation of more powers to minority provinces.