Kono — Muslim religious leaders from all over Sierra Leone converged in the eastern district town of Kono Thursday to offer special national prayers for President Ernest Bai Koroma and his cabinet ministers and for the prevalence of unity, peace and tranquility among Sierra Leoneans.

The objective of the ceremony was to bring together religious leaders to foster peace and unity and to collaborate with each other for the promotion of good governance, political and religious tolerance and non-violence activities among citizens of the country.

The religious leaders also discussed issues of moral values, education and social activities for the youths and children, whom they considered as assets of the state.

Chairman of the ceremony, Alhaji Sheik Mohamed Lamin Koroma, who doubles as the Bombali district Chief Imam, thanked his colleagues for their active participation in the ceremony, which he said was to ask God's forgiveness and for peace to prevail upon the country.

He said a similar ceremony was held in 2008 in Makeni where they agreed to make the event rotational from one region to the other.

"We pray that God will touch the hearts of our children to stop violence and riotous conducts. As religious leaders, I want us to focus on the problems faced as a nation and pray for forgiveness," Sheik Koroma said, adding that the congregation was important to meet and discuss the development of the country.

Libyan missionary and Chief Imam of the 'Gadaffi mosque' at Rokupa in the east-end of Freetown, Alhaji Sheik Ibrahim Bangura said the ceremony was a historic achievement for religious leaders as it would help strengthen their relationship.

He said children are very important in any society and that it was the responsibility of all stakeholders to come together for the development of the future generation.

"If we can succeed in imparting quality education and training in our future leaders, it will help greatly for the development of Sierra Leone," he said.