SLMC MPs resigning indication of Govt’s success in East

Senior Presidential advisor and Member of Parliament Basil Rajapaksa told Asian Tribune that Rauff Hakeem, Basheer Cegu Dawood and Hassan Ali from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) by resigning their Parliamentary seats and coming forward to contest in the Provincial Council elections has vindicated the position of the Government.

He added that this shows that the liberation of the East is now working in the way the Government expected and democracy has dawned in the East.

That is why Hakeem and his other two party members resigned the Parliamentary position and came forward to contest in the Provincial Council elections, he said.

Rajapaksa pointed out that this shows that the people believe that Provincial Council has real powers and that to be a member of the Provincial Council seems more powerful than to be a Member of Parliament.

He said that was a good sign and these leaders are confident of what the Government is doing to bring peace and stability in the country, Rajapaksa said.

“Those who downplayed the liberation of the East from the LTTE are now assured that democracy is taking root in the East,” he added.

Asked on what ticket the SLMC leaders are contesting, Rajapaksa said they are contesting in the UNP ticket and in the Aliya (Elephant) symbol.

He said until now, the SLMC spoke about the Muslims in the East.

The SLMC is a Muslim Party and “Tree” was the party symbol, Rajapaksa said.

“It is a pity that Hakeem has let down the Muslims and the Tree symbol, in the heart of the Muslims in the East,” Rajapaksa said.

He said: “Unfortunately the SLMC leader has cut down their Tree symbol in the Eastern province.

“Many say that it was a great let-down of the Muslim people in the East,” Rajapaksa said

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