Reports alleging the existence of a dispute within the leadership of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and that the party is on the brink of a split, following its decision to contest the upcoming election under the UPFA ticket, are completely false, says a top member of the party.
Certain media reports on Sunday had claimed that several of the SLMC top brass had walked out during the Supreme Council meeting last Friday, when the party leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem had announced the decision to contest under the ruling coalition.
It was also alleged that SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali had boycotted the meeting.
However, the National Organiser of the SLMC Youth Wing, A. M. Jameel refuted the rumors stating that false information is being spread by the opposition in an attempt to cripple the party during the significant election period. He termed it as a ‘conspiracy by the opposition’.
After the SLMC leadership decided to contest the upcoming election in three Provincial Councils under the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), rumors have started to spread that the party is likely to split. These are completely untrue, the Former Eastern Province Councilor said.
He stated that the decision was made following discussions between the party leader Rauf Hakeem and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He conceded that a several party members did not favor the decision, however added, that it did not adversely affect the party.
On the absence of Hasan Ali at Friday’s Supreme Council meeting, Jameel said it was due to the General Secretary being sick on that day.
Jameel said he had met and inquired from Hasan Ali regarding the matter and that the General Secretary had stated that he was resting at home as he was not feeling well.
The National Organiser of the SLMC Youth Wing further alleged that the National Congress led by A.L.M. Athaulla and the All Ceylon People’s Congress led by Rishad Bathiudeen cannot bare the ‘intelligent decision’ made by Rauf Hakeem regarding the allocating of electoral seats and therefore are spreading these rumors.
The SLMC had held a series of discussions with other parties as well as within the party before finally deciding to contest under the UPFA. The SLMC had demanded the Easter Province Chief Minister candidature to the party, however the UPFA has decided to give it to Shivaneshathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.
