By Randev Jayasinha
A group of Muslim politicians had yesterday requested Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene and defuse tensions amongst communities.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen, MP’s A.H.M. Fowzie, Mohamed Harees, Ameer Ali, and Abdullah Maharoof Mohammadu were among those who attended the meeting.
Speaking after the discussions, MP Hakeem said that the discussions were held with the purpose of explaining to the Leader of the Opposition the reason for their collective resignation from the assigned ministerial portfolios.
“Although we have been removed from our portfolios, in keeping with parliamentary traditions, Muslim party leaders will however occupy the seats in front, and we will use whatever leverage that we currently have as party leaders to take certain decisions in Parliament.”
Hakeem further added that Muslim politicians had decided to step down from their posts to ensure that investigations are carried out without hindrance and that they too will provide their fullest support to ensure that all culprits in connection with the Easter Sunday incidents are brought to justice.
The Muslim MPs had also urged Rajapaksa to take the necessary steps to ease tensions between the communities as they believe that a majority will listen to what he has to say.
Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who also attended the talks, said that Rajapaksa had expressed his concern with regard to the joint resignation of all Muslim Ministers as he believed that it could have certain negative outcomes within communities.
“The Opposition Leader has expressed that a clear demarcation may form between the Muslim community and the other communities in Sri Lanka as a result of their joint resignation.”
National Co-ordinator for Muslim Affairs to the Opposition Leader Shiraz Yoonus expressed his concern to The Sunday Morning that if the Muslim politicians believed that the Government failed in protecting the Muslim community, those individuals should have moved away from the Government completely instead of acting upon a temporary move to amalgamate and to not continue to misguide the people into believing that the Muslim people are united in their decisions.
Rambukwella further added that the former President had also expressed his concern over the growing cultures seen within the nation and had said that these new cultures could lead to unnecessary conflicts between communities owing to mistrust.
“The Muslim political leaders had expressed their concern about these actions as well and had said that these are merely passing ‘fashion trends’ and that this culture would not be accepted by Sri Lankans. However, they iterated that they would look into the eradication of terrorism and Islamic extremism within the State, in the hopes of maintaining peace and security in Sri Lanka.”
As a final request, the Muslim MPs had requested that the Opposition Leader address these issues of conflict, stating that a message to the people from the former President would ease tensions amongst communities, to which Rajapaksa agreed.
Pictures by Indika Handuwala
A group of Muslim politicians had yesterday requested Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene and defuse tensions amongst communities.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen, MP’s A.H.M. Fowzie, Mohamed Harees, Ameer Ali, and Abdullah Maharoof Mohammadu were among those who attended the meeting.
Speaking after the discussions, MP Hakeem said that the discussions were held with the purpose of explaining to the Leader of the Opposition the reason for their collective resignation from the assigned ministerial portfolios.
“Although we have been removed from our portfolios, in keeping with parliamentary traditions, Muslim party leaders will however occupy the seats in front, and we will use whatever leverage that we currently have as party leaders to take certain decisions in Parliament.”
Hakeem further added that Muslim politicians had decided to step down from their posts to ensure that investigations are carried out without hindrance and that they too will provide their fullest support to ensure that all culprits in connection with the Easter Sunday incidents are brought to justice.
The Muslim MPs had also urged Rajapaksa to take the necessary steps to ease tensions between the communities as they believe that a majority will listen to what he has to say.
Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who also attended the talks, said that Rajapaksa had expressed his concern with regard to the joint resignation of all Muslim Ministers as he believed that it could have certain negative outcomes within communities.
“The Opposition Leader has expressed that a clear demarcation may form between the Muslim community and the other communities in Sri Lanka as a result of their joint resignation.”
National Co-ordinator for Muslim Affairs to the Opposition Leader Shiraz Yoonus expressed his concern to The Sunday Morning that if the Muslim politicians believed that the Government failed in protecting the Muslim community, those individuals should have moved away from the Government completely instead of acting upon a temporary move to amalgamate and to not continue to misguide the people into believing that the Muslim people are united in their decisions.
Rambukwella further added that the former President had also expressed his concern over the growing cultures seen within the nation and had said that these new cultures could lead to unnecessary conflicts between communities owing to mistrust.
“The Muslim political leaders had expressed their concern about these actions as well and had said that these are merely passing ‘fashion trends’ and that this culture would not be accepted by Sri Lankans. However, they iterated that they would look into the eradication of terrorism and Islamic extremism within the State, in the hopes of maintaining peace and security in Sri Lanka.”
As a final request, the Muslim MPs had requested that the Opposition Leader address these issues of conflict, stating that a message to the people from the former President would ease tensions amongst communities, to which Rajapaksa agreed.
Pictures by Indika Handuwala