SLMC says Govt. could not take the Tamils for a ride

by Our Political Correspondent -  Tuesday, 01 Oct 2013                                                        

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M.T. Hassan Ali, requested the government to respect the outcome of the Northern Province polls, and expedite the process to find a political solution to the Tamil question.

Addressing the media, MP Hassan Ali said, although the government had taken the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Muslims in the country for a ride, they could not do so with the Tamils in the North. “The government must address the unresolved humanitarian problems in the North and implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). Failure to do so would lead to the government having to face a big problem at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva next year.

The international community will be all out to act against the government. Therefore, taking the outcome of the elections for the Northern Provincial Council, the government must take prompt measures to address the unresolved issues of the Tamils and the minorities in the country,” Hassan Ali said.

Referring to the manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), he said the manifesto was an important one as the whole world was speaking about its contents.

“Therefore, the government, without adopting a confrontational approach when engaging with the TNA, must instead explore ways and means of settling issues amicably,” he said.

SLMC threatens to withdraw support to EPC administration By S.G. Nathan-Tuesday, 01 Oct 2013 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has warned that it would withdraw its support to the current administration of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) if it drags on without finding satisfactory solution to the land problems faced by the Muslim community in Pulmoddai in the Trincomalee District. The leader of the SLMC in the EPC, A.M. Jameel, issued the warning at the monthly meeting of the EPC held on Monday. Chairperson of the EPC, Aryawathie Galapathi, presided. As the meeting was called to order, EPC councilor, M.R. Anwer, of the SLMC brought an urgent motion in regard to the land appropriation now taking place in Pulmoddai, a traditional Muslim village, that is impacting on the Muslim community. Seconding the motion, Councillor, Jameel, who is the SLMC group leader said, lands belonging to Tamils and Muslims are being appropriated in the Eastern Province but the EPC is unable to stop such appropriation effectively. If the PC administration fails to take prompt action against such appropriation of lands, the SLMC would be forced to withdraw the support it extends to the current administration of the EPC. During the past one year rule of the current EPC administration, no meaningful steps had been taken is taken to safeguard the rights of the people He wanted the EPC administration to take immediate, meaningful steps to solve the Pulmoddai land problems. “The Chief Minister should exercise his powers to settle land problems faced by the Muslim community. SLMC Group Leader, A.M. Jameel, hailed the outstanding victory of the Tamil National Alliance in the Northern Provincial council election held last month, and congratulated the  Chief Minister, C.V. Wigneswaran on behalf of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. (Ceylon Today Online)