Salley wants Muslim parties to join hands

 

Maverick UPFA politician Azath Salley requested the three major Muslim political parties, recognized by the Elections Commissioner, to join hands and make known their election manifesto to the Muslim community, in the Eastern Province, before the Provincial Council elections, to be held later this year.

 

Salley, a former UNP Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council, who now acts as an in dependent in the UPFA Group, told The Island that the Muslim political parties, headed by Cabinet Ministers Rauff Hakeem (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress), Rishard Bathiudeen (All Island Muslim Congress) and M. Athaullah (National Congress) must make their solutions, for the burning issues that remain unsolved concerning the Muslim community, destroyed despite being in the Cabinet.

 

He said that the Muslim political parties contesting the forthcoming Provincial Council elections separately will cause further friction and divisions among the Muslim voters in the villages they live.

 

Salley said that the SLMC was formed by the late M. H . M. Ashraff to identify the issues pertaining to the Muslim community in general and special issues relating to the Eastern Province Muslims, who are a majority in the province.

 

He said that the leaders of the three major Muslim political parties have not made any contribution to resolve the burning issues facing the Muslim community in the Eastern Province and other areas, particularly the tsunami housing scheme in Deegavapi, in the Ampara district and attacks on Muslim religious places in the country.

 

The outspoken Azath Sally said that the elections coming in the middle of Ramazan was for Muslims to engage themselves in religious and meritorious activities and Muslim political leaders must protect the religion and ethnic rights instead of depending on the perks associated with Cabinet portfolios.

 

(Island)