SLMC confident of sorting out issues on LG Bill
by P. Krishnaswamy
 The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has thanked the Government for
its gesture of goodwill in agreeing to discuss some of their concerns
over the proposed Local Authorities Election Amendment Bill and
discussions will be held shortly, party General Secretary M.T.Hassan Ali
MP told the Sunday Observer.
The SLMC is confident of sorting out all issues at the discussions
and followed by the discussions they will also hold talks with the Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) at the parliamentary complex to exchange views,
he said.
The SLMC which quit its alliance with the Opposition and supported
the recently passed 18th Amendment to the Constitution in an expression
of solidarity with the Government had submitted to the Government,
through Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, their stance that
some of the clauses of the proposed Bill will have to be amended to
accommodate the aspirations of the minorities and provide adequate
representation to them in local government bodies. The Government has
agreed to it, Ali said.
SLMC members of the Eastern Provincial Council expressed concern when
the Bill was taken up for discussion although it was approved by the
Council hastily in spite of a request by them to postpone the approval
until an amicable agreement was reached with the Government on amending
the relevant clauses, he said.
With the Government now agreeing to a more detailed discussion on the
Bill they hope to sort out matters amicably, Ali said.
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