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by P. Krishnaswamy

The latest development in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) rift has taken the form of the two contending factions holding separate high level membership meetings to claim leadership rights, according to political sources. The SLMC which is represented by 12 MPs is a constituent of the ruling United National Front (UNF).

Minister Hakeem met Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake last Thursday to make representations that the Athaullah faction's activities were illegal and violations of the party constitution. When contacted by the Sunday Observer, Mr. Dissanayake declined to comment saying the matter was not within his purview at the present.

Minister Hakeem is scheduled to address a public meeting today in Addalachchenai in the Eastern province, party sources said. He is expected to speak on law and order situation in the East, the future activities of the SLMC and the Muslims' right for self-determination, the sources further said. He is also scheduled to meet Muslim lawyers of the Ampara district today at 3 p.m. at the Oluvil Mahapola Training Institute for discussions over the Muslims' concerns.

Last Wednesday evening the SLMC High Command met with Minister Hakeem in the chair and expelled eight frontline party members, including two Deputy Ministers, from the positions they were holding in the party.

The High Command also appointed a disciplinary committee to inquire into the charges against them, the sources further said. This followed an SLMC delegates conference held on the same afternoon in Akkaraipattu in the Eastern Province with Minister A. L. M. Athaullah in the chair.

Athaullah, and A. L. M. Hafrat MP who held the positions of Chairman and Secretary General of the party respectively and were earlier sacked by Hakeem, were re-elected to their former positions at this delegates conference. Five other MPs were elected to the High Command after sacking six opponents of the faction, the sources confirmed.

Leader of the Athaullah faction, S. Subairdeen Hadjiyar, told the Sunday Observer that he was the lawful leader of the party, elected by the party High Command which had also sacked Minister Hakeem on several indictments.

He added that 90 percent of the Muslim people were with them and they were fighting for a genuine cause.

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