SLMC invited to join Government

by Mohammed NAALIR

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Badiudeen has invited the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to join the Government considering the regional development and the rights of displaced people.Minister Badiudeen was addressing a meeting at Alankuda to convey the gratitude of the Government to the masses for the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election. President Rajapaksa recorded a landslide victory by obtaining 1.8 million more votes.

He said that the SLMC and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with the assistance of some Police and Army officers received 70,000 votes for Sarath Fonseka but they alone secured 32,700 votes at the presidential election.

He said that during the last presidential election in 2005 President Rajapaksa secured 17,000 votes in the Wanni district but this time the number had increased to 32,700. The President received these votes from the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC).

He said that President Rajapaksa will govern the country for another eight years. We must continue to support him. Thus resettlement could be expedited while initiating a mega development drive in the region. Nobody need fear to cast their vote.

They can vote according to their free will. It is their democratic right. We will never leave room for any one to force another to cast his vote. Legal action will be taken against persons who engage in such activities.Rauff Hakeem (MP) supported Sarath Fonseka knowing that he could fail in the election, Minister Badiudeen said.