High command extends unconditional support:

SLMC move consolidates national unity - Susil Premajayantha

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI and P. Krishnaswamy

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) move to join the government has further consolidated the writ of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said UPFA Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha.

The SLMC supported the 18th Amendment to the Constitution while being in the Opposition. They have taken the next logical step of joining the government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister said.

The government’s adversaries, local and foreign should realise the stark truth that the government enjoys the support and goodwill of all sections of the society such as Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.

No other government in the past could command the unity and national integrity as the present UPFA government does under the leadership of President Rajapaksa. The President’s vision to create a full-fledged Sri Lankan society could be achieved with the active participation of all sections of the society. It is time for certain sections of the global community which made allegations against Sri Lanka in the past, to understand the stark truth of racial harmony in the country, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the SLMC high command comprising 28 members, including the eight parliamentarians, on Thursday endorsed party leader Rauff Hakeem’s decision to join the government and extend unconditional support, party Chairman Basheer Segu Dawood MP told the Sunday Observer.

The high command also gave its unanimous mandate to Hakeem to take decisions on any future proposals on power devolution to the Tamil-speaking people and hold discussions on other concerns of the minorities, including measures for their adequate representations in local government bodies.

Their decision to join the government was prompted by the need of the hour to participate in national development programs, Dawood said. As desired by the local leaders and organisers of the Eastern province, the high command decided to participate in all development programs for the people in the province who had given their overwhelming mandate to the party at the last general election, he said. The SLMC contested the last General Election on the UNP ticket and eight members were elected from Batticaloa, Digamadulla and the Wanni. The party also secured two National List slots.