Hassan Ali stripped of powers

by Rukshana RIZWIE

The rift in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has widened after party Secretary Hassan Ali was stripped off all his powers. Slamming the actions Ali charged he was being victimised by the SLMC leadership.

Ali said he was disappointed at the treatment he received from the party leadership since the last high command meeting.

“It was decided at the last ‘mandatory’ high command meeting in Kandy that I would be stripped of my powers as Party Secretary,” he said. “I have no idea where all this comes from.

It is my only hope that the matters would be resolved before the next high command meeting,”he said.

Hassan Ali said several members of the SLMC have collectively sent a letter to the leader requesting that their duties be restored. “I am aware that there were negotiations on the matter.”

Ali was conspicuously absent at the SLMC’s 19th Grand Convention at Palamunai, Ampara where the chief guest was President Maithripala Sirisena. Ali’s absence sparked a rift among party constituents. Ali said it was due to this reason that he boycotted the event.

SLMC leader Minister Rauff Hakeem was not available for comment at the time this edition went to press.