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| Sunday, 03 August 2003 |
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N - E Muslim MPs Forum to finalise new formula by P.Krishnaswamy The North-East Muslim MPs' Forum is expected to finalise their devolution formula for the Muslim community, under a unified Northeast Interim Administration, next week. The formula was expected to be finalised three weeks ago, but was delayed due to conflicting views of the MPs. Secretary General of the Forum M.L.A.M.Hisbullah MP told the "Sunday Observer" that the formula will be based on proposals, working papers and suggestions of parliamentarians representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), National Unity Alliance (NUA) and the Ashraff Congress (AC) which are its constituents. Once finalised the formula will be submitted to the Government leadership with the request that it be incorporated in the main Interim Administration formula now under the scrutiny of the LTTE, he said, adding that their next step would depend on the reaction to their request. Meanwhile, SLMC Secretary General Hassan Ali said that although it was agreed that an independent Muslim delegation can participate in the next round of talks, as and when it was held, this was not provided for in the IA formula forwarded to the LTTE through the Norwegians, according to their information. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had assured their leader, Minister Rauff Hakeem, that a Muslim delegation would be included in the talks as a third party and they were hoping that this would be honoured, he said. The SLMC was in the process of meeting foreign diplomats, Muslim intellectuals and parliamentarians explaining and apprising them of the political aspirations and rights of the Muslims, he said. They have already met envoys of US, Germany and Italy and would be meeting the others in the coming weeks, he further said. |
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