MoU with UNP asserts independent decisions:

SLMC committed to support UPFA

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNP asserting their right to take independent decisions on any political issues in the run-up to the April 2010 parliamentary polls, said SLMC General Secretary M.T. Hassen Ali following the Colombo District Court injunction order refraining the UNP from taking any action against the SLMC for supporting the Government.

The SLMC decided to support the Government in the best interests of the Muslim community and this was unanimously endorsed by the party parliamentary group.

They were shocked to receive a show-cause notice from the UNP leadership calling for an explanation as to why they did not consult the UNP whip in Parliament before taking the decision.

When this implied that their parliamentary representation would be challenged on these grounds, they sought a legal remedy and the Court upheld their position, Ali said.

The SLMC will contest many Councils in alliance with the UPFA at the Local Government polls on March 17 under the Betel leaf symbol but due to difficulties in slot allotments, they would contest other Councils in predominantly Muslim areas under the ‘Tree’ symbol.

They have also filed petitions in Court seeking the reversal of the Elections Commissioner’s decision with regard to the rejection of their nominations to six Councils, he said.

The SLMC is strongly committed to working with the Government for the greater prosperity of the nation as a whole while also safeguarding the interests of their community, he said.