Mhanida had no plans for Kalmuani Coastal District - Hakeem

"A separate Provincial Council and a Non Contiguous Unit are the inevitable needs to ensure the defence of the Muslim Community and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has this in its policy. The only institution that could ensure these needs of Muslims is the United National Party, and the leader of that party has included the self autonomy and the Non Contagious Unit for Muslims in his manifesto" said the SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem when addressing an election campaign rally at Al-Manar Central College in Maruthamunai, Tueday (25).

He added that "when a cabinet paper was presented to establish a coastal administrative district covering the areas of Kalmunai,Pothuvil and Sammanthurai in the Ampara district and a separate administrative district in the North Western Province made of two electorates; Kuliyapitiya and Nikkawaritiya, Mr. Athaullah opposed to it, demanding that Akkaraipattu be made the capital of the proposed coastal district of Kalmunai".

Hakeem said that when he had prolonged the matter for some time and re-negotiated it with the people of Kalmunai, Mr. Athaullah had again turned it down preventing the tabling of a cabinet paper.

‘It is those who jeopardized such initiatives are now criticising that the SLMC did nothing. However we will achieve these with the UNP's presidential candidate' he said.

He reminded that a separate administrative unit for the Muslim community was the dream of their late leader Mr. M.H.M. Ashraff, who had continuously warned the Muslims that even though they were unable make the dream come true immediately, it would be the JVP who would oppose it.

‘Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had no plans for a coastal district, at our discussions with him he told us that he would consider this once he is elected as the president. He also said he intends forming a commission to redefine boundaries of districts and provinces, as demanded by the JHU and the JVP' Hakeem said.

‘It was very clear that Mr. Rajapaksa had fallen in the snare of the JHU and the JVP, who went on to claim on political stages that they could bring in victory for Rajapakse without the support of the SLMC. This encouraged us to work hard to ensure he is defeated', he said.

National Muslim Congress Ceased to Exist forthwith – Harees

Former Parliamentarians H.M. Haress and M.B.A. Azeez who represented the Digamadulla electoral district, officially re-joined the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress today.

Haress, who was the Secretary General of the National Muslim Congress (NMC) addressing a media conference this morning said, that a non- Contiguous unit for Muslim was the prime concern for them when they left the SLMC to support the UPFA. ‘But the UPFA government miserably failed'.

Addressing the media, SLMC Rauff Hakeem said that two former Parliamentarians have re-joined the party to ensure the victory of the UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe.

‘In bringing UPFA to power we played major role in our areas, we have produced a large number MPs, Ministers and Deputy Ministers. But this government failed to deliver what was expected', said Azeez.

‘In the run-up for the presidency Ranil Wickremasinghe has included vital demands including a Non Contiguous Unit, submitted on behalf of the Muslims by the SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem. Therefore, to strengthen the SLMC and hands of its leader Rauff Hakeem, we have re-joined the party, today said' Harees.

When asked as to what was the fate of the NMA, Minister Athaulla and Deputy Minister Anver Ismail who represented the NMC? Harees said that they were sacked from the party after their failures in the P-TOMS and they identified themselves as members of the National Congress, "as far as the party National Muslim Congress is concerned, it ceased to exist forthwith" he said.