Presidential Election; A test for the SLMC’s bargaining power - Hakeem

We are conducting these campaign rallies not only to secure victory for the UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesainghe but also to protect and strengthen the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, when he addressed a rally held in support of Ranil Wickremasinghe at Akkaraichenai, in Muthur, Friday, October 28.

"SLMC has identified economic and development needs of Muslims living in villages and areas across the island and has entered into an agreement with the UNP to improve those", he said.

Hakeem also said that without the support of the SLMC no person could enter Parliament from Trincomalee.

He said that he was aware of the valuable contributions of the people of Muthur for the party, and those would be honoured and respected in the right way. Those who just raise their voice on the security situation had no explanation on the discriminations cast on the community in P-TOMS, he added.

The JVP will come before you claiming that they had cleaned and repaired your houses, in order to convince you to vote for their candidate. The JVP has plans to totally curtail the bargaining power of our party. This presidential election is a test for the bargaining powers our party which we have had right through. Muslims must decide as to who should determine the outcome of this presidential election? The Muslims, Tamils or the JVP, Hakeem added.

You must also decide whether to give in the powers of this movement which you have fostered to its traitors and the JVP, he said.

We have requested Ranil Wickremasinghe to find immediate solutions to the discrimination cast on the Muslim fishermen of Muthur by the security personnel.

"Mahinda Rajapakse was the Minister of Fisheries for six years, was he able to provide a single Multi-day Boat to the fishermen in Muthur? Not even single ordinary boat was given to these fishermen", he said.

‘Mahinda, who failed to do any thing so far for the Muslim fishing community in the East, What he will do for the betterment of the Muslims after he becomes the President?' He queried.