Constitutional amendments by UNP detrimental to Muslims:nc

The UNP has brought constitutional amendments detrimental to the Muslim community and sadly there are Muslim representatives supporting such amendments, former Minister and Leader of the National Congress A.L.M Athaullah said.

He made the above comments at the commemorative event of late M.H.M Ashraff held in Eravur on Saturday, organised by the Rahma Organization in Eravur. “Late Leader M.H.M Ashraff was one who truly wanted to fulfill the political aspirations of the Muslim community. We have to often remind this as the present day youth are unaware of the history. We lived in a dark era for the last 30 years and hence an 18- year- youth today must have been an infant then and quite obviously that person would not know the history of the past. The Muslim community is in a dilemma today. Whenever a Presidential, Parliamentary or Provincial election is held, Mr.rauff Hakeem, unaware of the true aspirations of the Muslim community acts in a manner so as to please his masters merely for his political survival,” he said.

National Congress Leader A.L.M Athaullah said that the SLMC representatives were engaged in acts totally contrary to the policies spelled out by late Leader Ashraff. SLMC was established with the main objective of fulfilling the aspirations of the Muslim community. How far had the SLMC fulfilled the aspirations of the Muslims after the demise of Leader Ashraff, queried, the National Congress Leader.

He said that Late Leader Ashraff had often said that as long as Ranil Wikremesinghe held the mantle of the UNP leadership, the Muslim community and the SLMC would not extend their support to that party. “Mr.ashraff knew the mind-set of Ranil Wickremesinghe very well. He was well aware of his foreign policies and affiliation to Zionism. At last Ashraff departed from us. In fact, it was not an accidental death but he was caught in a plot laid against him. Rauff Hakeem on whom we placed our confidence is acting totally contrary to what was spelled out by Ashraff. Late Leader Ashroff held talks with the Tami Leaders for a long time and we are well aware of them,” National Congress Leader A.L.M Athaullah said.