Not in a hurry to accept portfolios

By Ajith Siriwardana

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said yesterday they were not in a hurry to accept ministerial portfolios and said they would do so on a decision taken by his party.

He told media following an event in Colombo that all Muslim ministers resigned from their portfolios for the sake of the country. “All Muslim ministers resigned together. If we accept the portfolios again, we will do it together. We did not resign in fear of Ven. Rathana Thera but for the sake of the country. The Muslim community is not responsible for what Zahran did,” he said. He said leaders of the Muslim parties were given the authority to decide whether to accept the portfolios at a meeting held recently and added that they were yet to decide on accepting the portfolios.