Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

All Muslim ministers decide to resign

3 June 2019 06:05 pm - 6     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

All Muslim ministers including cabinet, state and deputy ministers have decided to resign from their portfolios, Minister Rauff Hakeem said today.

Addressing a news briefing at Temple Trees in Colombo, Minister Hakeem said they would support the government remaining as backbench MPs to ensure the government’s survival.

“We will assist the government to survive but their survival will depend on their conduct on conducting investigations thoroughly and properly and do justice to everyone equally,” he said. Accordingly, cabinet ministers Kabir Hashim, Rauff Hakeem, M.H.A. Haleem and Rishad Bathiudeen, State Ministers Faizal Cassim, H. M. M. Harees, Ameer Ali Shihabdeen and Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana and Deputy Minister Abdullah Mahrooff have decided to resign.

Minister Hakeem said they decided to resign from the portfolios to facilitate investigations to be conducted in a free and fair manner, following a discussion with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“We had a lengthy discussion with the Prime Minister this evening and he let us take a collective decision independently,” he said.

He said investigations should be expedited and completed within one month so that they could be vindicated from the allegations.

“Investigations should be conducted by the CID against the allegations against Muslim politicians. We do not believe that we could expect reasonable solution to this issue from a Parliament Select Committee in this regard. Only the CID can do that,” he said.

He said that they were ready to face any punishment, if any of them were found guilty and added that innocent people should not be punished.

“But as a matter fact, what is happening today is innocent people are at the receiving end. They have become victims. It is true that some of the perpetrators of the April 21 incident were among our community. But we cooperated fully from the very first day to assist all law enforcement agencies and tri forces to establish sanity in the country and find the truth,” he said and added that “We have been suffering heavier harassment. There are several who are languishing in remand prisons on minor issues. We expect the government to complete the inquiry thoroughly and fully,” he said.

UNP General Secretary and Minister Kabir Hashim said allegations had been levelled against some politicians that they were assisting terrorism and influencing the police investigations and added that they resigned from the portfolios to assist the investigations.

“Some people wanted to make the country a blood bath using this issue,’ he said.

All the Muslim ministers representing the government including Minister Rishad Bathiudeen attended the news conference. (Ajith Siriwardana)

Video by RM


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 6

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • LP Monday, 03 June 2019 06:53 PM

    If consider the Sri Lanka population, number of ministry post allocated to Muslim are too much to their population.

    Joseph Monday, 03 June 2019 06:59 PM

    Good news. God bless our mother land

    Nalaka Monday, 03 June 2019 06:59 PM

    Strategic move to avoid further investigations?

    Hermen Monday, 03 June 2019 07:02 PM

    Brothers you have made the wrong decision. Put the country in front not the community. All issues can be resolved.

    Mark Monday, 03 June 2019 07:04 PM

    Never knew so many in there... So there is a reason for people shouting

    Kushan Monday, 03 June 2019 07:05 PM

    Moving from front bench to back bench serves no purpsose. Some of these ministers should leave parliament with immediate effect!


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H