SLMC MPs reached agreement with MR

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Parliamentarians who voted in support of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution last week, had reached an understanding with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa before the vote.

SLMC Deputy Leader H.M.M. Harees, who was among the four MPS to back the 20th Amendment, said that several key issues were discussed with the Prime Minister and senior government members before the vote.

He told reporters in Kalmunai yesterday that the issues discussed were related to the Muslim community.

However, he said that most matters could not be revealed to the media as it was “sensitive”.

Harees asserted that the SLMC MPS who backed the 20th Amendment to the Constitution had no intention of joining the government.

He said that it was very clear that there is no room to create another Ministry for the four MPS as there is a limit on the number of Ministers who can be in the cabinet, as per the 20th Amendment.

Harees further noted that the 20th Amendment did not pose any threat to the Muslim community.

He also said that the four SLMC MPS who voted for the 20th Amendment had the support of party leader Rauff Hakeem. Harees said that Hakeem allowed the MPS to vote according to their conscience.

He said that if they had gone against a position taken by the party on the matter the SLMC can sack them.(Easwaran Rutnam)