SLMC ‘hit by defections in East’

Top Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) members are said to be leaving the party in the Eastern Province following its decision to support the UNF in the upcoming Presidential poll.

"SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem has earned the wrath of the Eastern Muslims by his decision to support the UNF," said former party high-command member F. M. Ameerul Ansar Moulana.

The former SLMC deputy national propaganda secretary also said he had now joined the National Congress, a constituent party of the UPFA, in the interest of the Muslim community.

He pointed out that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had earned the support of the Eastern Muslims after liberating them from the clutches of terrorists.

He said the President maintains close ties with Muslim countries and had developed excellent rapport with Eastern Muslims, mastering the Tamil language.

According to sources, other SLMC defectors, included high-ranking party members such as district organizer, urban council chairman and local councillors.

These sources added that SLMC Batticaloa district organizer and Kattankudy Urban Council chairman Marsook Ahamed Lebbe, five SLMC local councilors and a UNP local council member joined the UPFA last Sunday.

The defectors are Nagoor Khan Ramalan (SLMC/ Battticaloa MC), Hayathu Mohammed (SLMC/Kattankudy UC), Abdul Rafeek (SLMC/ Valaichchenai PS), Abdul Wahid (SLMC/Eravurpattu PS), J M Firdous (SLMC/Eravurpattu PS) and Nanda Siri (UNP).

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