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by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachci

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Minister Rauf Hakeem had told his rebel MPs yesterday that this was not the time to place the Government in trouble by boycotting Parliament.

Ten SLMC MPs yesterday boycotted Parliament. They were absent at the voting on the Electricity Reform Bill.

"Until Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe assures them of a separate administration or an alternative solution for Muslims in the North - East they will continue to boycott Parliament. However, there is a lot of justification in their demand," Minister Hakeem said.

Hakeem told the media in Parliament: "I as the SLMC leader explained to them that we have to be careful of our bargaining power and use the mandate prudently. We should not engage in impulsive and irrational demands. I believe that the Prime Minister can give them an assurance within his limits and the SLMC Parliamentary group will realise the limits of the Prime Minister," he added.

Minister Hakeem said the Government should ensure the rights of Muslims in the North- East.

"We want the Prime Minister to give an assurance of a separate Muslim administration or suggest an alternative solution. The LTTE has also asked the Government to suggest an alternative for the North and East," he added.

The LTTE cannot rule the North and East areas without the support of Muslims. Muslims fear giving an Interim Administration to the LTTE because the LTTE harassed Muslims despite signing the MOU.

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