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| Saturday, 21 February 2004 |
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| 'Need of the hour to create a government which loves the country': Four UNF Muslim Congress MPs sign pact with Freedom Alliance by Anura Maitipe Four former parliamentarians of the United National Front Government led by former Deputy Highways Minister and leader of the Ashraff faction of the SLMC, A. L. M. Athaullah yesterday signed an agreement with the Freedom Alliance before President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the President's House. The three others are H. I. Anwer Ismail, M. H. M. Haris and M. B. A. Azees. Addressing the media at the Ceylon Continental, Hotel after reaching the agreement, Athaullah said the need of the hour was to create a government which loves the country and its people, but not to have another set of corrupt politicians. Athaullah said their sole aim was to further strengthen the Freedom Alliance and the hands of President Kumaratunga at the April General Election. "We had several rounds of discussions with the JVP and SLFP regarding the policy of the Freedom Alliance over key issues such as ethnic, economy, fisheries, paddy farming and livestock. We totally agree with the policies of the Alliance over these issues and decided to join the Freedom Alliance," Athaullah said. The founder member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, A. H. M. Ashraff formed the party to provide security to the Muslim community without harming the interests of the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils, he said. It is regretful that Rauff Hakeem, who became the Muslim Congress leader following Ashraff's death, has destroyed the party and betrayed the Muslim community for a portfolio, Athaullah said. "Amidst war, the Muslim community in the East, lived in peace. But under the UNP and the LTTE peace agreement, the Muslim community fell from the frying pan to the fire. There is no peace in the East. People live in constant fear," he said. "It was a peaceful period for Minister Rauf Hakeem. He made constant trips to Europe. These Muslims' visits are more than what he made to the East of Sri Lanka to look into the plight. He made these trips under the pretext of finding a modality to solve the ethnic problem. But nothing could be seen in the visits. The visits were mere tours for wining and dining," Athaullah said. Asked which district they would contest, he said other than Digamadulla and Batticaloa, they will also contest Colombo, Kandy and Beruwala. "In the forthcoming election, not only the UNP, but Rauff Hakeem will also have to pay for their sins," Athaullah said. |
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