'Basil committed to uplift Muslims'

BATTICALOA: Democratic Unity Alliance Secretary-General (DUA) Irshad Mehboob said Basil Rajapaksa has committed to uplift the Muslims in the Eastern Province after the liberation of their homes from the clutches of the LTTE terrorist.

He was addressing the party's district committee in Batticaloa.

He said Basil Rajapaksa started the Gama Neguma project long before he entered the parliament as an MP. His appointment to Parliament augurs well for the people of the East.

He said the leaders such as Basil Rajapaksa were rare as they are committed to serve all communities equally.

He is aware the Muslims suffered the most under the boots of the LTTE and so he believes the Muslims need Government's special attention.

The DUA Secretary General said Basil Rajapaksa believes the Eastern Province could serve as a role model for the entire country as a beacon of communal harmony since all three major communities live there.

'He has dedicated to making his Gama Neguma project a success in the Eastern Province so that he could showcase the region to the entire world. He regretted the UNP's effort to sabotage this project with its call to international lending agencies to stop loans to the Government.

Mehboob said Ranil Wickremesinghe had gone abroad more times than he had gone to the Eastern province. 'But Basil Rajapaksa had virtually lived in the Eastern Province after its liberation to ensure the Gama Neguma project is on the right track.