UPFA will record landslide victory - Azwer

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: The UPFA will record a landslide victory at the May 10 Provincial Council polls in the East, President's Advisor and former Muslim Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.H.M. Azwer said yesterday.

He said a large number of prominent personalities who worked tirelessly for Sri Lanka Muslim Congress have joined the Government to back UPFA candidates. This situation arose following the visit of Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa to the East, he said.

His visit has created great enthusiasm in the minds of the people in the East such as Najeeb Abdul Majeed and Dr. K.M. Thideer Thowfeek who were elected to Parliament earlier from the SLMC and are now working for the UPFA. Even renowned Ulamas like Moulavi A.L.M.Hassen (Al-Azhari) who polled the second highest preferential votes at the last General Election is a formidable candidate for UPFA at the Eastern Provincial Council elections.

Azwer said apart from this encouraging trend the people of the East are yearning to get their area developed. A massive development programme has been launched by the Government under the Mahinda Chinthana accelerated programme in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee districts.

Another significant factor is that the Muslims of Muttur are awaiting eagerly to express their gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Forty thousand persons have been resettled in their own premises within a 44 days, Azwer said.

If not they would be languishing in refugees camps for decades like Muslims of Jaffna and other parts of the North who were evicted by the LTTE. The President has earned bouquets from the international community particularly from Muslim countries for these efforts, Azwer said.

"With the visit of Iranian President to our country, our nation will herald a new era in the relationship between Sri Lanka and the Islamic world.

The spiritual Leader of Iran Ayathullah Seyed Al Khamenei and President Dr.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have the greatest respect and regard for President Rajapaksa. People from all communities are greatful to President Rajapaksa."

Only the Government under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's leadership could liberate the east from the LTTE's control and to hold a free and fair election by restoring the democratic rights of the east. This election will pave way to elect their representatives to administer their own area, Azwer said.