Palestinian clerics urge Muslims in Sri Lanka to support President

Sheikh Jamal Ali Saleh Suleiman (Sammarah), Head of the Daawa and Tableegh Center of Beit - Or Tehta in Ramallah, Palestine has made an appeal to all followers of Islam in Sri Lanka to extend their undivided support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his struggle to unite the country and make Sri Lanka a prosperous nation.

Sheikh Jamal, representing this influential Islamic body in Palestine made this call in a signed statement dated December 3, 2008, which has been conveyed to the Representative Office of Sri Lanka to the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah.

The full text of the appeal is as follows:

"We the Sheikh of the Daawa and Tableegh Center of Beit - Or Tehta, in Ramallah in Palestine appeal to all the followers of Islam in Sri Lanka to extend their undivided support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in his struggle to unite the country and make Sri Lanka a prosperous nation.

Since the members of our Center had visited Sri Lanka recently we are aware of the role played by Mahinda Rajapaksa in the past as a true friend of Palestinians.

He has expressed his solidarity further by opening a Representative Office in Palestine.

Recently he undertook to fund an educational project to help the children in Palestine.

"We are also made to understand that he is going to develop the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka where there is a large Muslim Community.

"We therefore while expressing our whole hearted support to the Government of Sri Lanka in its struggle against terrorism once again appeal to all followers of Islam to rally round H. E. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

May Allah bless

Sri Lanka".