Minister Rauf Hakeem calls for trilateral discussion

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem told Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Kuniyo Takahashi that he hoped that attention will be focused on holding a trilateral discussion with the inclusion of the Muslim parties into bilateral talks between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the ethnic issue.

Minister Hakeem said so in response to a question by the Japanese ambassador whether an attempt was being made regarding the Muslims' representation in the talks between the government and the TNA, during a meeting at the minister's residence on June 22. The minister stated that the Muslim peoples' participation in such a discussion was vital when arriving at a political solution.

The minister added that relations were cordial between the TNA and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

Their discussion also focused on the 50th annual session of the Asia Africa Legal Advisors Organisation to be held in Sri Lanka from June 27 to July 1.

It will be organised jointly by the Justice Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry.