Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem insists there is no rift between him and President Mahinda Rajapaksa despite differences of opinion on some issues.

Speaking at an event in Panadura today Hakeem said that having differences of opinion and arguing over that in the cabinet with the President is not something new and has been openly encouraged by the President himself.

Hakeem said that at the cabinet meeting yesterday he had an argument with the President over an issue and the President had raised his tone.

However he said the President had made it clear that cabinet Ministers should be open about what they feel on any issue and express that opinion at the cabinet meeting.

“Sometimes the President loses his temper but that is not something to be upset about. These are things which we see in a democratic country. Some media had blown things out of proportion. I am not shaken by these things,” Hakeem said.

However, at the same time, Hakeem noted that some members within the Government have been very critical of him and his party over certain issues.

He said that there are even attempts to make allegations against him over the Sri Lanka Law Collage issue.

Hakeem said that he will make a statement in Parliament over the Sri Lanka Law Collage issue at the next sitting.

COURTESY:Colombo Gazette