(Text of Statement Issued on Behalf of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress by its Seretary-General M.T.Hasen Ali M.P.)

Udaya Gammanpila, a member of the UPFA coalition, has used state television to make the ridiculous and baseless accusation that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has a secret agreement with the Common Candidate to divide Sri Lanka.

Vested elements within UPFA and its partners also insinuate that the SLMC “supports Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena as President Rajapakse has rejected their demand to set up separate district for the Muslims”.

These malicious and false allegations are meant to deceive voters and are an abuse of the state media.

The SLMC wishes to make it clear that it has no agreement, secret or otherwise, with the Common Candidate.

The SLMC reiterates that it has always firmly stood for an undivided Sri Lanka and that its support for the Common Candidate is based on his manifesto.

The incumbent president has woefully failed in maintaining basic law and order and in the last few years he has caused great anxiety amongst the Muslim community with regard to their safety and security.

Between January and October 2014 alone there were over 176 attacks against Muslims. As seen by the events in Aluthgama, many of these often-violent attacks have caused destruction to person, property and places of worship.

In discussions with the two presidential candidates it has become clear to the SLMC that it is the Common Candidate, and not the incumbent president, who is genuinely committed to restoring law and order, an independent and professional police force, an independent judiciary. We believe that the restoration of these institutions will help ensure the basic safety and security of all people including the Muslim Community.

The SLMC’s support for the Common Candidate reflects its confidence in the manifesto of the common opposition candidate to restore democracy, the rule of law and harmony between communities. The SLMC believes that at this time, it is the Common Candidate that holds out a genuine hope of a better future for Sri Lanka.

M.T. Hasen Ali MP
Secretary-General
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress