Key Muslim Ally Keeps Sri Lanka Government Guessing On Support
COLOMBO, May 20, (News Agencies) - Sri Lanka's main Muslim party Sunday rejected electoral reforms proposed by the coalition government and kept the administration guessing on its continued support for the shaky alliance.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said it opposed the government decision to set up a parliamentary panel to reform the local government election system as the legislature had more important issues to deal with.
The key government ally also dropped a bombshell for President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government by saying its stand on a no-trust vote, to be introduced by the opposition next month, would be "decided on its merits."
Instead of brushing aside the opposition move to topple the government, the SLMC said its leaders will decide its course of action by looking at the contents of the opposition resolution against the government.
The SLMC also formally asked for a place in the Norwegian-backed peace efforts between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels, saying that the Muslim party held a "clear mandate" to be involved in peace efforts.
The SLMC said it was also insisting on a separate administrative district carved out of the island's eastern Ampara district as a distinct Muslim region.
Muslims are the second largest minority in Sri Lanka after Tamils in this majority Sinhalese country.
The SLMC holds 10 seats in the 225-member national parliament, where Kumaratunga's shaky People's Alliance coalition has a slender four-seat majority.
A withdrawal of support by the SLMC would lead to the collapse of the government and SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, who is also the trade minister, has openly crossed swords with the president over recent inter-communal clashes.
Hakeem said he was also insisting that the government pay full compensation to minority Muslims, who lost their property during rioting earlier this month.
