Rauff non-committal

10 September 2012 02:12 am Views - 4817

In the event of any party failing to seek a clear majority in the Eastern Provincial Council, the SLMC, the decisive factor, said a decision would be taken after a meeting with party seniors, party leader Rauff Hakeem said yesterday.

Mr. Hakeem told the Daily Mirror that he first received a telephone call from TNA leader R. Sampanthan who sought to  rope in the SLMC to form the council. Later, he said President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardane as his emissary to meet him for a discussion on the same matter.

 “For both of them, I remained non-committal. First, I have to thank the rank and file of the party for the support. We won all the Muslim majority electorates. I have to consult party seniors before extending our support to anyone for the formation of the council. However, we are for good governance and meaningful devolution of   power.  The voting pattern was polarized this time.  We cannot allow that to widen any further,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)