4 முஸ்லிம் எம்.பி.க்கள், மகிந்தவுக்கு ஆதரவளிக்கவிருந்தனர் - சண்டே டைம்ஸ் வெளியிட்டுள்ள பரபரப்புத் தகவல்

Several Muslim MPs were about to join the Rajapaksa group, but changed their minds and were sternly rebuked by their leaders

At a Business Class Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport before they left for Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca, Sadui Arabia. Rishad Badiuddin, the ACMC is fourth from left. They are together with an airline employee dressed in Ehram – the white non-stitch pilgrim attire made of white cloth.

In behind-the-scenes negotiations, the majority of 113 was almost on hand as Sirisena negotiated with both the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Rauff Hakeem and the All Ceylon Makkal (People’s) Congress led by Rishad Bathiuddin. The two, who style themselves as political leaders of the Muslim community, also met together for a one-on-one at a Colombo apartment hotel to discuss what another crucial issue seemed for them – whether one should join without the other. They were agreed it would be both or none. The SLMC has seven MPs and the ACMC five.

The Sunday Times learnt that Hakeem’s talks with President Sirisena centred on his party signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government. Those related to addressing “the needs” of the Muslim community. For Sirisena and his backers, there was at least good news from three SLMC parliamentarians who were in favour of joining. They were Syed Ali Zahir Mowlana, (the only elected MP from the SLMC ticket whilst others were from UNP), H.M.M. Harees and another. Two others, from the ACMC were Abdullah Mahroof and S.M. Mohamed Ismail, were also lined up to join.

The Sri Lanka Podujana (People’s) Peramuna ideologue and strategist, Basil Rajapaksa, was of the view that leaders of the two parties should also be roped in. Until then, he opined, those wanting to come over should not be sworn in with portfolios. In fact, Dr S.M. Mohamed Ismail, an ACMC National List MP, was to be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Health. He holds a UNP slot given to the ACMC and was earlier at the South Eastern University where he had been charge sheeted for demanding sexual favours. A last minute intervention by Basil Rajapaksa halted the move and Ismail met Bathiuddin. The move was to appease the ACMC leader who was infuriated that one of his MPs was to be pinched without his consent. He even refused to talk to the new government emissaries but later cooled down.

Two Muslim party leaders thought the best way to avoid all pressure was to leave Sri Lanka. They have not, it appears, conclusively decided on whose side they will throw their weight. The new government leaders learnt that their decision would be made known to them when the group of twelve return on November 12, two days before the reconvening of Parliament. On the other hand, the UNP leadership had learnt from the two party leaders that their support to them had not ceased. Whatever the outcome would be, a fracture in the two parties was to become inevitable if Hakeem and Bathiuddin chose to back the UNP. Government leaders felt the situation was mercurial and could not be fully relied upon.

On Thursday afternoon, all 12 MPs of the two parties flew to Mecca for Umrah – an Islamic pilgrimage which can be performed in the Holy City of Mecca (Saudi Arabia) at any time of the year. This is in marked contrast to the Haj for which a pilgrimage is undertaken once a year.

It appeared that both party leaders were following the founding leader of the Muslim Congress,the  late M.H.M. Ashroff. During the October 2000      parliamentary elections, Ashroff fell foul with his then cabinet colleague A.H.M. Fowzie over some remarks that the latter made. When the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, tried to reach him, he wrote a lengthy letter to her and went on Umrah pilgrimage. In that letter, he said, he would support a new government but would not accept any portfolio. No sooner he returned, emissaries lined up a late night meeting. Ashroff descended on her with a parcel of dates and zam zam water from the well in Mecca considered sacred to Muslims. Differences were resolved thereafter.

The Sunday Times learnt that the government numbers in Parliament now stood at 107 MPs as against 108 earlier. One parliamentarian, Manusha Nanayakkara who crossed over from the UNP to the SLFP in 2010, has gone back to his previous party. He and his family are now in Singapore. The projected five from the two Muslim parties would have brought the total to 112, one short of the required majority. Yet the situation was fragile. There were still fears that one or two within the government’s own ranks could desert. Also in Singapore now is P. Harrison, a former UNP Cabinet Minister who was earlier wooed by the parties in the new government.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/181111/columns/constitutional-turmoil-the-moves-and-countermoves-320077.html