SLMC meeting amid protests

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will hold its 15th annual national congress at Stanley Grounds in Colombo today. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge is expected to be the chief guest for the event. The Opposition leader, Mr. Ranil Wikremasinghe is also expected to address the congress, said sources in Colombo.

Several senior cabinet ministers, Parliamentarians and other foreign officials are exptected to also attend the congress, said party sources.

Meanwhile, a hand bill signed 'Muslims of Batticaloa' said that Muslims from the district are boycotting the Congress today.

The demand for a south-eastern province, put forward by the SLMC, an organisation which was established mainly by the Muslims of Kaththankudy and Eravur, has ignored the aspirations of the Muslims living outside the Amparai district and those in the north of the island, said the hand bill.

Shops in the Muslim area of Batticaloa, Eravur, Ottamaavadi, Valaichenai and kaththankudy are expected to closed today in protest.