President addresses SLMC meeting

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunge, while speaking at the annual meeting of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) said that Sri Lanka will win the war against the Tigers. However a political solution has to be found for the ethnic conflict and all the parties should support it unanimously, she said further.

The 15th annual congress of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress was held in Colombo yesterday.

If the Government finds a political solution to the ethnic conflict without selfish motives, our party will fully support the government, said Mr. Ranil Wikremasinghe, the Opposition leader.

The leader of the SLMC, Mr. Ashraff said that the people are undergoing tremendous hardship due to the ongoing war and that if not for the war , the country would have become a leading nation in the south asia.

The Tamil-Muslim relationship is becomming stronger after the establishment of the SLMC, which some evil forces are trying to destroy said Mr. Anandasanagri, general secretary of the Tamil United LIberation Front (TULF).

"It is not good for any oneif this evil force succeeds in this, said Mr. Anandasanagri, further.

Meanwhile Muslim shops in Batticaloa , Valaichenai, Kathankudi, Ottwmavadi, Meeravodai and Eravur were closed yesterday in protest at the SLMC's plans for the establishment of the OSuth Eastern province, which would not include them.

Black and white flags were also flown in protest.