Separate regiment, a ruse to split communities, say Muslim Leaders

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 April 2006, 18:16 GMT]
"Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is launching a Muslim regiment in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to widen the split between Muslims and Tamils. Muslim community should not fall prey to this sabotage scheme," said several speakers at the Muslim Council's Eastern Conference held Saturday morning in Loyds Hall in Akkaraipattu, Adalaichenai, Batticaloa, chaired by its president N. M. Ameen.

More than 300 people consisting of Members of Eastern province Muslim organisations, Ullamas, educationists and political leaders participated in the conference.

Conference participants also discussed the issue of separate Muslim representation in the talks between the GoSL and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said attendees to the conference.

Muslim leaders also expressed the view that Muslim community should strive to be unanimous in articulating the Muslim aspirations with regard to the ethnic issue. Failure to do so has been a major hurdle to advance Muslim interests, leaders said in the Conference.

Selfish motives of Muslim political leaders are a reason why the Muslim community stand divided, and Muslims should emulate the leadership of the Tamils whose united approach have brought rich dividends, said the participants.