We will restore democracy to Eastern province – Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 May 2008, 13:58 GMT]
“United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) alliance will restore democracy to the East by putting an end to the domination by paramilitary groups,” Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Leader of the Opposition and UNP head said Sunday addressing a SLMC party conference held in Kaaththaankudi attended by more than 10,000 Muslims from the north, east provinces, sources in Batticaloa said.

SLMC leader, Rahuf Hakeem, Tissa Athanayake, UNP Secretary, M. T. Hassan Ali, General Secretary of SLMC and many parliamentarians were present at this SLMC conference that was held for the first time in Batticaloa district.

Ranil Wickremsinghe was the chief guest at this meeting which was held six days before the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) elections scheduled for 10 May.

“UNP is contesting the EPC elections joined by SLMC in order to restore democracy to the east and to enable its people to live in peace,” Ranil Wickremasinghe said.

“Rajapakse family which intends to rule the east has also devised an Interim Administration Board for the north in order to bring it under its power,” he added.

“Why should Rajapakse appoint his brother Basil Rajapakse, a Sinhalese, along with ministers Douglas Devananda and Risad Badudeen to Interim Administration Board?” he questioned.

“Rajapakse wants his brother rule the north and east as he rules Sri Lanka as its President, and this is a great injustice against the Tamils, Ranil Wickremasinge said.

“We will suppress the armed groups in the Eastern Province and restore democracy with the support of the Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese in the forthcoming EPC elections,” he said.

The SLMC congress that began in the morning went on until evening.