SLMC, Fowzie request crash probe

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 September 2000, 13:42 GMT]
Minister of Transport and Highways Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie has requested the President to order an impartial inquiry into the crash of the Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter on Saturday in which his cabinet colleague was killed. Sri Lanka's Ports Minister and Sri LAnka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader, Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff was killed in the crash at Aranayake in the Kegalle District.

Minister Fowzie, political rival of the late leader Mr.Ashraff, in a letter to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge sent Sunday, has said that he suspects foul play in the helicopter crash and wanted her to order a high-level inquiry to ascertain the causes for the helicopter crash.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has also requested the President to appoint a Presidential Commission to inquire into all aspects of ill-fated helicopter crash which took the life of its founder leader Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff and eight other party men.

The Politburo of the SLMC today met at its headquarters 'Darusslam' and took a decision to this effect. Senior Vice president of the SLMC Maruthoor Gani presided.

Several members said to have expressed their suspicions over the helicopter crash. To clear all doubts over this accident, the Politburo decided to request the President to appoint a Presidential Commission to probe the mystery air crash.