Muslim Congress to go it alone?

The SLMC leadership was increasingly under pressure from the party’s grassroot level members to contest the upcoming provincial council election under its ‘tree’ symbol in Anuradhapura and Kegalle without aligning with a major political party, General Secretary, M.T. Hassan Ali said.

The party has earlier decided to field their candidates on the UNP ticket for the election.

“Their belief is that the party can secure some slots in the two councils if they go it alone. We are unable to do it by aligning with a major party unless it supports our candidates during the campaign. Most likely, we will go solo in these districts,” he said.

He said the party would contest the election in Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura along with the UNP as usual. The SLMC contested the recently concluded Eastern Provincial Council, election under the UNP’s elephant symbol.

Asked for comments, UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake said he had not been informed of such a decision, and therefore declined to say anything.l

Mr. Attanayake said the UNP was yet to finalise its nomination lists for the two councils, but has already identified the candidates. 

“We will hand over our nomination papers on July 3 or 4. But, we will not announce the name of Sabaragamuwa chief ministerial candidate until then. We are compelled to take such a decision because of possible threat and intimidation on the selected candidate by the government,” he said.