Hakeem might quit the government

The Muslim Congress it is learnt has decided to quit the government if the president fails to take the required measures to address the incident that took place in the Dambulla Muslim mosque and the instigation that took place prior to the attack on the mosque. The Muslim Congress has received credible information that the attack had been initiated by Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero and liquor businessman, parliamentarian Lakshman Perera.

A senior member of the party said that party leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem was scheduled to meet with Lands Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon this afternoon to discuss the clash in detail.

Although Tennekoon is a UPFA MP representing the Matale District and the leader of the district, it was another electoral organizer, MP Lakshman Wasantha Perera who initiated the attack.

Lak FM owned by Perera and Ven. Sumangala Thero’s Rangiri Dambulu Radio have been carrying out a campaign against Muslims in the past few days.

Ven. Sumangala Thero has also made public comments that Minister Tennekoon had taken monies from Muslim businessmen and given land in Dambulla to them. Tennekoon responded to the allegations saying he would initiate legal action against the Thero for making the baseless allegations against him.

The Muslim members in the government are in a tight spot over the attack on the Muslim mosque. Minister A.H.M. Fowzie has already condemned the attack.

Muslim members in the government and Muslim religious leaders played a key role in getting the support of Muslim countries for Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva last month.