By Camelia Nathaniel
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Batticaloa District candidate Asath Salley has accused the Government of withdrawing his security and said despite the Election Chief’s directives, the Government was reluctant to reinstate his security which was withdrawn on Tuesday.
Speaking to Ceylon Today Salley said the Election Commissioner has requested the IGP to provide him with security immediately but so far nothing happened.
“On Tuesday, the ASP of the area told me to have two security personnel. Then after a while, the two security personnel were withdrawn. During the elections period, the Commissioner of Election has the authority. The secretaries of all political parties were present when the Commissioner mentioned that the security should be provided,” he said.
Commenting further on the situation Salley said, the Government would definitely lose in the forthcoming poll. “There is 42% Muslims, 38% Tamils and 20% Sinhalese in the Batticaloa district and the election has to be decided by these communities. The Government is trying its best to show the outside world that the Muslims and Tamils are with it. ”
“The present United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is an anti minority government. Just for a few minutes visit to Kathankudi and Eravur in the Eastern province, the President has spent Rs.60 million for the deployment of gun boats in the coastal areas of Kathankudy. Several ministers have visited the areas in the East but they were not bothered to develop the areas,” he said.
