SLMC to support UNP?

Feb 19 (IL) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is planning to contest the forthcoming election under the United National Party (UNP) banner except in the North and East, where they will contest under the SLMC's tree symbol.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem who has forwarded several demands to the UNP leadership, will have to wait for a favourable response from the UNP, which is still studying the proposals, sources said.

Among the demands are the ensuring of an independent Muslim delegation at the peace talks, and should an Interim Administration in the North East which would be controlled by the LTTE is set up, the Muslim majority areas should have their own administration and they should not be governed by the LTTE.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to notify the SLMC leader shortly on his party's decision over the demands. If the UNP agrees to the demands a new Memorandum of Understating will be signed between the UNP and SLMC shortly.