SLMC member receives junior minister post

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2000, 18:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Parliamentarian U.L.M.Mohideen was sworn in Wednesday as Deputy Minister for Social Services in front of the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Mr.Mohideen is one of the parliamentarians representing the south-eastern Ampara district.

His appointment as Deputy Minister is expected to boost support for the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress in the eastern province during the forthcoming general elections, party sources said.

The life term of current parliament expires on 24 August and Parliamentary elections are expected to be held at the end of October or during the first week of November.

The speaker of the house, K.B.Ratnayake Wednesday adjourned Parliament for August 22 after several supplementary votes were approved, which has lead to speculation that 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka might be dissolved on August 22 sources said.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the ruling People's Alliance (PA) has decided to stage a demonstration at Lipton Circus in Colombo on August 18, in support of the government.

Members of all trade unions belonging to constituent political parties of the PA Government would take part in the demonstration, veteran trade union leader and Minister Alavi Moulana said.