PA to expel SLMC rebel MPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 12:36 GMT]
The People's' Alliance (PA) high command has decided to expel rebel Sri Muslim Congress (SLMC) MPs from parliament. Mr.D.M.Jayaratne, Secretary General of the PA Thursday said," I will send show cause notices to rebel SLMC parliamentarians why they should not be removed from parliament."

"I took this decision taking into considerations the actions of the rebel SLMC parliamentarians after they crossed over to the opposition benches with their leader Mr.Rauff Hakeem" Mr.Jayaratne said.

He added that,"in the last parliamentary general election the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress contested under the symbol 'Chair' of the People's Alliance".

Meanwhile, the central working committee of the People's Alliance will be held on Wednesday, 18th July with President Chandrika Kumaratunge in the chair, party sources said.

The ruling PA came to power by cobbling together a shaky coalition of 116 MPs in Parliament, which has 225 seats. Seven of the 116 MPs are from the SLMC and four are from National Unity Alliance (NUA).

NUA is the multi-ethnic front of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

The SLMC pulled out of the government following its leader Mr. Rauff Hakeem, was removed from the cabinet on the directions of the President, on 20 June.

Though the seven MPs of SLMC did not sign the no-confidence motion against the government, they, however signed the letter requesting the Speaker to fix an early date to debate the motion.