ASHRAFF A SAMAD
COLOMBO- The four new Sri Lankan Muslim parliamentarians of the Ninth parliament, did not turn up at the felicitation reception hosted by National Shoorah Council held in honour of the new Muslim parliamentarians at the Rosewood Ceylon Banquet Hall on Thursday following the ceremonial opening of the Ninth parliament.
It is not known whether these SLPP legislators confirmed their presence or not. However a good number of Muslims parliamentarians, including Rauf Hakeem, Rishath bathiudeen, Faizer Cassim, M.M.Harris, Ishak Rahman, Mohammed Musharaff, Imran Mahroof, Mohammed Thowfeek, Hafeez Nazeer, Mujibur Rahman and Ali Sabry from Puttalam were present at the event.
Notable absentees among SLPP Muslim parliamentarians included, Justice Minister Ali Sabry, S/A. Athaullah, Marjan Faleel, Mohammed Muzammil and Kader Masthan from the SLPP . The event concluded with a sumptuous dinner hosted by the Shourah Council headed by Tariq Mahmud.