By Noor Nizam – Convener “The Muslim Voice”, November 22, 2019.

Governor A.J.M. Muzammil,
I am flabbergasted to read your above statement and wish to inform you that I cannot agree to some of the things what you have stated.

How dare you tell that the Muslims voted then General Fonseka in large numbers at the 2010 elections? Do you know that 20% of the then Muslim Vote Bank of nearly 750,000 to 800,000 Muslims voted HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa. Ask HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa or his (then) campaign Team and they will tell you this.

I was the Co-Chairman of the Muslim Propaganda Unit along with another Muslim University lecturer who is the present Ambassador for Sri Lanka in a Muslim country, appointed under the MY3 regime after the 2015 presidential elections. During the 2010 Presidential Elections, The Muslim Propaganda Unit functioned directly under Hon. Basil Rajapaksa and operated from Temple Trees with a staff/volunteers of nearly 20 persons between October 2009 and January 2010. No Muslim politicians or Ministers in the Mahinda camp were allowed to get involved in the day to day campaign activities of the MUF. They were only allowed visits. We had an elaborate campaign plan which functioned very successfully and contributed to HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory in 2010. Even HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is aware of this fact. The out come of the Muslim Propagand Unit was that, we were able to harness 20% of the then Muslim Vote Bank. You were a frontline Muslim campaigner for General Sarath Fonseka at that election.

Now you tell  that, this time Tamils and Muslims did not vote HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
I will not talk about the Tamil votes, Governor Muzammil, but let me tell you that a very substantial amount of Muslims voted HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Alhamdulillah. Even Hon. Gammanpila mentioned this on TV. Another SLFP/SLPP Mahinda Pela MP from the Negombo area did the same view. Of the he Muslims who are living scattered outside the North and Eastern Provinces, which comprise of 60% of the Muslim population, a substantial amount voted HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Please do not make statements without exactly knowing the facts/truth which is turning detrimental to the Muslim community in the political arena in the present political situation.  

Since January 8th., 2015, The Muslim Voice” has been involved tirelessly defending and lobbying the support of the Muslim Vote Bank through writing rebuttals”, comments” and article to the Tamil and English print and electronic/digital media to educate, inform the deception” of the Muslim ministers and politicians, why the Muslims should think of supporting the Mahinda Pela”, The Joint Opposition”, the SLPP” and finally HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate. Many other small Muslim groups were also directly or indirectly involved in the campaign supporting HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The SLPP Muslim Section also did a wonderfull job. The Muslim Pradesya Sabha, Palaath Sabha and Local Government SLPP representatives who were members till recently also contributed a lot and brought in a large amount of votes in favour of HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The former Chairman of the Beruwela Urdan Council and the young SLPP “Muslim Turks”  in  Southern coastal belt from Moratuwa Galle have done their due, but in SILENCE, and enabled the “polling” of thousands of votes in favour of HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They have been in the struggle to bring HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the 7th., President of Sri Lanka since the formation of the SLPP from the begining of 2016. It is our bounded resposbility to  credit them for the tireless work all these “RAJAPAKSA LOYALISTS” have done to enable HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa the 7th., elected President of Sri Lanka, our “MAATHROOBUMIYA”.

You got involved in the campaign during the later stages and addressed meetings . You spoke about the past” and compared the present” and concluded publicly that the Muslims did not vote HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. You may have personal reasons to do so, but we have to be fair to the Muslim voters who voted HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and let me tell you that a very substantial number of Muslims voted for HE. Gotabaya Rajapaks on November 16th., 2019. It is our duty to acknowledge their votes and support. I am attaching below a newspaper article link which tells of your stand in 2010 – how the Muslim elite of Colombo, as you call them, campaigned against HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2010 presidential elections. (Read last para).
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=116653
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/GR-Sabry-make-strong-case-for-Muslim-support/44-689144 (FYI – read the comments at the bottom of the article).

Please do not make statements without exactly knowing the facts/truth which is turning detrimental to the Muslim community, especially Muslims of the Eastern Province, in the political arena and leading to disharmony. IT IS HURTING WHEN YOU TELL SUCH THINGS. Muslims need HARMONY” with the majority community for the future.  “The Muslim Voice” is looking forward to it, Insha Allah. We all have to work hard to get much more Muslim votes for the SLPP and HE. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s/Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government at the next general elections in 2020 so that a MAJORITY government with all communities represented could be formed, Insha Allah. The need now is, we as Muslims have to work together in the interest of the Muslim community and become partners with the majority community, Insha Allah.