News

Sharp split in Muslim vote deprives SLMC, ACMC of seats in some districts

Published

2 years ago

2024/11/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hakeem / Bathiudden

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A sharp split in the Muslim vote in many parts of the country at the recently concluded general election has deprived both the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) of parliamentary representation in several districts.

None of the SLMC candidates who contested last week’s general election from the Puttalam, Trincomalee, Kurunegala and Vanni electoral districts on the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) ticket, were returned.

However, the SLMC, on its own, won a seat each in the Batticaloa and Didamadulla electoral districts where former parliamentarian M.L.A.M. Hisbullah and ex-Eastern Province Minister Meerasahibu Uthumalebbe, respectively, were elected. The SLMC fielded candidates under its ‘Tree’ symbol only in those districts.

SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, who contested Kandy on the SJB ticket, managed to retain his seat with a paltry 30,883 preferential votes. Among the nine elected on the NPP from the Kandy electoral district were Riyaz Faruk and Mohimed Pasmin who polled 64,043 and 57,716 votes, respectively.

Twelve Kandy District seats were won by the NPP (09), SJB (02) and NDF (01).In terms of the SJB’s agreement with the SLMC, the latter was to get two National List slots, sources said.

“We have proposed our General Secretary Nizam Kariapper as one of the NL nominees. That was for the votes polled by the SLMC in areas outside the Batticaloa and Digamadulla electoral districts,” a well-informed source said.

SLMC leader Hakeem was not immediately available for comment.

The ACMC managed to secure two seats in the Vanni on the SJB ticket while on its own the party, led by former Minister Rishad Bathiudden, won a seat at the Didamadulla electorate. The ACMC contested under the ‘Peacock’ symbol in Digamadulla.

Responding to The Island queries, Bathiudeen said that the unprecedented split in Muslim vote had affected them adversely. The former Commerce and Industries Minister said that they hadn’t been successful in the Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Kurunegala and Batticaloa districts.

Bathiudden retained his Vanni district seat. The ACMC leader acknowledged that the emergence of the NPP, as a major political force in the Northern and Eastern regions at the general election, had changed the overall dynamics of the contest.

“We expect an NL slot as agreed in the run-up to the election,” Bathiudeen said.

Other sources said that the SLMC and the ACMC won a seat in the Puttalam district by contesting under the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) banner at the 2020 general election. However, that alliance collapsed when Ali Sabry Raheem, elected from MNA, was caught while he was trying to smuggle in a large number of mobile phones and a stock of gold in early 2023. Raheem contested last week’s general election but was not re-elected.

SLMC sources said that several defeated candidates had demanded that they be given the two NL slots at the expense of those listed on the NL. Party leader Hakeem had come under heavy pressure with the rejected candidates and their supporters converging at party headquarters Darussalam. However, the SLMC is of the view that the allocated positions should be given to those listed on the NL.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

54 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

Latest News

Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

1 hour ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

News

Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]