REFUGEE

or the presidential election. M. S. S Ameer Ali - Minister of Disaster Relief Services told that All Ceylon Muslim Congress has set up yesterday a presidential election headquarters for the Batticaloa district in support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, located at the Oddamavadi Main Street, Kalkudah.

He added that the branch offices are also opened up at Semmanodai, Meeravodai, Kavathamunai, Valaichenai, Eravur and has already launched the propaganda campaign in these areas.

In the last Presidential election despite the boycott of election imposed by LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa polled 28,836 votes, whereas Ranil Wickremasinghe managed to poll 121, 514 votes in the Batticaloa district. .

At present there is a total of 333, 644 votes in the district and Minister Ameer Ali said that this time Muslims and Tamil in the district would overwhelmingly vote in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the presidential election.

He added that Ranil Wickremasinghe has already lost in 14 elections. He is partnered with Rauff Hakeem, who has been already ignored by the Muslims and they jointly put forward the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka as a candidate in the presidential election.

He added that this time in the Presidential election, Muslims and Tamils have for the first time joined hands together to work for the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Minister Ameer Ali further said, Tamil leaders such as Eastern Provincial Council chief minister Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan alias Pillaiyan, Minister Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, and other Muslims leaders will jointly participate in the propaganda campaign.

He added that the former nominated UNP parliamentarian who is now in the USA, Ali Zahir Moulana will return back from Washington DC on the 20th December, to participate in the propaganda campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa.