Fracas closes Muslim peace office

The Muslim Peace Secretariat has shut down its office in Puttalam after Deputy Minister K. Abdul Baiz allegedly stormed the office demanding that representatives from the district be recruited as staff. Peace Secretariat Regional Director M. Sahadulla who was in the office was allegedly manhandled and the furniture and equipment thrown out by the deputy minister before the office was closed.

Mr. Baiz denied the allegations but said he wanted the office closed as no representatives from the district were recruited and the office was being run by displaced persons from the north. Mr. Baiz had earlier requested that representatives from the Puttalam district should be included in the staff as there were no persons to represent the interests of the district. The office was mainly handling work related to the Muslims displaced from the North.

The Sunday Times learns that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leadership had instructed the regional office not to lodge a complaint with the police as it would bring adverse publicity to the secretariat which is funded mainly by Norway. However the rift has prompted another SLMC dissident, Deputy Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to open another peace office in Puttalam on Friday.
Mr. Bathiudeen said he felt the need for another office as the former office was not catering to the needs of the people.