Rishad laments failure of business chambers to stand with Muslim biz community

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has lamented over the failure of business chambers to stand with Muslim-owned Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)’s in the recent past.

“As various communal elements openly encouraged local consumers to not to buy anything from Muslim owned businesses in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks, the Chamber of Commerce kept totally mum,” the Minister was quoted as saying in a press release issued by his office.

Speaking to the press after re-assuming office this week, the Minister had stated that the Chamber should have openly voiced out that revenge should not have been taken on Muslim owned businesses in retaliation to certain “barbaric actions of terrorists”.

He had recalled how violence in areas such as Kurunegala, Hettipola and Minuwangoda left many families helpless as their businesses had been destroyed.

Mr. Bathiudeen had made these remarks after re-assuming office as the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development & Vocational Training this week.

He had collectively resigned along with the other Muslim ministers in the government on June in the backdrop of mounting pressure alleging that certain Muslim politicians had links to the Easter Sunday bombings and the extremist elements behind it.