When the nationalist forces within the government led by Wimal Weerawansa opposed the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, including the clause that permitted dual citizens to hold public office, SLPP national organiser Basil Rajapaksa was able to garner the support of a group of Muslim MPs to vote in favour of the Amendment.
In this backdrop, it has now been revealed how Basil Rajapaksa was able to secure the support of Muslim parliamentarians. Members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said that they supported the 20th Amendment to the Constitution because the government had stated their desire to allow the burial of Muslim Covid-19 victims.
SLMC MPs Faizal Cassim, H. M. M. Harees, M. S. Thowfeek and Anwer Shamed had voted in favour of the 20th Amendment.
Elaborating further, SLMC MP Faizal Cassim said,
However, leader of the SLMC, MP Rauff Hakeem, said that the party has decided to pardon the MPs who voted in favour of the 20th Amendment if they seek forgiveness from the party and the general public.
The decision to pardon the MPs subject to certain conditions was taken when the Supreme Council of the SLMC convened yesterday (14), SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said.
