Separate resignation letters needed: Hakeem

• Although one resignation letter with nine signatures given on Monday, regulations require nine separate resignation letters 
• Says obtaining separate letters was postponed due to Ramadan celebrations 
• Holds resignations stand and none have engaged in official duties since Monday 

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Keeping their position unchanged, United National Party (UNP) MP Rauff Hakeem yesterday sought to explain the confusion regarding the resignation of Muslim leaders from the Government, noting that even though they had

Rauff Hakeem

submitted one resignation letter with nine signatures, regulations required that nine separate resignation letters be presented.

He said the delay in submitting individual resignation letters was due to the Ramadan festivities this week, but insisted that all nine leaders had refrained from official activities since Monday. 

Hakeem denied media reports highlighting a statement from the President’s Secretary of not receiving resignation letters from the nine Muslim lawmakers, who left their portfolios on Monday. “Based on the seriousness of the situation that prevailed in the country last Monday, we discussed at length with the Prime Minister and a few other senior Cabinet Ministers, trying to select the correct decision. There was a serious risk of putting the lives of Muslims in the country in danger, based on the situation that came up with the hunger strike carried out by MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana and the statements issued by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, who was recently released from prison.”

“So, in order to maintain peace in the country, all nine of us submitted a letter announcing our resignation. It was handed over to the Prime Minister, who informed us in return that nine separate letters should be written, as per the Constitution. But then it was too late, as some of us had left to our home towns to celebrate Ramazan. But I confirm to this House that we have kept away from our official responsibilities and capacities since last Monday,” he added.

Responding to the request by the Sanga Sabha that the Muslim lawmakers should return to their positions, MP Hakeem said: “We are grateful to the Sangha Sabha for taking this into consideration. We are looking forward to meeting the Chief Prelates of the three chapters to explain the situation. We believe that their statement hits all extremists in general.” 

Now that the Muslim Ministers have resigned, MP Hakeem urged the Government to conduct the investigations against them without a delay. “Our attention was on the No-Confidence Motion against one of our lawmakers, who resigned from the Ministerial portfolio he held, and the charges against the two Governors no longer in power. The Criminal Investigations Department has made a public request to submit any complaints against us on or before 12 June. Our request is to investigate the charges without delay, and inform the country. We are concerned that these charges on a few were used to launch attacks and violence on a large community of Muslims,” he explained.

Confirming the technical issue in the resignation letter with nine signatures, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held the Muslim festival season has further delayed sending nine separate letters. “On Monday evening, the Muslim Ministers submitted to me a common letter announcing their resignation. During the Cabinet Meeting on the following day, we kept the President informed. However, my legal advisors informed me of the necessity for each lawmaker to sign separate resignation letters. With many gone away for Ramazan, I requested them to submit the necessary letters without delay,” said the Prime Minister.

However, Opposition lawmaker Dinesh Gunawardena wanted to know the validity of the No-Confidence Motion against MP Rishad Bathiudeen. 

“The Opposition holds the position that the majority of the Muslims are not extremists responsible for the attack. The emergency regulations were brought by the Government, who were unable to control the situation. We are not taking lightly the progress the security forces have made. We appreciate MP Hakeem for informing the actual situation, where the Leader of the House has failed to keep us informed if the particular lawmakers are still holding office. Now that the No-Confidence Motion is listed, please let us know if it will be held based on the technicalities involved in their resignations,” he said.

In response, MP Hakeem held MP Gunawardena wants to take advantage of the situation. “I am fully possessed of what MP Gunawardena says. He wants to score a brownie point over our anxiety and anguishes. This was a technical issue of giving one letter. Provisions related to the resignations in the Constitution remains the same, even before the amendments. The fact remains we have resigned since last Monday, where none of us have attended to our official functions, nor have performed the responsibilities of the Ministerial portfolios we held before,” reiterated MP Hakeem.