President under pressure to remove Hisbulla, Rishad!

A proposal has been made to the President to remove Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Easter Province Governor A.L.M Hisbullah from their positions even temporarily as they are alleged to have provided facilities for the sustenance of Muslim religious extremism, it is reported.

Currently UNP parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen holds the position of Minister of Industry & Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training & Skills Development while SLFP member A.L.M. Hisbullah serves as the Eastern Province Governor.

MP Athuraliya Rathana Thera warned that if measures are not taken to remove Bathiudeen from his post, they would initiate a no confidence motion against him. He made this statement addressing a media conference held in Colombo yesterday.

Bathiudeen faces allegations of having maintained close relations with the father of the two suicide bombers who attacked Shangri La and Cinnamon Grand hotels, Yusuf Mohommed Ibrahim and family from Dematagoda. Hisbulla faces allegations for having set up the Batticaloa Campus which is believed to be for the teaching of extremist Muslim ideologies.

However, responding to the allegations levelled against him, Rishad Bathiudeen said he has taken steps to initiate legal action against individuals and institutions engaged in spreading false rumours against him. “They will have to prove the validity of their accusations before the law. I will prove my innocence. “