Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly lashed out at Sri Lankan Muslim Congress head and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem, over allegations that he handed over a report to UN High Comissioner Navi Pillay when she visited the island that detailed attacks on Muslims.
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Rauf Hakeem and Navi Pillay meeting in August 2013 |
In a Cabinet meeting Mahinda Rajapaksa, described as 'irate', accused Hakeem of “betraying the country”.
“If you cannot stay in the Government, you can get out,” the President told the SLMC leader.
Speaking to reporters after the fiery meeting, Hakeem said,
“Sometimes the President loses his temper but that is not something to be upset about. These are things which we see in a democratic country. Some media had blown things out of proportion. I am not shaken by these things.”
He went on to add,
“True that the President became somewhat aggressive in his expression. This type of thing can happen in a democracy.”
The Sunday Times political column reported that,
“The anger over SLMC is particularly in the backdrop of reports that at least two West Asian countries, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, would vote in favour of the United States resolution this month at the UNHRC sessions. The position of the third country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which voted against the second US resolution last year, is not yet clear.”