Sri Lanka's Muslims granted leave to proceed in case against joint deal

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Monday granted leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition filed by two people on behalf of the Muslim tsunami victims against the government's decision to enter a joint deal with the Tamil Tigers.

The two Muslims who were victims of the tsunami from the eastern towns of Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu told the court that their fundamental rights had been violated by non Muslim representation in the post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).

The deal was sealed between the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) on June 24 amidst widespread opposition.

The Muslim political parties both within the government and the opposition were angered by the non Muslim representation in the P- TOMS mechanism and they wanted the court to direct the government to ensure equal participation of their community.

The court granted leave to proceed with the case. This was the second ruling related with the P-TOMS given by the Supreme Court since last Friday.

The court ruled last Friday that at least four vital clauses in the P-TOMS agreement must be restrained until the next hearing on Sept. 12.

This was in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by 39 legislators of the JVP or the People's Liberation Front who had walked out of the ruling coalition in mid June.

Source: Xinhua