Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has stated that the Muslim community is in fear over the claims by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) that communal violence may occur if the SLMC supports Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

The BBS had claimed that if the Muslim community supported Maithripala Sirisena, there might be a repeat of the 1915 events in 2015, Deputy General Secretary of the party, Nizam Kariyappar said. The government has still not officially responded to the claim made by the Bodu Bala Sena.

“Therefore, the SLMC has to think of the security of the Muslim people before it decides to whom to support in the election”, he has said, speaking to BBC Sandeshaya.

However, it is in the grapevine that the SLMC will take at least two weeks to arrive at a final decision regarding their stand in the upcoming Presidential Election.

It is learnt that the SLMC has come under immense pressure from its membership to stay away from the presidential campaign of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, when Asian Mirror recently contacted Deputy General Secretary of the SLMC, he stated that discussions are taking place with various parties and that they are considering both options equally.