[1] The party was formed at a meeting held at Kattankudy in 1981 by a small study group of local Eastern Province political leaders.

They had lost confidence in both the UNP and the SLFP, and that was why they were joining the Tamils fighting for autonomy, he told me, and if this is not stopped, this would spell great danger, more for the Muslims outside the North-East.

I spoke to Ashraff, I told him, the time has come for us to address this growing danger of Muslim boys joining the LTTE.

"[2]According to their official website, the SLMC is a political party that is totally focused on giving voice to the Muslim minority of Sri Lanka, which makes up 8% of the island's population.

The party is centered around Muslim community interests, but is committed to foster multiracial amity and collective prosperity for all Sri Lankan citizens.