July 14, Colombo: After discussions with other political parties including the Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance, the main Muslim party , Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to contest with the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFAA) at the provincial council elections .

The SLMC supreme council has unanimously taken this decision at a meeting held Friday night.

The party has decided to contest the elections for Eastern Provincial Council in alliance with the UPFA and support the ruling alliance in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central provincial council polls.

The party has taken this after its leader Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem had discussions with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha.

According to the agreement between the SLMC and UPFA, the Muslim party will field 12 candidates - 6 from Ampara District and 3 each from Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts- to contest the Eastern Provincial Council Election. The two parties will sign a memorandum of Understanding on the arrangement soon.

Earlier the SLMC was seeking the chief ministerial portfolio in the Eastern PC.

However, the ruling party has indicated its desire to keep the incumbent chief ministers unchanged for the three provinces.

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