Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem today denied allegations linking him to Zaharan Hashim, the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks.
Making a special statement in Parliament today, Hakeem also noted that a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member had been seen with Hashim.
Hakeem said that SLPP Kattankudy organiser M.S.M Ziyad is seen next to Hashim in a video published on social media.
It was the same video and at the same meeting where Hakeem was seen having a discussion with a group of people including Zaharan Hashim.
Hakeem said that the meeting was held to discuss concerns related to Muslims in the East after the 2015 elections and was not a direct meeting with Zaharan Hashim.
He also said that he was not aware at the time of Zaharan Hashim’s plans to carry out the Easter Sunday attacks this year.
Hakeem said that his character is being unfairly attacked for political gain but he asserted that in the end truth will prevail. (Colombo Gazette)