25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

COLOMBO, Jan 24: The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is likely to join the main opposition, the People's Alliance, sources in the party told Dawn. The sources said on Saturday they would be meeting soon to discuss the issue.

The development came in the wake of a demonstration held by the Muslim community in the eastern district of Puttlam calling upon the party leave the ruling United National Front (UNF).

Most of the Muslims belonged to families displaced from their homes in Jaffna during the LTTE's "ethnic cleansing" campaign in the 1990s.

Some of the protesters said they felt the SLMC should quit the UNF because the government was ignoring the problems the Muslims were facing once again because of the Tamil Tigers' attitude.

They accused the Tigers of indulging in an intimidation campaign by resorting to abductions and extortion.