MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS PREFERS PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA

MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS PREFERS PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA

SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG MUSLIMS IN IN SRI LANKA

A recent public opinion conducted among the Muslims in Sri Lanka, revealed that majority 65% prefers President Mahinda Rajapaksa when compared with former army chief, Sarath Fonseka who received 35%.

The Sri Lankan Army has succeeeded in mid last year to eliminate the rebels of the LTTE after the war that lasted a quarter of a cenrury.The Sri Lankan President decided to upgrade Fonseka to the Chief of the Army before submitting his resignation and announcing his intention to run for the Presidency to compete against President Rajapaksa.

30% of Muslim contacted on phone for this survey declared that President Rajapaksa deserve the gratitude in eliminating the LTTE terrorists while 25% returns the appreciation to General Fonseka. 45% gave it to both.

The survey was carried recently on a random sample of 2450 Sri Lanka Muslims of both sexes over 18 years of age.The survey mainly covered Colombo, Puttalam, Kandy, Kalutara and Batticaloa.The margin of error was +/-2.3% with a 95% confidence.

According to the survey results, the support for the Sri Lankan President has increased significantly among the Muslims in the country specially in the areas other than Colombo, as a result of his support behind the implementation of several development projects in Muslim communities, in addition to his consistant support for the Palestinian people and for his close relations with the Muslims in the Islamic countries.Muslim community appears to be happy about the appointment of a number of Muslim Ministers and advisors.

In general the respondents gave positive signs in their assessment of the performance of Sri Lankan President in several respects.

The results indicate that 70% thinks that Rajapaksa works well on the foreign policy and 65% feels that he has the sufficient capacity to govern the country.

When asked about their voting preference, 58% said that they would vote for President Rajapaksa in the upcoming Presidential election that would be held next spring, compared with 12% that would vote for former Army Chief Fonseka and 10% for other candidates, while 20% said that they will not vote at all. (end)