Colombo, July 31: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga had given her consent to a set of proposals put forward by the minority Muslim community for incorporation in the proposed interim power sharing with the Tamil Tigers. Kumaratunga had agreed in principle with the proposals and promised a further study, M L A M Hisbullah, secretary of an all party team of Muslim parliamentarians, said.
The President's assurances were made at a meeting with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem yesterday. Hakeem, a government minister, is to be the Muslim representative in the future rounds of peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam . Muslim parliamentarians had asked the government to ensure the rights and aspirations of the Muslims in an interim arrangement for power sharing with the LTTE.

The thrust of their proposals is to set up ethnicity based sub units in the multi-ethnic eastern province to safeguard the interests of the Muslims and the Sinhalese.

The LTTE, which pulled out of the Norwegian backed talks in April, insists on an interim administration with "politico-administrative powers" if they are to return to the process. Bureau Report