Sri Lanka blames ‘international conspiracy’ for SLMC defection

The Sri Lankan government has stated it fears the latest defection from the ruling alliance by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is part of an international conspiracy to divide the country.
The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Susil Premajayantha stated that in negotiations the SLMC had demanded a separate Muslim administrative district.
"The UPFA Government cannot agree to create a separate administrative district based on ethnicity,” said Premajayantha. “That goes against the government policy."
The SLMC, a former party in the ruling coalition, announced on Sunday that it would back common opposition candidate Maithiripala Sirisena at the upcoming presidential polls on the island next month.
Speaking on the latest defection from the government Premajayantha went on to state that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was also expected to support Sirisena, labelling the move part of an international conspiracy to divide the country.