All Ceylon Muslim Congress, led by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, former Muslim Congress General Secretary Hassan Ali and former deputy Minister Basheer Segu Dawood have formed a new alliance, the United People Alliance, for the Local Government election. 

"This is a turning point in Sri Lanka’s Muslim political history. The ACMC led by me and the United Peace Alliance led by Basheer Segu Dawood MP are joining to form the United People’s Alliance (UPA). The UPA we are creating today will first contest in Eastern Province where a Muslim majority exists. UPA will therefore enter local politics in Ampara District in the forthcoming LG polls. The symbol of UPA is the peacock and its Chairperson is M.T. Hassan Ali, former Secretary General of SLMC and the present Secretary of United Peace Alliance. Hassan Ali, being a former Parliamentarian and a State Minister is well positioned to start off UPA’s journey. As the leader of ACMC, my role in UPA is to be decided later on” said ACMC Leader and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said, addressing a press conference in Colombo. 

Many other representatives of ACMC  as well as representatives from United Peace Alliance, led by Segu Dawood, joined the press conference. 

United Peace Alliance’s Secretary Ali was upbeat on Minister Bathiudeen’s approach towards the MoU. “I praise Minister Bathiudeen for his open, honest approach to form this alliance and prioritising Muslim community’s betterment rather than his own. For example he could have declared himself the leader of this alliance but instead gave me the leadership of this alliance. We praise Minister Bathiudeen for his concern towards the Muslim community”Hassan Ali said, adding that the new alliance called to protect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and also collective approach by all ethnic communities towards a united country.