Muslim minister representing coalition partner of Sri Lanka ruling party will not resign

Leader of Sri Lanka's governing party ally, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) says he would not resign from the government. SLMC Leader, Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem has put an end to speculation that he would resign from his ministerial portfolio saying there was no such plan.
He has also denied that the party's High Command had pressured him to resign from the ministerial portfolio. Hakeem has told the media that he was a part of the government and there was no need for him to resign. He has pointed out that the SLMC had supported the government on many occasions including the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. According to Hakeem, he is participating in the SLMC's election campaign while being a member of the government. Speculation about Hakeem's resignation from the government came following the resignation of SLMC Chairman Basheer Segu Dawood from the deputy ministerial portfolio of Cooperatives and Internal Trade.