Muzammil Gambling with Colombo Pavements and Casino

Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil who opened the Colombo pavement hawkers to get the Muslim and other minority’s votes in the general election could find himself in serious trouble from both Muslim religious quarters and political supporters, after he was involved with gambling at a night club in Colombo.

Muzammil came to the severe criticism recently by all elements of the society due to his ethnically and politically motivated decision to allow street vending on pavements in Colombo. He received a considerable amount of flak for this decision. The previous government cleaned the entire Colombo city from the pavement vendors and uplift the face of the city. To take political revenges and to pass the undue benefit to a selected minority, Muzammil has re-introduced the pavement vendors to Colombo city. Sources reported that due to this decision over 10,000 minority community in the city were able to carry out pavement business in Colombo.

Muzammil, a Muslim, is strictly prohibited by his religion to indulge in gambling. Gambling is expressly forbidden in the Qur’aan. Furthermore, his digression from religion is more significant since this is the Holy month of Ramadan. Islamic teachings called Hadhees say that it is a double sin to commit a major sin during the month of Ramadan.

A veteran politician, Muzammil is undoubtedly used to political gambling. His recent decision to allow street vending is one such gamble which could give him some political mileage in his electorate. However, gambling at a casino could prove too much of a transgression to defend on the political stage.

1072 Viewers