badly, not winning any seats. Ashraff left MULF in 1980 after it merged with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The TULF refused to allow Muslim candidates to contest on the TULF ticket during the May 1981 District Development Council elections which resulted in Ashraff ending his relationship with the TULF. On 21 September 1981 Ashraff and other leading Muslim politicians established the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) at Kattankudy. The SLMC was initially a cultural organisation. The Black July anti-Tamil riots of 1983 and the ensuing civil war between Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan government caused apprehension amongst the Muslim population. The government's decision to resume diplomatic ties with Israel also caused problems. In 1985 violence, stoked by the Sri Lankan government, erupted between Tamils and Muslims living in the Kalmunai-Karaitivu area, causing Ashraff to re-locate to Colombo. Controversially Ashraff compared his situation to Muhammad's Hijrah from Mecca to Medina, ignoring the fact that he had left his supporters behind in Kalmunai whereas Muhammad took his followers to Medina. In Colombo Ashraff worked at Faisz Musthapha's chambers. It was there that he came across Rauff Hakeem. Exploiting the political situation in Sri Lanka, Ashraff transformed SLMC into a political party in November 1986, taking over its leadership after ousting Ahamed Lebbe. Ashraff wasn't entirely happy with the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord but nevertheless supported it. The SLMC contested the 1988 provincial council elections, winning 29 seats including 17 on the North Eastern Provincial Council, becoming its main opposition party. The SLMC supported United National Party candidate Ranasinghe Premadasa at the 1988 presidential election. Ashraff played a key role in the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka which reduced the cut-off mark to enter Parliament from 12.5% to 5%, helping smaller parties such as the SLMC. Ashraff contested the 1989 parliamentary election as one of the SLMC's candidates in Ampara District. He was elected and entered Parliament. He was re-elected at the 1994 parliamentary election. Prior to the election the SLMC had entered into an electoral pact with main opposition People's Alliance (PA). Following the PA's victory the SLMC joined the new government. Ashraff was sworn in as Minister of Shipping, Ports and Rehabilitation on 19 August 1994. Two other SLMC MPs became deputy ministers whilst Hakeem became Deputy Chairman of Committees. Ashraff lost the shipping portfolio later. Ashraff's ministerial career was not without controversies -