COLOMBO : Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged to form a committee to look into the problems of the Muslim community and find ways and means of resolving them to redress their grievances .
The President made this statement at a meeting held by the President with the civil societies including the Jamiyyathul Ulama and the YMMA conference .
The meeting was convened by formor Governor Azazth Salley and led by Dr Faisz Musthapa PC. Who is the Chancellor of the Eastern University.
The meeting took up some of the core issues of concern to the Muslim community. the President gave a patient hearing and appointed the committee under his secretary Saman Ekanayake to resolve all these issues within the next few months.
This is a great achievement by the civil society which the political leadership could not deliver.
Among the core issues discussed were
- 5 Million Donation by the Muslim World League
$ 5million promised by the Muslim World League was not sent due to lack of documentation by the Sri Lanka Government. Civil society offered to renegotiate the donation to support the Easter Bomb victims if the government provides the necessary documentation. The money allocated still remains in Saudi Arabia and can be brought to Sri Lanka if the government of Sri Lanka complies with the documentation needed by the World Musli. League
Hate Speech and extremist Buddhists : Urgent action is needed to implement hate speech laws devoid of racial bias. The entire Muslim community is targeted by a few extremist Buddhists. If the ICCPR are applied to these racists, racism and Buddhist extremism will stop overnight,.
Ministry of Defense engagement with Muslim Civil Society
There was a process undertaken by the Ministry of Defense to resolve many issues faced by the Muslim community during the regime of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Much progress was made and most of the issues were almost resolved but unfortunately this stopped with the change of the Presidency. The delegation requested the President to restart the process to resolve all issues that come under the purview of the ministry of Defense.
Proscribed Organisations
Fast track any investigations on Muslim religious and Civil Society organisations proscribed and delist them at the earliest if there is no evidence of preaching extremism. A huge amount of funds for orphan care, education and technical training has been stopped because of the banning of these organisations. The delegation is confident that this will be resolved when Saman Ekanayake committee is set up.
Importation of Islamic Religious Books. ( Rizwe Mufthi)
The Ministry of Defense has ordered detention of Islamic literature importedwithout MOD approval. This unfortunately is for only Islamic literature and no other religious literature does not goes through this process. The role of MOD involvement needs to be suspended. If in doubt, the customs could get them reviewed by the Muslim Religious Cultural Department (MRCA) and the All Ceylon Jamiyatul Ulema (ACJU) and release them after certification by them for clearance. This process should not take more than 2 weeks. The MRCA and ACJU could also set up a joint committee to review and clear all Islamic literature.
- Issuance of visas to Muslim Religious Scholars
The harassment and Issuance of visas for foreign scholars a major concern for the Muslims. Many eminent scholars visit Sri Lanka periodically from a number of countries and assist in Islamic education. This is a very important expertise to give students a global perspective on Islam. This restriction needs to removed
- Madrasah Act with the Legal Draftsman
Amendments to the Madrasa act was formulated by a group of legal and religious experts which also involved many reforms including pedagogic education for Madrasa students. It has also suggested non approval of mushrooming Madrasas without proper standards. There are also proposals to cluster a number of small madrasas and centralise Islamic education at district level. This has to be passed at the earliest.
Resolution of the Political Issues of minorities – Have discussions with both communities simultaneously
While appreciating the Governments efforts at resolving problems faced by the Tamil community, we kindly request for your consultations in parallel with the Muslim community before finalising negotiations with the Tamil community. The Muslims feel that they have not been taken into consideration.
- Forced Cremations –
Hon. Minister of Health revealed in parliament that the Ministry of Health was advised by a few experts. Forced cremation traumatised Muslims as Islam does not allow burning of the dead. The issue of some of the racists in the technical committee was brought up and strong action was sought for their role in cremating Muslims including a 20 day baby which is against their religion.
Closure of Mosques and Madrasas by force
Ion the aftermath of the Easter Bombing a number of Madrasas and Mosques were forcibly closed by the police and keys taken away. Kindl request was made to order to fast track investigations and allow them to be reopened as they play an important role in Islamic education and practice of Islam by the Muslim population.
- Tsunami Housing Project
Saudi Arabia constructed 500 houses and a complete township in Norocholai to support the victims of the 2004nTsunami. Even after 18 years, after the tsunami, Saudi Arabia donated project was not distributed to the residents of Noracholai. Court has ordered the provincial council to resolve conflicts in distribution. This is a fully funded township which has got totally dilapidated now. A request was made to kindly allow the allocation of these houses to the Tsunami affected. The delegation offered to lobby and raise the funding from Saudi Arabia and other donors for the restoration.
- Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Building
A five storied building was put up by the MRCA during the Yahapalanaya government to house MRCA, Waqf Board, Waqf Tribunal and the Colombo district Quazi courts among other Muslim institutions. Unfortunately, only two floors were completed and the 3 floors remained as shells only due to lack of funds. Kindly approve the relocation of the Waqf Board, Waqf tribunal, Colombo district Quazi courts and other Muslim Govt institutions to the remaining three floors.
The meeting concluded in a positive note and the delegation was satisfied that solutions to the long standing concerns of the Muslim community will be resolved in the immediate future.
