Here’s What is Happening in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is receiving criticism from its regional allies after proposing to ban the wearing of the burqa and shut more than a thousand Islamic schools.
Sri Lanka on March 13 proposed to ban the wearing of the burqa and shut more than a thousand Islamic schools. The news quickly made headlines across the globe and resulted in Sri Lanka receiving major criticism from its regional allies.
Minister for Public Security Sarath Weerasekera told a news conference that he had signed a document on Friday for cabinet approval to ban the full-face covering (burqa) worn by some Muslim women based on “national security” grounds in Sri Lanka.
“In our early days, Muslim women and girls never wore the burqa.”
“It is a sign of religious extremism that came about recently. We are definitely going to ban it.”
Weerasekera said the government of Sri Lanka plans to ban more than a thousand madrassas that, according to, were flouting national education policy.
“Nobody can open a school and teach whatever you want to the children,” he said.
The criticism began shortly. Pakistan’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Saad Khattak, said in a tweet on Monday that a burqa ban “will only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe”.
https://t.co/BjrnFSoesO
The likely ban on Niqab #SriLanka will only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe. At today's economically difficult time due to Pandemic and other image related challenges faced by the country— Ambassador Saad Khattak (@SaadKhtk) March 15, 2021
Maldivian diplomat currently serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief said a burqa ban in Sri Lanka was incompatible with international laws that protect religious belief and freedom of expression.
But the foreign ministry of Sri Lanka said on Tuesday a decision had not yet been taken and termed it as “merely a proposal […] under discussion”.
“The government will initiate a broader dialogue with all parties concerned and sufficient time will be taken for necessary consultations to be held and for consensus to be reached,” it said in a statement.
47 nations will vote on Sri Lanka’s human rights record at a United Nations session in Geneva next week which could face serious detriments given this recent alleged ban.
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