Revisions include raising age of Muslim marriages to 18

By Saman Indrajith

Justice Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament yesterday that new laws would be introduced soon to raise the mandatory minimum age for Muslim marriages in the country to 18.

“There is no argument on this matter and we have determined to bring in new laws to introduce 18 as the minimum age for Muslim marriages. I have already commenced the process and it is in progress. We’ll soon be able to bring about the particular laws to this House.”

“We update all outdated laws. The updating of laws is done with the intention of ensuring the rule of law and providing necessary infrastructure for the peace and prosperity of the country. Seventy three years have passed since we got Independence. It is doubtful whether we have yet been able to build a unique Sri Lankan identity and to coexist while respecting the diversities of each other. Many other countries in the world have been able to overcome their internal differences to forge their national identities to move forward. But it seems to me when I listen to the speeches made in this august assembly as a new MP and Minister that polarization has increased. We must understand that we are not enemies just because we have different religions, different languages and different lifestyles. The very basic foundation of our national anthem and the flag is that we must respect each other as Sri Lankans. It is the very same foundation on which we have built our freedom of speech. As French author Voltaire said, “I do not have to agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

The minister said: “When we take a look at history it could be seen that we made mistakes such as the riots in 1958, in 1978, setting the Jaffna Library on fire in 1980, July 1983 riots, insurgencies in 1971 and 1988-89, massacre of bhikkhus at Arantalawa, attacking the Dalada Maligawa, attack on the Central Bank, massacre at Kebitigollewa, killings at Muslim mosques in Eravur and Katthankudy, and the most recent terror attacks by Zahran’s group on Easter Sunday. The same history could help us understand that it was the words of the Buddha that hatred never overcomes hatred helped Japan to rise from ashes to become a developed nation. Time has come for us to ask ourselves whether we should learn from those lessons of the past or continue to struggle and fight each other. We must turn this assembly into a platform that helps us to rebuild our nation with a single national identity. We must remember that when Tamil MPs led by Appapillai Amirthalingam left this parliament Tamil people rallied around Velupillai Prbahakaran because they lost faith in the democratic system.

“There is no point in hurling insults at each other. We must work together to realise this country’s full potential. For that purpose we have to amend archaic laws. We have identified 37 Acts and Ordinances to be amended in the process of updating laws.”