News
Former Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs tells PCoI he was ignorant about extremism here
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Former Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs, M. H.A. Haleem yesterday told the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks that although he had heard about the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) by 2014, he didn’t think it was a violent organisation.
He said so when he was asked by the Counsel representing the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, whether he had been aware of the NTJ during his tenure as Minister. Haleem also said that he didn’t know about Zahran before the Easter Sunday attacks.
Haleem said that he had not known what had happened in Kattankudy until the Easter Sunday attacks.
The lawyer representing Archbishop of Colombo: “There was a clash between the NTJ members and those of Sunnath Wal Jamaat on 10 March 2017 at Aliyar Junction, Kattankudy. Were you not aware of this?”
Haleem: “No. Perhaps local political leaders may have told higher-ups about the threats posed by the NTJ. But I was not informed.”
The lawyer representing Archbishop of Colombo then asked Haleem if he had been aware of a speech made by former Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakse about ISIS activities in Sri Lanka. Haleem said that he had spoken to Muslim religious leaders, Muslim intellectuals and even law enforcement agencies but they all had assured him that there was no evidence of ISIS activity in Sri Lanka.
Haleem also said that there were too many mosques and Moulavis in Sri Lanka and added that six months after the establishment of a mosque, the trustees could request registration.
“There are too many mosques and these have also caused issues in the community. Many mosques are unregistered and we don’t know whether they receive foreign funding or what they do. There are also too many moulavis. Some people with Moulavi qualifications are driving three-wheelers.”
The former minister added there was no need to register certain types of religious schools.
A Commissioner asked Haleem about the activities of the Thowheed Jamaat movement and whether it was a problem to inter-communal harmony.
Haleem: “They are also a problem in the Muslim community. They start mosques near other mosques and cause trouble.”
The former minister also said that there should not be any weapons in mosques. He said this responding to a question posed by the Attorney General’s Department representative, who told him that there was evidence that some NTJ members had imported swords from China and distributed them among mosques.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
USA’s Ali Khan claims having been ‘denied’ India visa ahead of T20 World Cup
At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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