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MPLRAG accuses Muslim MPs of stonewalling reforms to protect the rights of their women and children
Muslim Personal Law Reforms Action Group (MPLRAG) on Friday (14) alleged that Muslim MPs continued to thwart attempts made to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) to protect the rights of women and children.
MPLRAG said in a letter dated 8 June 2023, 18 Muslim MPs had submitted recommendations in response to the Draft Bill on MMDA Reforms to Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
Issuing a press release, it said, “The MPs’ recommendations categorically oppose all progressive reform reflected in the draft Bill, presented by the Ministry of Justice, based on the recent report of the 2021 Advisory Committee on MMDA Reforms. They even regress on progressive positions that were unanimously agreed on by all members of the previous 2009 committee headed by Justice Saleem Marsoof,” MPLRAG said.
The signatories to the MPs’ letter were A. H. M. Fowzie, Rishad Bathiudeen, Kabir Hashim, A. L. M. Athaulla, Naseer Ahamed, M.S. Thowfeek, Ishak Rahuman, Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, S.M. Marikkar, Marjan Faleel, A. H. M. Abdul Haleem, K. Cader Masthan, S.M.M. Muszhaaraff, Faizal Cassim, Ali Sabri Raheem, Imran Maharoof and M. Muzzamil.
MPLRAG alleged that the MPs recommend that the bride’s signature on the marriage register to have no value without a male guardian signing, denying women their autonomy.
The MPs have also recommended to maintain the Quazi system without any changes, including criteria and process for appointing Quazis, MPLRAG said.
“Among other recommendations are; exceptions to minimum age of marriage to allow under 18 year-olds to marry; rejection of equal divorce procedures and retaining the current highly discriminatory divorce system and procedures; rejection of new provisions (introduced in the draft Bill) for sharing of matrimonial property and securing the best interests of children; and maintaining the discrimination between different sects and madhabs (schools of jurisprudence) of Muslims in Sri Lanka,” MPLRAG said.
The organization said that there is a lack of consistency in Muslim MPs’ positions and that views expressed in their recent letter directly contradict the positions taken by many of the very same MPs, publicly, on 11 July 2019, in Parliament, when 12 Muslim MPs agreed that 18 would be the minimum age of marriage without exceptions; that the positions of Quazi and marriage registrar be open to Muslim women; that maintenance be decided by the regular courts; and that Quazis would have a minimum professional qualification of Attorney-at-Law.
“The new recommendations also contradict the endorsement by 13 Muslim MPs of the positions submitted by the predominantly male Muslim Civil Society Alliance, including the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) to the Ministry of Justice, on 18 November 2022. Again, there was agreement that the minimum age of marriage be 18 years that women may be appointed as Quazi, that signature of wali (guardian) be optional, thereby not invalidating a marriage simply because the wali does not sign, and that Quazis have at minimum the qualification of Attorney-at-Law. It appears that the Muslim MPs’ recent change of heart and mind has been facilitated by highly-private, exclusive deliberations that took place between the MPs and the ACJU in June 2023,” MPLRAG said.
They said the extremely conservative and discriminatory positions taken by the Muslim MP signatories undermine decades of work of women activists working under the harshest of conditions to bring to light the serious and harmful injustices that have occurred under the cover of the MMDA.
It also dismisses the work of six state-appointed committees of experts spanning a period of over 60 years. “The failure to respond to the real issues affecting the intimate lives of Muslim citizens is a reflection of narrow political self-interests rather than the wellbeing of Muslim communities. It is a disservice to the representative responsibility the MPs bear, especially to those most affected and suffering injustice, who are still waiting for relief,” MPLRAG said.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
If Udaya Gammanpila had access to documents on the Easter Sunday attacks that the current administration does not have, he should hand them over to the government without asking the government to release them, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Public Security Vijitha Herath said yesterday.
Responding to a query at the Cabinet press briefing, Herath said Gammanpila had been a Cabinet Minister of the government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and that he should have pressed the former President to release documents pertaining to
the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks.
“We feel there is a need to conduct a fresh investigation into the attack. We have announced the commencement of the probe. We will soon issue a report on this,” he said.
On Monday (14) Gammanpila called on the government to release two unpublished committee reports on the Easter Sunday attacks within one week.
Gammapila warned that should the government fail to release the reports, he would publish them online.
“None of these reports are incomplete, and none have gone missing,” he stated.
In June 2023, Wickremesinghe established a Committee of Inquiry to investigate the actions and responses of the intelligence and security services.
Retired Judge A.N.J. de Alwis was tasked with investigating the conduct of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the Chief of National Intelligence (CNI), and other relevant authorities.
At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena led the SIS, while retired DIG Sisira Mendis served as the CNI, a role previously held by intelligence veteran General Kapila Hendawitharana.
In September, Wickremesinghe appointed a three-member committee to investigate allegations made by Britain’s Channel 4 regarding the alleged involvement of military intelligence in the Easter Sunday attacks. The President’s announcement followed a denial issued by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the government.
The Committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Syed Ishrat Imam, also included retired Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), and President’s Counsel Harsha Soza. Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Sarthanjali Maheswaran served as the Commission’s Secretary.
Indo-Lanka road and rail link:
In the wake of Foreign Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath’s declaration that decision on controversial Indian projects would be taken up after the parliamentary election on Nov 14, Environment Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, in an interview with Mint has said the discussions are in the final stages for a $5 billion road-and-rail link between India and Sri Lanka with India set to bear the cost of the strategic project.
This is the first big bilateral infrastructure project announced by Sri Lanka since the recent election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake amidst efforts by New Delhi to counter Chinese influence, according to Mint.
India is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner and one of the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) contributors. Indian investment in Sri Lanka amounted to about $142 million in 2021.
“Last month, I participated in one meeting with India in New Delhi, and we are going to establish the highway and railway line connectivity between Rameswaram in India and Trincomalee in Sri Lanka,” B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi told Mint. “This is being planned as businessmen in both countries have to pay more and with the road and rail connectivity, both parties can get help because it will help in trade with European and other countries. Indian businessmen can also get some benefits from Sri Lanka as well,” Chandrakeerthi said.
“Last month I participated in one meeting with India in New Delhi, and we are going to establish the highway and railway line connectivity between Rameswaram in India and Trincomalee in Sri Lanka,” B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi told Mint. “This is being planned as businessmen in both countries have to pay more and with the road and rail connectivity, both parties can get help because it will help in trade with European and other countries. Indian businessmen can also get some benefits from Sri Lanka as well,” Chandrakeerthi added.
The Sri Lankan government proposed a land bridge between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu of India and Talaimannar, a village in Mannar Island of Sri Lanka in 2002 and signed an agreement on it.
As per the agreement, road and rail bridge links were to be developed, offering economic benefits to both sides of the Palk Strait. However, after the agreement was signed, the Tamil Nadu government opposed the construction of the land bridge.
As per the agreement, road and rail bridge links were to be developed, offering economic benefits to both sides of the Palk Strait. However, after the agreement was signed, the Tamil Nadu government opposed the construction of the land bridge.
The talks resumed in 2015 when India asked the Asian Development Bank to carry out pre-feasibility study for financing a road and rail link between India’s Rameswaram and Sri Lanka’s Talaimannar. But it has been decided to build the rail and road link up to Trincomalee, the official informed.
There is no land connection between Sri Lanka and India through road or railway. The closest Indian town to Sri Lanka, Dhanushkodi, had a railway station but this was washed out in a cyclone in 1964. A short boat ride till 1966 connected the railway stations at Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi in India.
“The cost of the project is still not finalized. We have to have more discussion about that, but I think it is estimated to be nearly $5 billion,” the Lankan official said, and added: “It will entirely be borne by the Indian government. We have to get some approval for environmental clearance.”
He said the project may involve bridges and underwater tunnels to allow unhindered movement of ships.
Queries sent to the spokespeople and secretaries of Indian road transport and highways, ports, shipping and waterways, railways, external affairs and environment ministries remained unanswered at the time of going to press.
National Democratic Front (NDF) leader entrepreneur Rushan Malinda said that he would be focusing on the difficulties experienced by the farmers, including the human-elephant conflict in the Digamadulla district.
Having handed over nominations for the NDF’s Digamadulla team, Malinda, a pilot by profession, emphasized the pivotal importance of addressing farmers’ woes in all parts of the country. Addressing the media at the National Library and Documentation Services Board recently, Malinda said that NDF contesting under the car symbol handed over nominations in all 22 electoral districts. Acknowledging the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) taking command of 225-member parliament at the Nov 14 parliamentary election, the NDF leader said that his party intended to perform the responsibilities of the Opposition. NDF’s Propaganda Secretary Prof. Chamila Liyanage who contests Kalutara district said that the Opposition had a great obligation as one of the fiercest critics of previous governments now served as the President.
Former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, contested the last presidential election on the NDF ticket. The parliamentarian did so after his failure to secure SLFP nomination
The heavy rains experienced in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually
Now, Herath dares Udaya to release Easter carnage committee reports
Ministry Secretary makes contradictory statement
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