The National Council of Shura in Sri Lanka discusses the most important issues of Muslims with the ruling party

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The National Council of Shura in Sri Lanka discusses the most important issues of Muslims with the ruling party

A high-level delegation from the Council held provocative discussions on key issues and challenges faced by Muslims with Mr. Telvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP-led coalition-led coalition. In Sri Lanka, at his office in Colombo, on Friday 06.12.2024. The two sides also searched for ways to strengthen cooperation between them in addressing national and community issues in the interest of this country.

A statement issued by the council clarified that Mr. Silva, who is also the first decision maker of the ruling party, heard from the delegation a detailed explanation of the council’s objectives, structure and previous activities.

In turn, the delegation stressed the need to prioritize the implementation of the 27 recommendations on Muslim issues, contained in the memorandum submitted by the council to prominent presidential candidates ahead of the recent presidential elections, including the current ruling party. The delegation also conveyed a congratulatory message addressed to H.E. President “Anora Kumara Desanayake” on the occasion of his party’s landslide victory in the recent elections.

On his part, the Secretary General “Silva” responded positively to the delegation, stating that the government does not work on the basis of ethnic discrimination and is strongly opposed to racism. He cited recent arrests of individuals involved in inciting racism as evidence of the government’s stance.

I stressed the government’s commitment to allow all local sects to adhere to their religious, linguistic and cultural identities, without any intervention from the authorities. He pointed out the overwhelming support the ruling party received from all walks of life in the recent elections, including regions like Fani and Gafna from the north as well as in the east, and votes in favour of Muslim candidates from non-Muslim voters and vice versa, he noted that this development reflected a positive shift in the public mindset.

Mr Silva recalled his previous interactions with members of the council and expressed his readiness to continue the ongoing discussions.

The meeting was facilitated by Deputy Minister Sheikh Munir Muzaffar at the request of the Council.

The delegation included both the Speaker of the Council Sheikh Muhammad Fazil, the Lecturer of Al-Nazima University; his Deputy prominent lawyer Javed Yousuf, the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Secretary General, Barrister Rashid Imtiaz, the former Speaker of the Council, Barrister Azoor and the former Deputy Speaker of the Council Barrister Zaheer, the former Member of Parliament. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Muhammad Ikram, a member of the central committee of the ruling party.

Here are the main topics discussed:

  1. Absence of Islamic representation in the executive circles

The delegation highlighted growing concerns within the Muslim community regarding the absence of Islamic representation in the Cabinet, the key executive circles capable of making the key national decision, noting that this issue has become a subject of critical assessment within the society of the credibility of the current government.

In this context, the delegation clarified that having Muslim representatives in the cabinet could address issues related to the Muslim community and provide a voice at the ministerial level, and suggested that necessary arrangements be taken within the government framework to address this gap.

  1. The importance of consulting and leveraging experience

The delegation emphasized the importance of consulting experts and knowledgeable people from the Muslim community before taking decisions on their affairs and issues, and leveraging on their expertise, pointing out that there are many skilled professionals, business leaders and intellectuals with experience within the Muslim community, who can serve the country in all fields, including education, economics and politics, forever The Council is readiness to facilitate consultations with vital sectors and organizations within the Muslim community for the country’s progress, and also to remove their specific concerns.

  1. Prioritize to solve the economic crisis

The delegation reaffirmed its support for addressing the acute economic crisis the country is experiencing, noting that more than one million Sri Lankans work in Arab and Islamic countries, contributing more than 85% of hard currency transfers of up to Rs 6 billion annually, and stressed the importance of maintaining strong relationships with these countries. He called for efforts to attract investment from these countries to support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

  1. Muslims’ commitment to preserve Sri Lanka’s sovereignty

The delegation reaffirmed the Muslim community’s steadfast commitment to preserving Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial unity, security and stability, citing the suffering and hardships that Muslims in northern and eastern provinces endure due to ethnic conflicts, to support successive governments in defending the country’s sovereignty. They never supported separatist movements despite all they have been through, with many still in refugee camps.

  1. Government efforts to combat racism and religious hatred

The delegation reported the government’s efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, noting that the Muslim community has been severely damaged by the post-Civil War racist and religious hatred, which has incited hostility against them, posing a great danger to the stability of the country. He reaffirmed that these issues should be resolved through education, dialogue and reconciliation and not by introducing stricter laws.

  1. Programs to promote peaceful coexistence

The delegation reviewed important initiatives taken by the Council in the past to promote unity among community components and raise awareness of the Muslim community on the importance of peaceful coexistence and acceptance of differences, pointing out that the Council cooperated with Deputy Minister Sheikh Munir Muzaffar in implementing interfaith harmony projects. I express his readiness to continue such initiatives in the future.

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