Education Ministry must monitor Madrasas: Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva
Posted on May 11th, 2019
Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva said yesterday Madrasas or Muslim religious schools should be monitored by the Ministry of Education like what happens with Pirivenas.
However, the newly formulated Madrasa Schools Regulation Bill stipulates that it should be handled by the Muslim Religious Affairs Ministry.
Even Pirivanas are regulated by the Education Ministry. As such Madrasas should also be brought under the purview of the Ministry Education. Law should be applied equally to everyone,” the minister said adding that laws should be introduced to make it compulsory for Muslim Women to expose their ears when required.
Current gazette technically bans even the wearing of a hijab, a headscarf, unless the eras are exposed. I have suggested to let Muslim women continue to wear the hijab as they have always done, but if required by authorities expose the ears for identification purposes,” the minister said.
He said the claim made by some that swords were kept in houses for the householders’ safety is unacceptable as such a thing is practised only in countries such as Saudi Arabia.
The minister said he was ashamed as a member of the government that it was not able to save the country from the Easter Sunday carnage despite the prior warnings given by the intelligence units.
May 11th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Sri Lanka is not and Islamic country. All madrassas need to close. They only breed radicals whether one accepts or not. Religion can be taught in Sunday schools as it is done in other religions.
ONE law to all Sri Lankans. Those who want Sharia can go to countries that have Sharia. There are plenty and they are rich too. Hope they will like it. Did you know that most Muslims migrate to countries without Sharia laws in order to escape the strict laws? This is what I learnt from the Muslims I had the opportunity speak on my travels. This include a Muslim man from Sri Lanka working at a hotel in Mecca. When I asked him if he would like to permanently reside in Saudi Arabia His answer was a big NO because he said they are too strict .Then after migration they do not want integrate with rest of the population and want more and more mosques because I understand that they truly they believe that it is easier to go to heaven if prayers are done mosques