No final decision on burqa ban: Sri Lankan foreign minister

After facing flak over the earlier statement by the Public Security Minister on banning the burqa on the ground that it symbolised religious extremism, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry issued a clarification, saying it is still a proposal under consideration, and no final decision has yet taken by the government.

Earlier this week, Sri Lankan public security minister courted a controversy, by saying that cabinet has cleared a paper banning the burqa in the country. The minister also called for the closing of thousands of unregistered madrassas in the country.

Several Muslim organizations and envoys of Muslim countries expressed their displeasure over the move.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage said, “a decision has not been taken by the Government to impose such a ban and it is merely a proposal, which is under discussion.”

It further says, “This proposal has been based on the precautionary measures that are needed on national security grounds, following the investigations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on Easter Sunday attacks.”

The government has already under the scanner of international rights organizations that blame it for deteriorating human rights conditions, including the discriminatory behaviors towards religious and ethnic minorities in the country.

Earlier, its policy of forced cremation of Covid-19 victim - which it had recently reversed- drew worldwide condemnation.