Hakeem calls for inclusion of women judges in Quasi courts

Laws should be changed as soon as possible to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 and allow female judges in Quasi courts, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks on Tuesday night.

A Commissioner then asked the witness why he had not taken steps to introduce relevant amendments during his tenure as the Minister of Justice. Hakeem said that it was impossible to do so at that time.

“When I was the Minister of Justice, a committee was appointed to study the Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act (MMDA). The report of the committee was delayed due to various issues. That was why those amendments could not be implemented. The Minister of Justice is again a Muslim. So he will be able to bring those amendments soon,” Hakeem said.

(RK)