Lanka will retain personal laws for different communities

Prof Peiris tells envoys of Islamic countries

Sri Lanka will continue to retain personal laws for different communities, Foreign Minister Prof G. L. Peiris has said at a meeting with the envoys from Islamic countries, in a move that contradicts the government’s stated policy of enacting a unified personal code. Significantly, the statement came little over a month after the government formed a task force on “One Country One Rule.”

Foreign Minister Prof Peiris hosted a working dinner for the Heads of Mission of Islamic States in Colombo on last week (30). Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also joined the occasion as Guest of Honour.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Prof Peiris said that the country’s democratic tradition was also “reflected in the rich and varied legal tradition of Sri Lanka which included personal laws specific to Muslim, Kandyan and Tamil communities, which Sri Lanka will continue to retain.”

“Sri Lanka will continue to uphold its rich democratic tradition as a society where every person irrespective of their religion, ethnicity, or race enjoys the freedom to express their identity by practicing their own religion, culture, and language,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

The envoys present agreed that diversity of religion and culture was a strength to Sri Lanka and expressed confidence in the measures taken by the government to clarify ambiguities spread by extreme elements, as well as other recent progressive step relevant to the Muslim community. They expressed their solidarity with Sri Lanka in these efforts as well as their cooperation in overcoming the challenges related to economic recovery and progress.

The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister thanked the envoys for the open and constructive discussion, and for their goodwill towards Sri Lanka.

The following Envoys joined the working dinner – The Ambassadors of Sultanate of Oman, The State of Palestine, The Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, The State of Qatar, The Republic of Turkey; The  High Commissioners of Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, The People’s Republic of Bangladesh; the Actg. High Commissioner of Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Charge D’Affaires of State of Libya, The Arab Republic of Egypt, State of Kuwait, Islamic Republic of Iran, United Arab Emirates.