• The MMDA is a personal law applicable to the Muslim community of Sri Lanka and obtaining the community’s concurrence to the final draft would be the most democratic and transparent process of amending the law

The National Shoora Council (NSC) has requested the Minister of Justice to place the proposed draft amendments to the Muslim Marriage & Divorce Act (MMDA) for the consideration of Muslim civil society organisations including the NSC before placing the proposed amendments for the consideration of the Cabinet, a statement from it said.

NSC President T K Azoor has requested Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to forward the  amended draft of the MMDA to the NSC prior to placing it before the Cabinet of Ministers.

“However we wish to request that the proposed draft amendments be made available for the consideration of the Muslim civil society organizations including the NSC, before being presented for the approval of the Cabinet, because the MMDA is a personal law applicable to the Muslim community of Sri Lanka and obtaining the community’s concurrence to the final draft would be the most democratic and transparent process of amending the law.

The NSC is constrained to make this request in the light of certain amendments in the draft said to be based on a recently State appointed Committee comprising of a Chairperson holding office in the State and whose report has not been released to the Muslim community.