In a significant step towards enhancing the quality and reliability of Halal certification, the Halal Assessment Council of Sri Lanka (HAC) has signed an important Memorandum Of Understanding with the Halal Science Center at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. The memorandum was formalized during an official visit by the Sri Lankan delegation, facilitated by the Royal Thai Embassy of Colombo on the 28^th of August 2024. 

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding by Professor Dr. Winai Dahlan, Founding Director, The Halal Science Center, Chulalongkorn University Thailand and Mr Aakif A. Wahab, Director – CEO, Halal Assessment Council, Sri Lanka

Mr Aakif A. Wahab, Director – CEO, Halal Assessment Council, Sri Lanka presenting the MOU to Her Excellency Mrs. E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand.

This partnership marks a milestone for both institutions, focusing on the commercial utilization of the advanced testing services provided by the Halal Science Center. These services include ethanol content testing, porcine detection, and other essential analyses required for the post-testing and verification of Sri Lankan Halal-certified products destined for export to GCC countries.

The collaboration between HAC and the Halal Science Center is rooted in a history of mutual support. In 2019, when Sri Lanka faced a crisis over allegations that imported full cream milk powder, widely consumed across the country, was contaminated with pork fat and palm oil, the Halal Science Center stepped in. Their accredited testing of market samples played a pivotal role in dispelling these allegations, with results confirming that no contamination was present. This timely intervention provided Sri Lankan consumers with the assurance needed to make informed decisions based on trustworthy information.

The meeting was attended by dignitaries, including Her Excellency Mrs. E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, and Her Excellency Mrs. Hala Youssef Ahmed Ragab, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Thailand. International delegates from Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Pakistan also witnessed the event and were given a tour of the Halal Forensic Science Laboratory, highlighting the cutting-edge research and testing capabilities of the Halal Science Center.

This MOU symbolizes a strengthened collaboration between Sri Lanka and Thailand in the field of Science and Halal certification, further ensuring the integrity and safety of Halal certified products for consumers worldwide.