A fresh round of discussions between Muslim civil society leaders and government representatives was held on the 23rd under the patronage of Minister Vijitha Herath. Deputy Speaker Rizvi Sali, Minister Sunil Senevi, Deputy Ministers Munir Mulaffar and Arkam Ilyas, and MP Fasmin Sheriff also took part in the meeting, which is part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at addressing issues affecting the Muslim community.
During the discussion, representatives raised concerns over long-standing challenges faced by Muslim nurses in government hospitals regarding uniforms that preserve religious identity. They noted that difficulties in wearing attire covering the head and legs have discouraged many Muslim women from joining or remaining in the nursing profession, even after completing their training.
Minister Herath explained that the current legal framework on nurses’ uniforms does not prevent adherence to religious practices. He stressed that religion or culture should not be seen as a barrier to entering the health sector.
Civil society leaders also highlighted delays in performing final rites for Muslim deaths due to procedures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, including lengthy certificate-issuing processes that remain in place in some areas.
Responding to the concern, Minister Herath said a circular has already been issued instructing officials to follow pre-Covid procedures for handling deaths. He requested that any officials continuing outdated practices be informed and corrected to ensure no further delays.
A total of 30 representatives from 15 organizations, including the All Ceylon Jamiatul Ulama, attended the discussion.
