Justice Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament today that only Muslim laws cannot be targeted and if the “one law” policy is to be strictly enforced then laws followed by other religions in Sri Lanka will also need to be abolished.
Responding to a question raised by Our People of Power MP Venerable Athuraliya Rathano Thera, Minister Ali Sabry said a number of private religious laws are practiced in Sri Lanka, such as the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act, Jaffna Thesavalamai Law, Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, Church of Ceylon Act, among others.
Pointing out that only one religious law cannot be removed, the Justice Minister said it could be amended after discussions, or all private religious laws in Sri Lanka should be abolished together.
The Justice Minister said a Cabinet proposal was submitted in November 2020 to amend the minimum age for marriage of Muslim women to 18.
“Are you aware that 80% of pregnant children under the age of 18 are outside the Muslim community,” Minister Ali Sabry questioned in Parliament. (With inputs from Colombo Gazette)