Announce Stance on MCC and Madrasas

Apey Janabala Party leader and former MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday called on the government and opposition parties to announce their stance on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) pact, Muslim Marriage law, Madrasas, banning of cigarettes and banning of the Burka and Niqab.

The Thera told a news conference that the government and opposition parties should announce their stance on these matters before the general election.

“We will challenge the government and opposition parties to announce their stance on our five-point proposals. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he will ensure ‘one country, one law’ in his government. He should reveal his stance on the Muslim Marriage law which was against the common law of the country. The Burka and Niqab also should be banned. Madrasas which come under the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs are also against the law as the education system of the country should come only under the ministry of education,” he said.

Ven.rathana Thera said the committee appointed to review the MCC pact had stated in its report that the MCC was detrimental to the country and as such the government should reveal its stance on it.

“The government was very vociferous of the MCC before the presidential election. Now they should reveal whether the MCC would be signed or not,” he said.

The government and opposition parties should announce their stance on these matters before the general election