A meeting held at the Akurana Jamiyatul Ulama Center today, November 24, brought to light growing frustrations within the Akurana Muslim community over the absence of Muslim representation in Sri Lanka’s Cabinet. During the gathering, Cabinet Minister Vijitha Herath faced direct questions from members of the community, who raised concerns about the lack of a Muslim Cabinet minister, questioning whether this implied that no qualified Muslim scholars existed in the country.
The discussion, marked by passionate exchanges, revolved around the perceived underrepresentation of Muslims in high-level political positions. The Akurana residents, emphasizing their ethnic identity, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of a Muslim in the Cabinet and sought an explanation from Minister Herath.
Minister Herath refuted the claims of deliberate exclusion, pointing out that several key appointments had been made to ensure Muslim representation in governance. He highlighted the appointment of Adam Bawa from the national list, a Muslim Deputy Speaker, and a Muslim Western Governor, as well as the involvement of Comrade Mutalif in coordinating with the Central Province Governor.
Herath urged the community not to fall for what he described as attempts by some political leaders to incite racial divisions, emphasizing his government’s commitment to inclusive governance. “Do not think that appointing a Muslim to the Cabinet is mandatory,” he stated. Herath also pointed to his past initiatives as a minister, including introducing cabinet papers to allow Muslim girls to wear the hijab in schools, as evidence of his commitment to the Muslim community.
Despite these reassurances, some in the community remained unconvinced. A resident questioned whether there were sufficient mechanisms in place to ensure that decisions affecting the Muslim community were informed by an understanding of their religious needs. Herath responded by asserting that such considerations were already being addressed and reiterated that his ministry had facilitated fair policies, such as expanding Hajj participation for rural Muslims.
The meeting, however, did not quell all concerns, with some attendees continuing to press for a Muslim Cabinet minister. Herath reiterated his government’s policy of ensuring balanced representation across all communities and discouraged demands based solely on ethnicity.
“This is our position. This is the way we work. Don’t fight for the wrong thing,” he stated, urging calm and understanding.
