Sub-committee on Muslim Marriage Act appointed

The Cabinet Sub-Committee to make proposals to amend the Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951 will consist of Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Kabir Hashim, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishard Bathuideen, Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Faiszer Mustapha, Minister of Muslim Affairs and Postal Services, M.H.M. Haleem, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Chandrani Bandara and Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle.

Minister of Justice, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe speaking to Daily News said he was compelled to appoint this Cabinet Sub-Committee as the previous committee appointed in 2009 to look into MMDA reforms had not submitted their report even after seven years of deliberations.

“If they submit their report, then the Cabinet-Sub Committee will consider it. But how they proceed will be decided once the Committee meets”, said Minister Rajapakshe.

Given that the last committee, which was appointed to look into reforms, took so long, there have been concerns that yet another committee would prolong matters.

In response to such fears however, the Minister stated that this time around, the matter was more serious and that a Ministerial Committee knew of their responsibilities and would not drag things along.

Years of protest and concerns over the MMDA not conforming to international conventions such as gender equality, lack of a minimum age for marriage and various other issues have moved the government to act.

The recent move also comes at a time when the government is pushing to win back GSP+ from the European Union and the latter had commented on the country’s need to adhere to its international obligations.