Madrasas should be under Education Ministry: Marikkar

 UNP MP S.M. Marikkar

• Proposes Halal certification process be brought under Standards Institute to improve transparency

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday called for formulating new regulations for madrasas and training Moulavies under supervision of the Education Ministry as a measure to formalise the education structures of the Muslim community.  

Speaking to media at Temple Trees, UNP MP S.M. Marikkar said the education system should be common across different ethnicities and religions so that all students can study together. He argued a mixed education system could give an overview of other ethnicities and religion to students from a young age to promote peace and harmony.

“I have studied in a Sinhala medium school. That helped me to understand the values of the Sinhala community, which helped me to become the person I am today. Therefore only such a system can bring harmony to this country,” he said.

He claimed a lack of accessibility to study in the Tamil medium in rural areas led to the start of separate Muslim schools. He argued a mixed education system with similar opportunities regardless of the ethnicity or the religion will push the country to adopt more progressive policies. 

Marikkar charged during the past 15 years the Education Ministry had not given prominence to bring madrasas under its supervision. “The Education Ministry failed to monitor madrasas and provide teachers. This lapse opened the door for foreign people to come into the country as teachers and for their Islamic teachings to gain ground. Therefore the madrasas should exist in Sri Lanka but they should come under the supervision of the Government as pirivenas had been monitored by the Government.”

He argued the Halal certification was a right of the Muslim community but that it should have come under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Standard institute to improve transparency and acceptance.

“If Halal certification is issued by the Government that will not be an issue for other communities, therefore a proper system needs to be in place, which should have been implemented many years ago. If so we could have built harmony among all communities.”

Marikkar claimed the Government of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had neglected the importance of taking measures to bring different ethnic and religious communities together to lead the country toward development.