WP Governor urges Muslim school heads to abide by face-cover rule

Western Province Governor Azath Salley has urged the heads of Muslim schools in his region to strictly abide by the ban on face cover imposed by President Maithripala Sirisena which came into effect from Monday under the Emergency law.

Salley was addressing the principals from 59 Muslim schools at the auditorium in his office on Monday.

The Governor explained that the President had imposed the ban adopted by the Government due to the recent Easter Sunday bomb blasts which killed over 250 people, including 40 foreigners.

Stressing the importance of the rule, the Governor said that under this rule, even motorbike riders could not wear fully covered helmets on the roads.

“It is a rule to enable the law enforcement officers to identify the people easily at a glance and to confirm the individuals with their respective identity cards. Even the All-Ceylon Jamiyaathul Ulema (ACJU) had earlier advocated the cause prior to the new presidential directive.”

Recalling his announcement made two days ago to disallow face-covering students and parents to schools as a precautionary measure, Salley said the President had followed suit at a nationwide level which would apply to all schools. 

In response to the Governor’s speech, the principals said that there were students as well as teachers who cover their faces inside the school and they would cooperate in implementing the statutory rule. 

With regard to other security arrangements, most of the principals complained that they did not have night or day watchers to look after the school properties. Some of the schools do not have parapet walls to protect them from trespassers.