'Muslims have no difficulties with leadership training'

Child Development and Women's Affairs Deputy Minister Al Haj M L A M Hizbullah at a meeting last week with Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake, Ministry Secretary Dr Navaratne and University Grants Commission Chairman discussed matters related to Muslim students selected to universities when following leadership training.

Hizbullah stressed the need for them to wear their Islamic traditional dress, especially female students wearing Farda (face cover), providing them Halal food, facilitating them to pray and making special arrangements to enable them to observe Jummah on Fridays.

After lengthy discussions, it had been decided to seek immediate relief for these problems and provide them with necessary facilities. With this, Muslim students could follow leadership training without any difficulties. Politicizing and criticizing this issue should be strictly avoided, said Deputy Minister Hizbullah. In the event of any Muslim student facing problems in this regard, if we are immediately contacted, we are ready to take appropriate action, he added.

"According to inquiries from students it is confirmed that they have not been confronted with any difficulties," said the Deputy Minister.