Halal issue:

Manufacturers asked to confine products to Muslims

Chaminda Perera

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama yesterday requested manufacturers who have obtained the Halal certification to confine their products to the Muslim community only.

The organization made this announcement following discussions with government leaders, officials and representatives of the civil society over the Halal certification issue.

According to ACJU President Mufti MIM Rizwe, his organization has taken this decision with a view to averting a possible rift among different communities who have been living in the country peacefully for centuries due to this Halal issue. Speaking at a press conference at Ranmuthu Hotel in Colombo yesterday Mufti Rizwe said that he discussed this issue with the Defence and Urban development Ministry Secretary Gotabhya Rajapaska who stressed that members of all communities have equal right to live in the country peacefully, while following their respective religions. He stressed that the Halal certification is meant only for the Muslims to provide them with easy access to permitted products and misconception of the Halal certification among other communities in the country has created suspicion and tension between the communities.

The activities of the Halal division is being carried out in a transparent manner with access to any State institution for verification, he added. He added that his organization is giving its fullest cooperation to the committee appointed by the Cabinet to look into this issue.

Mufti Rizwe while rubbishing speculation the speculation that the funds collected by the ACJU were being used for the construction of mosques, said that the Muslim community has coexisted with the other communities in the country for centuries and they do not want to disrupt this ethnic harmony.

"The organization has was never involved in promoting this certificates nor has it derivedcommercial benefits from issuing these certification to the companies," he stressed. He added that not a single private company raised objections over their fee structure. Our accounts are audited by a professional accounting body and we have provided all information pertaining to our organization and its audited accounts to the National Investigation Bureaue, he added. He stressed that the products with Halal certification are not only for the benefits of Muslims in the country and it plays a vital role in the tourism and export sectors too.