Source: Colombo Page
July 24, Colombo: Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today ordered the Attorney General to issue instructions to all public institutions not to obstruct people who wear traditional Muslim attire.
Chief Justice Mohan Peiris said that the traditional Muslim attire was well within the identity of the Sri Lankan culture and Muslim women have a right to wear such attire as it causes no harm to anyone.
The Chief Justice made these deliberations at the hearing of a petition filed by a Muslim mother of a student at President’s College, Colombo 8 against the principal for not allowing her daughter to enter to the school wearing traditional Muslim clothes.
The principal was reportedly backed by extremist Buddhist groups including the Bodu Bala Sena and ardent Sinhala Buddhist nationalist lawyer Manohara de Silva represented the principal.
Counsels M M Zuhair PC with Hafeel Farisz, Charith Samaradiwakara and Shfraz Hamza appeared for the petitioner. Counsel Thishya Weragoda appeared for provincial authorities. Deputy Solicitor General Sanjaya Rajaratnam appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.
Categories: Asia, Separation of Church and State, Sri Lanka