Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath says measures have been taken to re-export the consignment of the Holy Qur’an (Tamil translation) that remains detained by Sri Lanka Customs.
Addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing held on Tuesday, Minister Herath revealed that the consignment had been imported in violation of customs regulations.
He further said that, as such, the importer had agreed to re-export the consignment of the Holy Qur’an (Tamil translation) to India.
“There was no issue about the content of the Holy Qur’an. But the issue was with the manner in which it had been imported. There was a fault in the way it had been imported, and it had violated customs rules. Therefore, the importers have agreed to re-export it,” the minister said.
Minister Vijitha Herath clarified that the decision to re-export has been taken by the importer and not the government.
The detained consignment of the Holy Qur’an (Tamil translation) was recently brought to the limelight after all Muslim Parliamentarians, including the government and the opposition, last week requested the Minister of Religious Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, to intervene for its immediate release, claiming it was unlawfully detained by the Sri Lanka Customs.
In a letter to the Minister, signed by all Muslim MPs, including the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Muneer Mulaffer, they said the consignment (Container No. FSCU 8233306) was unlawfully detained by the Sri Lanka Customs on 16th May 2024, following the interference of the former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, purporting to act on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
The continuous detention of the Holy Quran wrongfully and unlawfully is in violation of and infringement of the fundamental rights of Sri Lankan Muslims guaranteed under Chapter III of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, they pointed out.
As such, the Muslim MPs urged the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately release the detained consignment. (Newswire)