This position paper is the fourth in a series of position papers analysing the recommendations in the report of the 2009 Committee Appointed to Recommend Amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA). Download PDF Version of Position Paper in English Sinhala and Tamil translations to be added shortly.

MMDA MUST BE REFORMED COMPREHENSIVELY The MMDA must be reformed comprehensively to guarantee equality and justice for all Muslims, particularly Muslim women and girls. Muslim women have been the most affected by the MMDA and Quazi court system, and the mandate for reform is principally derived from their call for changes to MMDA. Therefore, women’s... Continue Reading →

ஒரு வருடத்திற்கு முன்னர், 2019  ஆகஸ்ட் 22 ஆம் திகதி, அப்போதைய முஸ்லிம் விவகார அமைச்சினால் முஸ்லிம் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களின் ஒத்துழைப்புடன் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்ட முஸ்லிம் விவாக, விவாகரத்துச் சட்டச் (MMDA)  சீர்திருத்தம் தொடர்பான பரிந்துரைகளின் தொகுதியொன்றை அப்போதைய அமைச்சரவை அங்கீகரித்தது. எவ்வாறாயினும், ஒரு வருடத்தின் பின்னர், சீர்திருத்தம் தொடர்பில் எந்தவொரு முன்னேற்றமும் ஏற்படவில்லை. இது  முஸ்லிம் விவாக, விவாகரத்துச் சட்டத்தின் (MMDA) கீழ் நிகழும் பாகுபாடு மற்றும் அநீதி மற்றும் சிலவேளைகளில் வன்முறைகளைக் கூட முஸ்லிம் பெண்கள் ... Continue Reading →

JOINT STATEMENT BY: Muslim Personal Law Reform Action Group (MPLRAG) and Hashtag Generation.  The Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (1951) of Sri Lanka contains multiple provisions that discriminate against women. One serious discriminatory statement includes explicitly stating that only males can hold the positions of judges in Quazi courts, marriage registrars, jurors and Board of Quazi... Continue Reading →

On 17th September 2019, MPLRAG representative filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Ministry of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs for an official copy of the joint proposal submitted by the Minister of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms, on amendments to the Muslim... Continue Reading →

MMDA reform is progressing and the fact that the Cabinet of Ministers are engaging with the much needed for reform is a positive step. This momentum has been shadowed by the fact that the reforms proposed are not adequately addressing the issues. In the spirit of continuing to highlight the need for comprehensive and meaningful... Continue Reading →

If changes were to be made to the positions taken on reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951 (MMDA) by Muslim Members of Parliament on 11th July 2019 it should have been for the betterment of Muslim women and girls. Alarmingly, MPLRAG reliably learns that the document forwarded to the Ministry of... Continue Reading →

Following MP Faiszer Musthapha’s statement on July 12, we note the increased attention that the subject of MMDA reform has received. We also note the unprecedented momentum in political will which was long needed to address the discrimination and hardship Muslim women face. According to MP Musthapha, the reforms agreed upon by Muslim politicians cover... Continue Reading →

The Muslim women in Sri Lanka have persisted with the struggle to reform MMDA for over three decades. This is despite the repeated and abject failure of the male dominated religious and political leadership within the community to address these grievances that are having serious adverse impact on the everyday lives of women and girls.... Continue Reading →

MPLRAG response to the public conversation on MMDA After the tragic and dastardly Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, Muslim Personal Law Reform Action Group (MPLRAG) issued a statement of condolence and thereafter remained silent in our advocacy for the past month in memory of those who were killed. We wanted to respect and participate... Continue Reading →

Statement by Muslim Personal Law Reform Action Group (MPLRAG). We are truly devastated by the bombings in Batticaloa, Colombo, and Negombo on 21 April 2019. Our hearts go out to those directly affected by this senseless violence. We extend our prayers and thoughts to the Christian and Catholic communities across the country that have experienced... Continue Reading →

DOWNLOAD PDF (ENG) - Position Paper 2 - Women as Quazis (Judges) Sinhala and Tamil translations to be added shortly.   

DOWNLOAD (ENG) PDF - Position Paper 1 - Minimum Age of Marriage Sinhala and Tamil translations will be available shortly. 

This article outlines MPLRAG’s opening statements in the conversation on MMDA Committee Report and is Part 1 of a series of articles on the report(s) and reform process.  Ever since the long awaited report of the Committee Appointed to Recommend Amendments To the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) was officially released, much has been... Continue Reading →

On July 18th 2018, the report of the 2009 Committee considering reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951, was finally released on the website of the Ministry of Justice and public comments called for. It was understood that dissenting opinions between Committee members on some of the key issues was the... Continue Reading →

Muslim Personal Law Reforms Action Group (MPLRAG) is deeply disturbed and concerned by comments of Minister of Justice Thalatha Athukorale, in recently quoted statements regarding reforms of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) published on July 6th on the Jaffna Muslim website, in which the Minister commented that the Ministry is not able to... Continue Reading →

Hon. Minister Thalatha Athukorale Minister of Justice 16, May 2018 Dear Honourable Minister, Official Public Release of Report on Proposed Reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of Sri Lanka As members of the Muslim community, and representing those deeply invested in the welfare of the community, as well as the upliftment of... Continue Reading →

Dear Justice Saleem Marsoof and Members of the Committee, We have perused the document that was recently made public on groundviews.org purporting to be report on the reforms recommended by your Committee. We have reason to believe given the content of the report that this is probably the very document your Committee submitted to the... Continue Reading →

This is a comprehensive study covering most aspects of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) currently being discussed. We encourage the reading of this study for anyone interested in getting to know the details about the issues at stake, the impact it is having on Muslim women and girls, what types of reforms to... Continue Reading →