The government regrets the statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe regarding the Halal certificate and the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama organization, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated.

The Opposition Leader had stated in parliament yesterday  (February 6) that the government is responsible for ensuring that a clash between the Sinhala and Muslim does not occur like in 1915 while requesting the government to look into reports of Muslim people being harassed by the Sinhalese and in turn cases of Sinhalese shop owners being forced to get the Halal certification by Muslims.

He further stated that having closely inspected the Janiyyathul Ulama Act there was no reference to handing out Halal certificates while Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that he would give a response today (February 7).

He thus stated today that the government is working to protect peace and harmony in the country.

He stated that he regretted the statement made by Ranil regarding the Halal certification and especially the Janiyyathul Ulama organization and claimed that getting the Halal certification was practiced on an international level even by Western countries.

He explained that the International Center for issuing the Halal certificate is in Indonesia and that the World Halal Food Council has representatives all around the world including in Sri Lanka in the form of the Janiyyathul Ulama organization.

He added that the organization was not recognized by the government or any state institution and that no such need had arisen as it is a part of Islamic task.

The Minister added that everyone is free to accept or reject Halal certified products and that no one will be forced into doing either.