News

Visa red tape for Muslim religious dignitaries cause for concern

A Ministry of Buddha Sasana & Religious Affairs request for letters from the Divisional Secretary of the area, in addition to the recommendation given by the Department of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs (MRCA), to extend/obtain residential visas for Muslim religious dignitaries, has raised concerns among the Muslim community.

On February 14, a request was made to the Director- MRCA to recommend extension of residential visa to Moulana Moulavi Seyyed Mohammed Salihu Babul Huda, an Indian passport holder and the principal and prayer leader of Minhajiyya Arabic College Batupitiya, Hendessa.

The Ministry has requested a letter from the Divisional Secretary, though the Department of Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs has been monitoring and supervising the Islamic organisations, mosques, thakkiyas and Arabic colleges since its inception in 1980. As these mosques and institutions are under the supervision of the MRCA, all government departments have acted on its recommendations.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana had stated that it had been the responsibility of the Director - Department of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs to monitor Islamic institutions and assist them in their dealings with governmental departments and ministries.

“Now I find that ministry officials want endorsements from Gramasevakes and DSs’ recommendation to obtain visa extensions. Most of these offices do not have any information about the mosques and institutions,” he said.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Indians now poaching off northwestern coast
Cost of Living hit for a six
Rama-Ravana World Cup final
Mystery of four missing Navy men
GL on ‘private leave’ in Britain
The cup and the slip
Fonseka to open his defence at next hearing
Flag-waving fans hit the streets as World Cup fever reaches peak
Petitioners oppose upper age limit for Law College admission
Estate unions want 50 percent pay hike
Votes on Tuesday to change election laws
Permanent Peoples' Tribunal holds first sitting in SL
Kadir computer centre opened in North
False profiles on the rise among Facebook users
Protest against arrest of web news editor
Visa red tape for Muslim religious dignitaries cause for concern
Taken for a rough ride
Five arrests over airport theft of Rs. 60 m in gold biscuits
Promise of veggies at controlled prices at economic centres
Defence Secretary reveals Greater Colombo development plan
Going home after a long wait
Indo-Lanka meeting on fishing: Lanka asks for time to study MoU draft
Heat wave in April, you may feel sick
Libyan intervention and a confused Tamil diaspora

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution