All Parliamentarians representing the Muslim community except for Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Opposition Parliamentarian, attorney Rauff Hakeem have purportedly boycotted a meeting to discuss the proposed reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951, according to victimised Muslim females who attended the same, yesterday (10), The Daily Morning learned.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, a female who participated in the meeting claimed that all Muslim MPs and nearly 15 victims had been invited to a discussion organised by the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, which was held in a committee room of the Parliament to discuss the proposed reforms to the MMDA. 

“In the letter that we received, it was clearly stated that the Muslim MPs will participate in the discussion. Therefore, we, who have become victims due to the MMDA, were expected to make our explanations before the MPs. We went to the relevant place on time.” 

However, she said that only Hakeem had participated in the discussion representing the Muslim MPs. “We saw a few other Muslim MPs coming near the committee room where the discussion was held, talking to the Justice Minister (President's Counsel [PC], Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe), and then going back. Because of this incident, we feel that they do not want to hear our grievances,” she further claimed.

On 19 June 2021, the Advisory Committee appointed by then Justice Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC to recommend MMDA reforms submitted its report to the Ministry recently. The Committee consisted of five practising lawyers, one academic lawyer, and three religious scholars. According to the report, the Committee has unanimously agreed on several recommendations regarding the MMDA.