The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) stated that it has never engaged in any promotion or compulsion of the Halal certificate and claimed that it was only meant to provide Muslims with easy access to permitted products.

In a statement issued to the media, the ACJU stated that its Halal Division had been carried out in a very transparent manner with access to any state institution for verification.

It explained that several Sri Lankan and multinational companies had obtained the services of the ACJU on a “totally voluntary basis at a very nominal fee” which covers administrative costs.

The statement pointed out that the Halal certificate does not only benefit the Muslim community but also the whole country by way of the role it plays in the export and tourism industry while it highlighted the fact if the ACJU had only provided Muslim organizations with the certificate it would be deemed unfair.

The ACJU further expressed its regret at the unnecessary and unwarranted suspicions that have caused tensions among the communities who have co-existed peacefully throughout history.

A delegation of the Muslim community including the President of ACJU Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe met with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa during which the Defence Secretary had reiterated the rights of every citizen to peacefully coexist irrespective of their race, religion, caste, creed of language.

The ACJU also requested the manufacturers who have already obtained the certificate to restrict the certification to the products offered for sale to the Muslim community only while the ACJU will also make its representations to the cabinet appointed subcommittee which has been appointed to look into the subject.