A proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and Law Milinda Moragoda to bring in certain reforms to the Muslim personal law and to uplift the system of Quazi courts and to enhanced the knowledge of Quazis was here approved by the cabinet

The Minister in this regard had sought Cabinet approval to appoint a committee consisting of 16 experts from all three communities, Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese to propose reforms to the Muslim Matrimonial Law and the system of Quazi Courts.

After having extensive discussions with several eminent Muslims it was acknowledged that certain reforms to the Muslim personal law was urgently needed..

Under section 12 (I) Quazis are appointed for the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Ordinance No. 13 of 1951 – They are deemed to be judicial officers and the functions they carry out are judicial function therefore they are appointed by Judicial Service Commission.

As per the past survey report of International Crisis Group the Sri Lankan Muslims who are 8 per cent of the population see themselves as a separate ethnic group who have largely been ignored. It’s one third of Muslims live in the conflict-affected north and east and thus have a significant interest in the outcome of the war. They have often suffered serious hardship, particularly at the hands of the Tamil rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The report says that since 1990 Muslims have been the victims of ethnic cleansing, massacres and forced displacement by the insurgents. Muslim political leaders have often been divided, representing different historical experiences and geographical realities as well as personal and political differences.Muslims in the east and north – who have been fundamentally affected by the conflict – often, have very different views from those who live in the south among the Sinhalese.