Colombo: The Sri Lankan cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to ban all types of face masks(Niqab) in public places citing threats to national security. However, wearing a mask is permitted to deal with Covid-19. The move comes at a time when Public Safety Minister Sarat Veerasekara signed a document in March asking for cabinet approval to ban the burqa. The burqa is used by Muslim women to cover the face and body.
Cabinet Spokesperson and Information Minister Kehliya Rambukwela told reporters here that the cabinet has decided to ban all types of mask in public places. He made no mention of Burke. He said, “All kinds of mask are a threat to national security.” In this way all kinds of burqa and niqab will be included in it. This proposal will now have to be approved by the Parliament to be enacted.
Last month, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Saad Khattak, criticized the proposal to ban the wearing of burqa in the country, saying that such “divisive steps” in the name of security would not only hurt the sentiments of Muslims but also the minorities in the island nation. Extensive apprehensions about fundamental human rights will also be strengthened. Meanwhile, Veerasekara wrote in a Facebook post that the cabinet approved the proposal to ban all types of niqab, including the burqa.
