With Prez consent, Sri Lanka bans burqas or any other face veiling masks that will hinder national security

Colombo, April 29: In a decision that gives major priority to the country’s security and needs, Sri Lanka swipes in to ban all kinds of face veiling masks including burqa. The move came over a week after the devastating terror attack on Easter Day killing almost 250 people and leaving many injured.

The decision was approved by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and the announcement was made through a press release. According to the release, it said that any form of face cover “that will hinder the identification of a person is banned under emergency regulations.”

 

“President Maithripala Sirisena took this decision to further support the ongoing security and help the armed forces to easily identify the identity of any wanted perpetrators,” the release added.

As this rule comes into effect from Monday, any kind of garment that covers the face like masks, veils, and burqas have been prohibited in Sri Lanka. The decision however comes after the approval cited by the apex body of Muslim associations. Extending a helping hand with utmost co-operation, the association in a press release and a press interview appealed the women of their community to not wear burqas as it many hinder national security.

The country is still reeling from the terror blasts that ripped across three cities on April 21 in several churches and hotels, taking at least 253 lives and leaving hundreds more injured. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings that were executed by suicide bombers; and the National Thowheed Jamath as well as Jammiyathul Maillathu Ibrahim are suspected to have links the blasts.

Sri Lanka has been on high alert since Easter, with about 10,000 military soldiers being deployed throughout the country. Commercial establishments, church services as well as schools and universities are shut.

Sri Lanka is not the first country to have prohibited the burqa though. Of the 13 countries that have a full or partial ban on the burqa and/or face veils, France was the first European country to ban the burqa in public places. Belgium followed suit in 2011, prohibiting full face veils. Other nations like The Netherlands have a partial ban meaning that women cannot cover their faces in “specific situations where it is essential for people to be seen".