PARLIAMENT

Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC,—To ask the Minister of Defence,— (1)

(a) Is he aware that —

(i) a ban was imposed in May 2021 under the directive of the then Secretary to the Ministry of Defence restricting the import of Islamic religious books into Sri Lanka, except those approved by the Ministry of Defence;

(ii) this ban has caused delays of several months in the release of imported copies of the Quran, even within the past year; and

(iii) this discriminatory ban has caused severe hardships to importers of Islamic books due to prolonged delays in releasing Islamic religious books?

(b) Will he inform this House whether the government take immediate steps to lift/remove the aforementioned ban/restrictions?

(c) If not, why?