FROM A READER
COLOMBO : Letter addressed to president and the prime minister:
I write this letter with deep respect and a sincere appeal to reconsider the decision to return a consignment of the translation of the Holy Qur’an that currently remains held at the Customs Department.
A part of the shipment containing approximately 25,000 copies of the Glorious Qur’an translation, was a generous donation from a well-wisher from Saudi Arabia intended for distribution among the people of Sri Lanka. It was addressed to the Director, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs (DMRCA).
At the time the decision was made to re-export these Qur’ans, the country was experiencing heightened Islamophobic sentiment—following the Easter Sunday attacks and the forced cremation policy affecting Muslim COVID-19 victims. Under such circumstances, the review committee comprising Muslim scholars and officials from the DMRCA, acting under considerable duress, granted approval for the return of these Qur’ans. The main concern then was the absence of certain explanatory footnotes on topics such as “Jihad”—a matter that could have been addressed through scholarly clarification within Sri Lanka.
Today, however, Sri Lanka has entered a new era of peace, reconciliation, and coexistence. With the President’s vision of “A Thriving Nation and a Beautiful Life”, there is no longer a climate of fear or suspicion to justify such a return. Instead, it is both timely and prudent to correct this earlier decision and allow these copies of the Holy Qur’an to be distributed within the country as originally intended.
Your Excellency and Hon. Prime Minister, by revoking this previous directive, you would be reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to religious freedom, cultural dignity, and mutual respect among all faiths — values enshrined in our national identity.
I therefore earnestly appeal for your kind intervention to ensure that these sacred copies of the Holy Qur’an remain in Sri Lanka, serving the spiritual and educational needs of its Muslim citizens.
With profound respect,
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo
.
