SRI LANKA’S MOVE TO BAN THE BURQA ON NATIONAL SECURITY GROUNDS HAS BEEN TERMED AS RACIST AGENDA USED TO CAUSE DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY.

Sri Lanka’s move to ban the burqa on national security grounds while calling its use religious extremism has been termed a racist agenda used to cause divisions in the country.

A burqa is an outer garment worn to cover the entire body and the face and it is used by some muslim women.

Reports say on Saturday Sri Lanka’s Minister for Public Security, Sarath Weerasekera said he had signed a paper for cabinet approval to ban the burqa adding that the government also plans to ban more than one thousand Islamic schools that were defying national education policy.

Sri Lankans expressed disapproval of the proposal with many viewing the act as an attempt to appease Sir Lanka’s Buddhist majority and cause divisions.