Dr. Hizbullah addressed the Minister regarding the administrative deregistration of approximately 350 Muslim social service and charitable organizations by the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs. He argued that no court order or legal decision had revoked the Department's registration authority, and that the Director could simply withdraw the deregistration letter to restore these organizations' functioning status without requiring new legislation or procedures. He cited the Sri Lanka Khateeb and Muazzin Welfare Organization — operational for nearly 30 years with around 10,000 members — as an example of an organization adversely affected, noting that deregistration had disrupted their banking and financial operations, and called on the Minister to direct the Department accordingly.
Hon. Minister, thank you for your reply. Nearly 350 organizations were registered under the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs based on the powers vested in that Department by the Ministry or by law. There has been no decision or court order stripping that authority or prohibiting such registrations. If the Director of the Department withdraws the letter of deregistration, those organizations can automatically function; no new law or procedure is necessary. The Wakf Act registration is a separate process; the Department’s registrations were for social service charitable organizations.
Hon. Minister, please advise the Department accordingly. I do not wish to criticize; the then Director took a unilateral decision to deregister organizations that had been functioning for 40–50 years. For example, the Sri Lanka Khateeb and Muazzin Welfare Organization has operated for nearly 30 years with almost 10,000 service members. Deregistration has affected their bank accounts and investments—