Ban on five Islamic organisations lifted

The Government via an extraordinary Gazette yesterday lifted the ban imposed on five Islamic organisations which were proscribed following the Easter Sunday attack in 2019.

Accordingly, the ban on the United Thowheeth Jama’ath (UTJ), Ceylon Thowheeth Jama’ath (CTJ), Sri Lanka Thowheeth Jama’ath (SLTJ), All Ceylon Thowheeth Jama’ath (ACTJ), and Jamiyathul Ansaari Sunnathul Mohomadiya (JSM) organisations has now been lifted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence.

The ban on 11 organisations was imposed in April 2021 by the then Attorney General Dappula de Livera due to their alleged links to extremist activities.

Dharul Adhar Jamiul Adhar, Sri Lanka Islamic Student Movement (SLISM), Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaeda,  Save the Pearls, and Super Muslim were the other Islamic Organisations proscribed at the time.