OVERVIEW

Vision

“A Sustainably Developed Nation”

Mission

Regulation and facilitation of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs for the preservation of a righteous, disciplined law-abiding society.

Targets

  1. Inculcating religious values practically into society
  2. Creating a society with Sri Lankan identity

Objective

  1. Guiding and regulating mosques, charitable trusts, Arabic schools (Madrasa) and Muslim Daham schools.
  2. Enriching and promoting Muslim religious education.
  3. Enriching and promoting Muslim art and cultural activities
  4. Providing facilities and services to Haj pilgrims
  5. Felicitating the services of those who have made a noteworthy contribution in the sphere of Islam religious and cultural affairs.
  6. Making available necessary facilities for observing Islamic religious rituals (such as praying five times, fasting during Ramazan and Zakat programmes)
  7. Fostering the unity of the Muslim society and working towards national integration.
  8. Implementing programmes for the empowerment of Muslim women and young people.

1.3 Key Functions

  1. Enforcement of the Wakf Act.
    (Registration of mosques, Muslim shrines and charitable trusts and appointing, guiding and regulating trustees and maintaining Muslim charitable trust fund and enforcement of the
    Wakf Act)
  2. Extending financial assistance for the development of registered mosques, Muslim Daham schools, Arabic schools and cultural centers.
  3. Every year, social and religious development activities are conducted in a selected district to mark National Milad-un-Nabi day. The activities include the development of mosques, religious institutions and schools in the area, organizing competitions and award ceremonies, felicitating religious dignitaries and publication of books on the historical importance of the relevant area.
  4. Making arrangements for the Sri Lankan Muslim community to undertake the holy Haj pilgrimage.
  5. Providing uniforms, library books allowances to Muslim Daham school teachers islandwide, conducting training courses for Daham school teachers and introduction of syllabus for Daham schools, and publication and distribution of textbooks.
  6. Recommending suitable artistes for the Kalabhooshana Awards Ceremony conducted annually by the Department of Cultural Affairs in appreciation of services rendered by
    artistes.
  7. With a view to encouraging Muslim writers, purchasing books authored by them and distributing amongst libraries of Muslim schools and Mosques.
  8. Identifying and implementing projects to preserve and promote Muslim Art and Culture
  9. Providing training to the trustees of mosques and members of administrative boards of Muslim religious institutions.
  10. Selecting competitors for the international Al Quran reciting and memorizing competitions and making arrangements for them to participate in competitions held annually in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malaysia, and Dubai.
  11. Providing identity cards and necessary training to Moualvis.
  12. Selecting students for Islamic higher studies abroad
  13. Announcing the beginning and the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the distribution of stocks of dates donated by Muslim countries amongst Muslim people across the country at the district level during the month of Ramadan through major mosques.

1.5 Main Divisions of the Department

The Department carries out its functions from Head Office, Colombo. This section has five (5) main division as follows:

  1. Administration Division
  2. Finance Division
  3. Religious and Cultural Affairs Division
  4. Wakfs and Development Division
  5. Internal Audit and Investigation Division

      1. Administration and Development Division
             The main task of the Administration Division is to provide consistent, effective administrative service and human resources of the Department.

      The main functions of the Administration Division

    • Recruitment, placement, promotion of staff.
    • Enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the staff.
    • Providing training opportunities for its staff to upgrade their level of competency.
    • Maintenance of staff personal files.
    • Maintenance for staff leave record
    • Maintenance of the database with regard to the staff.
    • Matters concerning cleaning, maintenance and security service of the office building.
    • Maintenance of vehicles and providing transport facilities.
    • Distribution of all letters received by other institutions and the public among divisions through recording system and follow up action and report back to the director on progress.
    • Overall administration of the staff of the Department.

      2.Finance Division
             This division is responsible for managing the financial resources of the department. It provides a range of support services, including financial operations, assets management, financial reporting, store management and procurement services.

      The main functions of the Finance Division

    • Preparation of draft Annual Budget Estimate.
    • Continuous monitoring of the budgetary allocation.
    • Preparation of annual Financial Statements.
    • Preparation of monthly bank reconciliation statements (Government Fund Account, Hajj Fund and Muslim Charity Fund Accounts).
    • submitting the monthly Imprest application, Bills in Hand Report and Cadre Report to the Department of Treasury Operations every month.
    • Preparation of annual Advance “B” Account.
    • Maintaining General Deposit Account.
    • Recording of income and expenses in books, maintenance of documents and preparation of financial statement for Hajj funds account and Muslim charity funds account.
    • Submitting Financial Reports to the relevant Ministry and other Institutions.
    • Providing supplement services and procurement management.
    • Provision of stationeries to all divisions in the department and field officers.
    • Submission of the report of Board of Survey to the relevant institutions after surveyed of all inventory items for every year.
    • Submission of answers to questions raised in parliament.
    • Answering audit queries by the Auditor General and COPA.
    • Submitting information online to COPA.

      3.Religious and Cultural Affairs Division
               The Religious and Cultural Affairs division is responsible for managing all religious andcultural activities of the department

      The main functions of the Religious and Cultural Affairs Division

    • Conducting the Religious observances of National Day Ceremony.
    • Maintaining registration and data of Hajj pilgrims, receiving refundable deposits and taking steps to repay the deposit.
    • Selecting and Registration of operators for performing Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage.
    • Providing uniform and book allowance for teachers of Ahadiya daham schools.
    • Distribution of dates amongst Muslim devotees across the country through grand mosques during the Ramadan fasting season.
    • 10 Muslim artists for the named “Kalaboosana” award function.
    • Purchasing publications authored by Muslims to promote Muslim writers and providing them to libraries in Ahadiya Daham schools and Muslim schools.
    • Mihraj Night – Celebration of Holy Mihiraj Day (the day that Prophet Muhammed bestowed the Five Times Prayers). Conducted the religious observances to mark the Holy Mihiraj night at Wellawatta Jummah Mosque – Colombo 06 on 28th February 2022 the patronage of the Minister of Justice Hon Ali Sabri.
    • Issuing recommendation letters for obtaining Entry and Residential Visas for Muslim Spiritual Leaders, Lecturers and students.
    • Issuing certificate to obtain Muslim Clergies title in national identity cards.
    • Art and Cultural Program – Conducting Poetry forum and publishing books.
    • Reforming Madrasas (Arabic Schools)
    • New Year celebration (Muharram) and new moon sighting programs are underway according to the Muslim calendar.
    • Contacting National Meelad-Un-Nabi Programmes

      4.Wakf Division
              The main objective of the Wakf division is implementing the provisions of Muslim Mosque and Charitable Trusts or Wakfs Act.

      The main functions of Wakf Division

    • Overseeing the affairs of Mosques in all districts.
    • Arranging a public meeting to select / elect trustees in mosques when required
    • Issuance of Certification of appointment to trustees of the Mosques.
    • Obtaining and checking the annual financial statements of registered Mosques and Trusts
      and collecting the contribution for Muslim Charity Fund (MCF)
    • Resolving disputes, issues and appeals between Mosque Trustees or submitting them to
      the Waqfs Board.
    • Updating and maintenance of the database concerning registered Mosques and Trusts.
    • Conduct awareness programs for trustees on asset collection in all registered mosques.
  • Development Division
       The main role of the development division is to planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting on the full utilizing of funds allocated by the department for development projects. Two development projects are as follows.

      1.Construction/Rehabilitation of Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers through Development Project.
      2.Construction/Rehabilitation of Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers through the Meelad Development Project.

      The main functions of the Development Division

    • Requesting application through Divisional Secretariats for construction / rehabilitation of mosques and Islamic cultural centers.
    • Selection of Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers in all parts of Sri Lanka for the Reconstruction of Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers.
    • Reconstruction of Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers in the selected district for Milad-Un-Nabi Development Project.
    • Granting funds allocation to district secretariats.
    • Submitting progress report to the Ministries quarterly.
  • Submission of the final report of development projects after follow-up and monitoring.

      5.Internal Audit and Investigation Division
               Conducting auditing to maintain financial and administrative internal control of functions of the Department systematically

      The main functions of the Internal Audit and Investigation Division

    • Replying to audit inquiries.
    • Reporting on the special investigation on the petitions assigned by the Wakfs Board.
    • Conducting annual Audit inspections of the Mosques and Trusts.

Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka
The Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka is responsible for registration of Mosques, Shrines, Religious Resorts and Charitable Trusts, appointment of trustees, resolution of disputes, hearing cases filed and issuing orders, guidelines, circulars etc. The members of the Wakfs Board appointed by the In charge minister. 26th Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka as follows:

      Details of Wakfs Board Members

  1. Mr. M.L.M.H. Mohideen Hussain - Chairman
  2. Prof. P.C.P. Jaufer - Member
  3. Mr. M.A. Matheen (Attorney at Law) - Member
  4. Mr. Mahil Dole - Member
  5. Mufthy M.Z.M. Musthafa Raza (L.L.B.) - Member
  6. Moulavi M.N.M. Ijlan - Member
  7. Moulavi M.I. Abdul Jabbar - Member

      Progress of Wakf Board of Sri Lanka for the year 2023

  • 35 Wakf meetings were held for the year.
  • 118 Mosques Trustees were newly appointed.
  • 69 hearings were held on Mosques inquiries.
  • 2 cases were newly filed at the Magistrate Courts.

Wakfs Tribunal
The Waqfs Tribunal is comprised with three members appointed by the Judicial Service Commission. It conducts two sessions per month.

      Details of Wakf Tribunal Members

  1. Dr. U.L.A. Majeed (Rtd. High Court Judge) - Chairman
  2. Mr. A.A.M. Illiyas (P.C) - Member
  3. Mr. A.W.M. Imthiyaz (Attorney at Law) - Member

      Progress of Wakf Tribunal for the year 2022

  • 31 Wakf Tribunal meeting were held
  • 37 cases were filed at Wakf Tribunal.
  • 5 cases were adjudicated.
  • 31 cases are still pending for judgements during the 2022.