King Fahad Quran Blocked in Sri Lanka: A Committee Under Fire for "Malicious Intent" and Political Meddling
A storm is brewing in Sri Lanka’s Muslim community over the prolonged detention of the King Fahad Glorious Quran at the country’s customs. At the center of the controversy is a little-known "review committee" of the Ministry of Muslim Affairs, which is now accused of orchestrating a campaign of bureaucratic sabotage that has deprived Sri Lankan Muslims of access to what is globally recognized as one of the most authentic publications of the Holy Quran.
As the crisis drags on, allegations have surfaced that the committee—accused of demanding hefty sitting fees and enjoying taxpayer-funded meals—may have acted with malicious intentions, allegedly to favor a locally printed version of the Quran over the internationally revered King Fahad publication.
A Mysterious Meeting in December 2021
At the heart of the ban lies a pivotal meeting held on 29th December 2021. A review committee, established under the Ministry of Muslim Affairs, convened to discuss the importation of the revered King Fahad Glorious Quran from Saudi Arabia.
Present at that meeting were seven members:
1) Akram Nooramith,
2) Murshid Mulaffar,
3) Dr A M A Afwardeen,
4) Dr Azwar Azaheem,
5) M R M Silmi,
6) Mustafa Raza, and
7) A H Isanudeen.
While these individuals operate under the guise of religious review, their affiliations have raised eyebrows. Records show that Akram Nooramith serves as the General Secretary of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), a position he has held for years. Similarly, Murshid Mulaffar and M Z M Mustafa Raza are listed as Honorable Executive Committee members of the ACJU, while A H Ihsanudeen also sits on the ACJU's executive committee. These direct affiliations between a state-appointed review body and the leadership of ACJU—an organization that publishes its own Quran translation—has sparked concerns about a conflict of interest in their decision to block the King Fahad Quran import.
Gotabaya's decision
It is important to highlight that the recommendation by the Review Committee to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence not to permit the distribution of certain publications by the King Fahad Quran Printing Complex was made during the administration of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Reports indicate that the advice was based on concerns and representations made by several Muslim religious scholars and community leaders at the time. Therefore, the decision and the recommendations associated with it belong to the policy framework of that period and have no connection to the current administration led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People's Power (NPP) government. Any attempt to attribute those past recommendations to the present government would be factually inaccurate and misleading.
ACJU BLACK LISTED IN SAUDI ARABIA ?
Sources familiar with the matter claim that authorities in Saudi Arabia have been reviewing complaints and representations concerning the role played by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) in relation to restrictions placed on the distribution of certain editions of the King Fahad Quran in Sri Lanka. According to these claims, Saudi officials are examining whether the actions and recommendations that contributed to the restrictions warrant further scrutiny. However, no official announcement has been made by the Saudi government regarding any decision to blacklist the ACJU, and any such reports remain unconfirmed pending formal communication from the relevant Saudi authorities.
Suspicious Perks and Bureaucratic Power
Critics are not just questioning the committee’s decisions but also its opaque operational practices. According to sources familiar with the ministry’s internal workings, the review committee operates in a manner that is unusually lucrative for an advisory body.
For every "consultation meeting," each member receives a fee of 2600 Rupees per sitting. Additionally, these meetings are reportedly accompanied by free meals provided at the expense of the ministry. Given the nature of the allegations—and the fact that the committee is legally designated as merely an advisory committee—this financial arrangement has been described as a "sinecure" that incentivizes the body to perpetuate its own existence rather than resolve the Quran crisis.
The "Certain Scripts" Loophole
Following the December 29 meeting, the committee issued its ruling: the King Fahad publication could only be permitted if "certain scripts needed to be altered."
For theologians and Islamic scholars, this demand is nonsensical. The King Fahad Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex in Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading authority for Quranic publications. The copies detained at the Sri Lanka Customs were printed by this institution, which is recognized globally for the accuracy and authenticity of its text.
Critics argue that demanding alterations is a technical trap designed to delay clearance indefinitely, effectively forcing the market to rely on other sources.
Turf Wars and Commercial Motives?
The central question posed by Muslim leaders and the importer, Al Sheik Saddique (currently residing in Saudi Arabia), is whether the committee is acting on religious grounds or on personal and professional grudges.
Speaking about the deadlock, former Secretary of the Muslim affairs ministry and diplomat Ibrahim Ansar has vehemently accused the review committee of acting with "bad intentions." Ansar, who has attempted to intervene with the Sri Lanka Customs to resolve the deadlock, claims that the committee is deliberately obstructing a solution.
The allegations point to a possible conflict of interest. While the committee blocks the King Fahad version, the ACJU has been actively promoting its own Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Quran. In early 2025, the ACJU was proudly presenting its "Sinhala translation of the Quran" to high-ranking officials, including the Speaker of Parliament. This has led to suspicions that the review committee is utilizing state machinery to eliminate competition, ensuring that the local ACJU printed versions become the primary source for Sri Lankan Muslims.
Unanswered Questions
As the former government of Gotabaya Rajapaksha and Ranil Wickramasinghe (which oversaw this committee) transitions into the current NPP Government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a new political twist has emerged. Several Muslim organizations are now blaming the current administration for a matter that took place in 2021.
However, the opposition maintains that this is a diversion tactic. They argue that the review committee is hiding behind political changes to avoid accountability for its past actions. Did the committee demand bribes to twist the law? Is there a personal grudge against the Saudi-based importer Al Shiek Saddiques? Or is this a calculated move to allow a specific local body to monopolize the Quran market in Sri Lanka?
A New Deal in Jeopardy
The stakes have recently escalated. The King Fahad Publication House has reportedly expressed its intent to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lankan government. The Saudi foundation is willing to provide free copies of the authentic Quran to Sri Lankan Muslims, a gesture that would eliminate financial barriers for the community.
Despite this generous offer, the "so-called review committee members" remain a significant hurdle, continuing to block the deal using various pretexts. While Muslim parliamentarians have called for the committee to be dissolved immediately, labeling it arbitrary and discriminatory, the impasse continues.
For now, the container of King Fahad Glorious Quran remains sealed, and the controversial review committee continues to meet—charging fees and eating free meals—while a nation waits for justice.