Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Give me a Muslim girl to marry, for the sake of national unity – Minister Mervyn Silva

The Sri Lankan minister Mervyn Silva told media during a local government meeting in Kelaniya that he would marry a Muslim girl, even if his wife was against it, News1st reported.

Silva was lamenting that Muslims will not “give us any of theirs in marriage”, although Sinhalese girls are taken by Muslims.

He added that if his family reprimanded him, he would be able to “clash” with his Muslim wife, who would have her “face covered”.

“They will not give us anyone of theirs in marriage. They have taken our girls in marriage. I wish to tell them, at least try and give us a Muslim girl in marriage. Even if my wife reprimands me, I am ready to marry a Muslim girl for the betterment of national unity. I don’t care even if my children speak ill of it. Then I can go to any clash with my Muslim wife, who will have her face covered,” Silva said.

“There are no religious, ethnicity and class divisions in the country. Unfortunately, an incident took place in Beruwala and Aluthgama. I visited the area as per the instructions of His Excellency the President. Lives were lost and property was also damaged. This affected both the Sinhalese and the Muslim communities. The Muslims are our blood relatives.”

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.