Ref: ACJU/NGS/2025/055
2025.04.10 (1446.10.11)
In relation to the participation of District or Divisional Branch office-bearers of the ACJU as candidates in the upcoming local government elections, clarifications have been continuously sought from various parts of the country. To deliberate on this matter, an urgent meeting of the Executive Committee of the ACJU was held on 08.04.2025.
During this meeting, it was discussed that the ACJU Heaoffice has been receiving frequent inquiries concerning the involvement of office-bearers of ACJU District or Divisional Branches contesting as candidates in the local government elections.
It was further emphasized that the ACJU, for the past 100 years, has been providing religious guidance to Sri Lankan Muslims without any political bias or party affiliation. Accordingly, the direct involvement of district or regional office-bearers in party politics as candidates was unanimously recognized by all participants in the meeting as detrimental to the objectives and collective work of the organization.
Therefore, it was decided that such office-bearers contesting as candidates in the above-mentioned election should voluntarily resign from their positions. Failure to do so would be considered a violation of the organization’s constitution under the following relevant clauses:
• Clause 8-08 (i), Clause 14 : Becoming an obstacle to achieving the objectives of the ACJU
• Clause 9-25 (f): Engaging in any action or activity that hinders or obstructs the overall goals of the ACJU
• Clause 10-04 (e): Inability to fulfill duties or breach of collective responsibility of the Central Council
• Clause 11-18 (e): Breach of collective responsibility of the District Branch
• Clause 11-33 (e): Inability to fulfill duties or breach of collective responsibility of the Divisional Branch Executive Committee
• Clause 11-37 (i): Failure to adhere to tasks determined from time to time by the Divisional Branch Executive Committee in alignment with the objectives of ACJU
In accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions and considering that the ACJU has been incorporated by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka under Act No. 51 of 2000, it is noteworthy that no office-bearer of the organization has, to date, engaged in direct political activities. Consequently, the act of contesting in elections as a political candidate is regarded as contrary to the objectives and collective mission of the ACJU. In light of this, it has been duly resolved that any office-bearers of the District or Divisional Branches who participate in such political candidacy shall be relieved of their respective positions.
We hereby kindly inform you of this decision.
Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe
President
Ash-Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith
General Secretary
