Call for Papers: for a Special Section on “Recent Developments in Sri Lanka”, Submission Deadline- 30 March 2025

Sri Lanka has a plural legal system that recognises certain aspects of Sharia law as Muslim law through a number of legislation since the colonial period. These laws mainly govern aspects of marriages and their incidental issues, intestate succession, and Muslims charitable trusts. At the same time, all Muslims, as citizens of Sri Lanka, are subject to all other general laws of the country. There is no compulsion that Muslims should always opt for Muslim law. Similarly, anyone who has faith in Islam is free to opt for the Muslim law if they so wish. Nevertheless, once a law is opted for, incidental issues arising from such obligations thereafter will be determined by that law.

Sub- Themes

the Manchester Journal of Transnational Islamic Law and Practice (MJTILP) will dedicate a special section in a forthcoming regular issue in 2025 to recent developments in Sri Lanka. Contributors are invited to submit short papers that offer insights, scholarship, and critical analysis on the following topics, but not limited to:

1. Normative and political challenges in adopting positive regulatory changes to Muslim law in Sri Lanka
2. Recognition and application of Islamic law as Muslim law in Sri Lanka and future challenges.
3. Key areas concerning reforms of Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act (MMDA): Age of marriage, women’s rights, and divorce procedures.
4. Recognition of pre-nuptial agreements in Muslim law in Sri Lanka
5. Regulation of dowry, mahr, matrimonial properties and financial consequences in the event of divorce.
6. Recognition and practice of polygamy and challenges in a plural legal system
7. Procedural challenges of marriage, divorce, child guardianship and custody
8. The Quazi system and administration of justice concerning Muslim marriage, divorces and other matters connected thereto.
9. Application of Islamic inheritance law and challenges
10. The concept of Islamic Charitable trusts (wakf) system in Sri Lanka
11. Recognition of any other Islamic concepts in Sri Lanka, for instance, Islamic Finance.

Submission and Deadline:

All contributions corresponding to the Call for Papers for a Special Section on “Recent Legal Developments in Sri Lanka” should be submitted to the Guest Editor for this special section Dr Ziyana Nazeemudeen, [email protected] or [email protected]. Final review of all contributions will be conducted by the Recent Legal Developments Editor Dr Mohamad Janaby, who can be contact for general enquiries on our Recent Legal Developments section via email: [email protected] The Special Section on “Recent Legal Developments in Sir Lanka” will be published in our July 2025 Issue.