Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has assured that Muslim nurses are legally allowed to wear attire in line with their religious requirements while working in government hospitals.
The statement comes in response to concerns from Muslim civil society organisations, which highlighted that restrictions on wearing clothing that covers the head and legs have discouraged many Muslim women from entering or continuing in the nursing profession.
The matter was discussed during a recent meeting between Muslim community representatives and government officials, chaired by Minister Herath as part of ongoing dialogue to address challenges faced by the community. Deputy Speaker Rizvi Sali, Minister Sunil Senevi, Deputy Ministers Munir Mulaffar and Arkam Ilyas, and MP Fasmin Sheriff attended on behalf of the government.
Minister Herath emphasized that the existing legal framework allows nurses to maintain their religious identity while adhering to uniform regulations. He stressed that neither cultural nor religious practices should prevent individuals from pursuing careers in the health sector.
