Ali Sabry (Sri Lankan politician)

Mohamed Uvais Mohamed Ali Sabry, PC, MP (also known as Ali Sabry) is a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He is the current Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament, appointed from the national list of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.[1][2] He served as the defense counsel of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, chief legal adviser and President of the Muslim Federation of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.[3]

Hon.

Ali Sabry

PC, MP
Minister of Justice
Assumed office
12 August 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byThalatha Atukorale
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for National List
Assumed office
20 August 2020
Personal details
BornJanuary 5, 1970 (1970-01-05) (age 51)
Kalutara, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Alma materZahira College, Colombo, Kalutara Muslim Central College
OccupationPolitician, Lawyer

Early life and education

Born in Kalutara to M.S.M Uvais and Zareena Uvais, Sabry was educated at Kalutara Muslim Central College and Zahira College, Colombo. He entered Sri Lanka Law College where he served as the General Secretary of the Law Students’ Union and leader of the Sinhala Debating Team.[4]

Having qualified as an attorney at law, Sabry joined the Unofficial Bar and developed a lucrative practice in original and appellate courts specializing in civil law. He served as Sri Lankan Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and represented Sri Lanka in many International conferences including the Human Rights Session in the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2012. He was the treasurer of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and Chairman of the Junior Bar Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. In 2012 he was appointed a President's Counsel.[4]

He is well known for appearing in court cases for the then defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was accused of corruption allegations during the Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa.[5] He also favoured Gotabaya Rajapaksa when the latter had to deal with the issues regarding American citizenship prior to the runup to the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election and insisted that Gotabaya isn't an American citizen with evidence.[6][7][8]

Political career

He also campaigned for Gotabaya during the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election and urged the minority Muslim community to vote for him to form a stable government following the pressure on the community aftermath the 2019 Easter attacks.[9][10]

He entered the mainstream politics in 2020 and became a member of SLPP.[11] In July 2020, he was appointed as the national leader of the SLPP party's Muslim Federation by the President.[12][13][14]

He did not contest at the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election but was named by SLPP as a national list candidate to enter the parliament.[15][16] On 12 August 2020, he was appointed as the Justice minister by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony and was the only Muslim person in the 25 member cabinet of ministers for the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka.[17][18] He will be the first President's Counsel to serve as Ministry of Justice after M. W. H. de Silva, QC.

Racist attacks

His appointment as a Justice minister became a controversial issue for some Muslims. However, the majority of the Sinhalese love Sabry and welcomed Sabry as the right candidate to change the current law system and as a minister in the cabinet who represents the minority. However, majority of Muslim people challenged Sabry to win a seat through public choice rather than being enlisted in the national list. He was criticised on social media platforms as well.[19] He also faced criticisms and backlash for his remarks on the government's decision and Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine's decision for prohibition of burials and a proper cremation process of the Muslims who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.[20][21][22]

References
  1. admin (2020-08-12). "Ali Sabry takes oaths as new Justice Minister | Colombo Gazette". Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  2. Times, Colombo (2020-08-12). "Lawyer turned politician Ali Sabry is the new Justice Minister". Colombo Times. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  3. "New Cabinet: Ali Sabry appointed Minister of Justice". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  4. "President's Counsel Sabry signs nomination papers for appointed MP". colombotimes.net. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. "Four members of Rajapaksa family find place in Sri Lanka cabinet". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  6. www.adaderana.lk http://www.adaderana.lk/news/58876/no-truth-in-rumors-on-gotabayas-us-citizenship-ali-sabry. Retrieved 2020-08-12. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Upul Jayasuriya responds to Ali Sabry regarding Gotabaya Rajapaksa's citizenship". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  8. "GR, Sabry make strong case for Muslim support | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  9. "Vote Gota Or Prepare "To Get It In A Big Way": Ali Sabry Video Warning Muslims Goes Viral". Colombo Telegraph. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  10. ""If we don't support him, what will happen?" - Ali Sabry | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  11. Rasooldeen, Mohammed. "All citizens equal in SLPP Government – Ali Sabry". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  12. Corr, Addalaichenai-Central. "Muslims should rally round SLPP – Ali Sabry". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  13. "Ali Sabry, Uwais Hajiar lead SLPP Muslim Federation | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  14. www.themorning.lk http://www.themorning.lk/ali-sabry-uwais-hajiar-to-lead-slpp-muslim-wing/. Retrieved 2020-08-12. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. "Muslims countrywide contributed to SLPP victory: Ali Sabry | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  16. Indrakumar, Menaka. "SLPP releases National list". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  17. LBO (2020-08-12). "Swearing-in ceremony for Sri Lanka's new Cabinet". Lanka Business Online. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  18. "Minister of Justice Ali Sabry PC". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  19. Indrakumar, Menaka. "Baseless allegations, mudslinging - Ali Sabry". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  20. "Sri Lanka: Muslims face extra threat as coronavirus stirs hate". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  21. "Anguish as Sri Lanka forces Muslims to cremate COVID-19 victims". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  22. Rizwie, Rukshana. "Hate campaigns against Muslim community deplorable – Ali Sabry, PC". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
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