Feb 08, Colombo: The chief of the Halal unit of Sri Lanka Jamiyathul Ulama organization of Muslim clerics Mawlavi Murshid Mular clarified yesterday that the Halal certificate has not been forced to any product and it is obtained voluntarily by the producers.

He said that the hotels and banks also have applied for Halal certificate now and certificates have been issued for around 200 products on the request of the companies.

In response to the militant anti-Muslim Buddhist organization Bodu Bala Sena claim of Muslims spreading their religion through building of mosques island wide, the Muslim cleric said that mosques are built legally to safeguard the Muslims from the evil forces.

He asked the government to compile laws regarding building religious shrines in case it observes any illegal move.

According to the cleric, Halal certification tells Muslims that their ingredients and production methods are permissible under Islamic law.

Also products exported to most Middle Eastern countries and South East Asian Countries require Halal certification.