Mar 10, Colombo: Sri Lanka Muslim clerics' organization, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), which has been issuing the Halal certificates to businesses, has indicated that the organization may suspend issuing certificates.

The ACJU will meet hold a special media briefing Monday to announce their decision whether to suspend Halal certification, spokesman for the ACJU Shaikh Fazil Farook has said.

Reportedly the ACJU has held a discussion on the issue with the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other religious leaders.

The organization, which ran into the ire of the Buddhism extremist group Bodu Bala Sena over the issue, is attempting to calm the controversy by suspending the process until a compromise can be made.

The Bodu Bala Sena insists that the process of Halal certification should be stopped as the process is unnecessary in a country with a Buddhist majority and the Sinhalese should not be made to pay more for Halal certified meet and other foods.

The ACJU spokesman said ACJU had still not made a decision on withdrawing from the Halal certification process and will convey the organization's stance to the media at the special press conference tomorrow.