Only one mosque is allowed to use loudspeakers if there are many in an area

All Sri Lankan Jammiyathul Ulama Association (ASJUA) was advised by the court not to exceed 15 minutes allowed per day to use loudspeakers for religious purposes.

The Supreme Court banned using loudspeakers from 10pm to 6am, in November last year.

The interim measure was ordered as an attempt to reduce noise pollution.

The judiciary, after considering a petition by the ASJUA, amended the order in December to allow Islam prayers provided the prayer is limited to three minutes.

Maximum number of prayers per day should be limited to five, making it 15 minutes maximum per day, according to the interim order.

But the court was informed on Monday by Attorney N Wickramaratne, appearing on a personal capacity, that certain Mosques are reported to be violating the order.

The ASJUA was also ordered to use only one mosque for the prayers, if there are a few mosques in the same area.

The court was informed by the Attorney General that the interim order was incorporated into the government's proposed bill to reduce noise pollution.

The hearing was postponed until 04 April.