NAALIR JAMALDEEN
COLOMBO : Senior journalist and former president N. M.Ameen was unanimously elected president at the 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF) which took place at the Postal Auditorium, D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Colombo on Sunday June 25th.
During the AGM, a minute of silence was observed to honor the late veteran poet and writer Kalaivathi Kaleel. The Chief Guest of the event was the Malaysian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Badhi Hishan Adam. A special oration titled “Arabs in Ceylon, a retrospective” was delivered by Professor Raj Somadewa at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
The office-bearers for the year 2023/2024 were unanimously selected without the need for voting. Al-haj N. M. Ameen was re-elected as President, Sihar Aneez as Secretary, M. M. Jesmin as Treasurer, and Furkhan Bee Ifthikhar as Immediate Past President.
Several individuals were appointed as members of the Executive Committee, including Al-haj M. A. M. Nilam, Moulavi S. M. M. Musthapha, Al-haj Javed Munawwar, Al-haj N. A. M. Shadhique Shihan, M. B. M. Fairoos, Irshad A Kader, M. F. Rifas, S. Shamila, Sameeha Safeer, Ashraff A Samad, J. M. Naalir (from Ceylon Today Newspaper), and Zahir.
In the spirit of promoting ethnic unity and harmony, five media personnel working in print and electronic media were honored during the AGM. Among them were Liyanarachchi, the Complaint Officer of the Press Complaint Commission of Sri Lanka (Sinhala Division), Siva Ramaswamy, Chief Editor of Tamilan Newspaper, M. S. M. Noordeen, Journalist, Siyama Yakoob, Senior Producer of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, and Javed Munawwar, Senior Journalist.
Prof. Raj Somadewa, in his address, highlighted the rich history of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, which dates back to the arrival of Arabian sailors in the Asian continent. He commended the SLMMF for its efforts in creating reconciliation and unity among diverse communities and ethnic groups in the face of religious extremism disguised as patriotism.Photo Ashraff A Samad
