RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO: The 3rd annual Noorul Quran Qirath Contest 2026 concluded successfully with a grand prize-giving ceremony held on Sunday, April 5, at Tower Hall.
The event drew participation from around 250 students, while more than 550 attendees witnessed the occasion, reflecting strong community engagement and support. The competition featured three categories, each highlighting excellence in Qur’anic recitation.
Winners were selected across all categories, with awards presented to the top 10 participants, including those securing First, Second , and Third places. All recipients were honoured with trophies, medals, and certificates in recognition of their achievements.
The ceremony was graced by the Ambassador of Palestine to Sri Lanka Ihab I. M. Khalil as the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour was Moulavi Shiyam Azhar Hashimi, President of the Maligawatte Masjids Federation and a key sponsor of the event.
Adding further value to the programme, Mufthy Mustafa Raza Qadhiri delivered an insightful speech in English, while Dr. Inthikab Zufer addressed the audience in Sinhala. Alongside speeches delivered in Tamil, the event became a truly trilingual platform, emphasizing the universal message of the Holy Qur’an and its importance in guiding humanity.
Among the distinguished attendees were Khairul Iskandar, Councillor from the High Commission of Malaysia, and Madushanika Liyanage, Economic and Social Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy, who highlighted the importance of language and cultural understanding in her speech.
The event was also attended by Colombo Municipal Councillors Kaleelur Rahuman and Roi Bogawatha.
Special guests included Fawzer Farook, designated Ambassador to Palestine from Sri Lanka; A.H.M. Iqbal, General Secretary of the Maligawatte Grand Jumma Masjid; Rizwan Razeek, Director of Denuma.lk; Dr. I.Y.M. Haneef, President of JJ Fountain; Mohamed Ilyas, Secretary of the Maligawatte Masjids Federation; and Qari Firnas Shafeei.
This prestigious event was organised by the IDMJ Institute of Digital Media and Journalism through its Islamic media platform Al Quds TV, under the leadership of Executive Director Umair Nawshad and Administrative Director Zamil Shafeek.
The event was held under the patronage of IDMJ advisors Razmi Rafeek and Irfan Nasoordeen.
Programme coordination was managed by Zahra Rizmie and Musthaq Hussain, with support from a dedicated organising team including Fawzil Abdul Rahuman, Mushab Muhammad, Musharaf Hussain, and Fazil Naleebdeen, among others.
The Noorul Quran Qirath Contest continues to serve as a valuable platform for nurturing young talent in Qur’anic recitation while promoting unity, spirituality, and the timeless message of the Holy Qur’an across languages and communities.
