Mohammed Rasooldeen
COLOMBO : “ The late Dr Badiuddin Mahmoud as minister of education made groundbreaking reforms which changed the landscape of education in the country, “ said SLMC leader and parliamentarian Rauf Hakeem on Monday June 30.
Hakeem was addressing at the commemorative meeting of the late minister Dr Mahmoud at the Postal auditorium.
The meeting was organized by Al Aslaf, Forebears Memorial Forum headed by M H M Niyas.
The meeting chaired by Former Sri Lankan ambassador to Iran and former legislator M M Zuhair, while the keynote speaker was M M M Sabir, senior lecturer at the Colombo University.
Chairman of the Zeenath Trading Private Limited A H M Maheer was the guest-of Honour at the event.
Speaking further Hakeem recalled that because of his immense interest in the country’s education , Dr Mahmoud who was himself a one-time principal made reforms at primary, secondary and tertiary levels to provide a meaningful education to benefit students from the cities as well as from the villages.
Outlining the contributions made by Dr Mahmoud to improve the education of the children , Sabir said the late leader was one of those who stood shoulder to shoulder with the late S W R D Bandaranaike and the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike to serve the Sri Lankan nation .
Dr Mahmoud who was a former Aligharian and built up the Zahira College Gampola as principal of the school is still fondly remembered by his past pupils for his undaunted services both as principal and minister of education.
The programme started with the welcome song by the choir of the Gampola Zahira College where Dr Mahmoud spent his best days of his life .Pix by M S M SALEEM
