ASHRAFF A SAMAD
COLOMBO: The Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs has made arrangements to re-locate the mosque at the Mahara Prisons to a better place, its Director Ibrahim Sahib Ansar announced on Tuesday, Oct,11 in Colombo.
Ansar was speaking as the chief guest at an Awards Ceremony held at the Association of Muslim Youths, AMYs, headed by As Sheikh Dr.M S M Thassim.
The awards were distributed by the chief guests and other special guests to the winners of the Ramadan Quiz Contest held last year.
Among the special attendees were,Secretary General of the All-Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama,ACJU, Sheik Arkam Noorahmith, Sri Lanka Muslim Council Chairman N M Ameen,All-Ceylon YMMA National President Ihsaan Ahmed Hameed,its former President Saheed M Rizmy and Colombo Times Chief Editor Mohammed Rasooldeen.
Speaking further, Ansar said his department has identified two places for the proposed mosques and it will be finalized soon. He also said the Colombo-based International Islamic Relied Organization,IIRO, has consented to build the mosque in the chosen location.
“ There is some 2544 mosques spread throughout the island and 1164 of them are unregistered and now arrangements are being made to register them accordingly.
“ These mosques should strictly follow their respective constitutions to avoid disputes,” the director said, recalling incidents where the members of the congregation have gone to courts for silly matters that could be solved then and there.
Sheikh Noorahmith stressed the importance of unity among members of the Muslim community. He pointed out that Muslim leaders have created various groups and there is a need for unity among these groups for the betterment of the community.
Ameen stressed the need for an Islamic newspaper and an electronic media to voice the pulse of the Muslim community.
Dr, Thassim said the AMYs renders various services to the nation irrespective of faiths. “ We serve people of all religions and our motto is charity for all with malice towards none,” he added.Thassim said his organization has performed 25,000 eye surgeries to give eye sight for people of all faiths.
YMMA Conference National President Hameed told Colombo Times that this is a major event in Colombo which would strengthen the Muslim community and promote peaceful coexistence with other communities.
