RUZAIK FAROOK and ASHRAFF A SAMAD
COLOMBO : Islamic religious prayers were performed at Kollupitiya Jummah Masjid Mosque, Colombo 3,on Saturday, Oct,3 to commemorate the 71st Army Anniversary and Army Day (10 October).
On arrival, Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army was received by Chairman of Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque Al Haj Mohamed Kaleel and Vice President of the Mosque Al Haj. Muslim Salahudeen at the main entrance to the mosque.
The Army chief was accompanied by Brigadier Ashker Mutaliph, Chairman, Army Muslim Association and a few Senior Officers.
A few seconds later, prayer sessions got to a start after decorating the holy place in keeping with Islamic traditions before trilingual welcome speeches were delivered highlighting the importance of the day’s prayers.
The customary Islamic religious sermon, ‘Bayan’ then invoked blessings symbolically on Army flags and the organization, lauding the services, being rendered by the Army for the best interests of the country. Sheikh A.B.M Rizvan of Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque conducted the special chanting, ‘Qirath’ prayers and Moulavi Amher Hakeemdeen afterwards performed the Dua prayers, according to the sequence of invocations.
On the same occasion, Al-Haj Muslim Salahudeen, Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Kollupitiya Jummah Mosque presented a special memento to the Commander of the Army as an appreciation on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Similarly, Al-Haj M.I Shaul Hameed, Secretary, Board of Trustees presented a copy of the Holy Quran to the Commander of the Army as a token of goodwill.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva after culmination of the special Islamic religious prayers presented a plaque and made a financial donation towards the development of the holy premises and shared a couple of views with Moulavis on co-existence, harmony and reconciliation in the country.
The event, organized by the Army Muslim Association was attended by the Chief of Staff, Senior Officers and Other Rankers, together with a representative gathering of Muslim members in the Army.
Saturday’s religious ceremony was the 3rd in sequence to coincide with the 71st Army Anniversary. Earlier, flag blessing ceremonies took place at Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya at Anuradhapura.
