Ashraff’s mystique still lingers among Eastern Muslims

This is a period of  time in Sri Lanka which is referred to as “Ashraff season” in lighter vein  by observers of the Sri Lankan Muslim political scene. The Country witnesses a series of  meetings and events paying tribute  to the late Muslim Congress leader M.H.M. Ashraff during this period. From the date of his death on September 16 to the  date of his birth on October 23 -- a period of more than five weeks -- results in  Ashraff being commemorated by Muslim political leaders notably   those of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

This year too, several Ashraff commemorative meetings are being held. Minister for productivity promotion and Batticaloa District Muslim Congress MP Basheer Segu Dawood was the chief participant at a meeting in Ashraff’s honour at Eravoor. Former Kalmunai Mayor and SLMC parliamentarian from Amparai District, H.M.M. Harees organized a commemorative meeting for Ashraff in Kalmunai. More meetings at multiple levels are expected to take place in the coming days.

Speaker after speaker  will be singing paeans of praise about the departed leader, Ashraff at these events. A significantly  recurring theme at these meetings will be the lament about the lack of political unity among Muslims. It will be noted   that the unity forged by Ashraff through the Muslim Congress is now fragmented. It will be pointed out  that such unity is essential at the present juncture where Muslims are facing a precarious predicament. It will be emphasised  that had Ashraff been alive such a situation would not have arisen.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem issued a special statement on September 16, the 14th death anniversary of  his departed leader and predecessor. In that statement issued in Tamil,  Hakeem invoked Ashraff’s memory and  called upon the “Muslims of this country to unite as one entity”. Stressing that the unity of Muslims was essential and inevitable at this point of time, Hakeen appealed to the Muslims to unite and continue journeying along the path laid out by Ashraff  towards the goal of uplifting the community.


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