25th death anniversary of Dr. A.C.S. Hameed is today Remembering a statesman and a courageous man!

The Late Dr. A.C.S. Hameed among other achievements will be remembered for the sustained effort he made towards negotiating for a political settlement with regard to the ethnic conflict in the island

On Dr. Hameed’s request, President Zia- ul- Haq of Pakistan and president Fidel Castro of  Cuba saw to it that about one hundred  doctors were trained and qualified in their  respective counties. At present they are serving in many parts of Sri Lanka showcasing their talents

Late Dr.  Hameed was born on April 10, 1927. He passed away on September 3, 2000. He took to active parliamentary politics in 1960   by contesting and winning the Akurana seat. The Akurana seat was changed to Harispattuwa electorate.

From 1960 to the date of his demise, he continued to win all the elections and represented Harispattuwa in Parliament.

When he took over Harispattuwa in 1965, this electorate was not even a 10 minute-drive from Kandy. It was one of the most underdeveloped electorates in the Kandy district.

The 230 villages in Harispattuwa had no motorable roads connecting the villages, electricity and water facilities. 

The schools in the electorate were very badly handicapped without proper buildings. There were no proper teachers to teach important subject.

Unemployment was very severe with youth who were not engaged in proper employment queuing up near the office of the Member of Parliament. Boys and girls were requesting for jobs. 

By mid 1985,  the entire   Harispattuwa   electorate villages  was  connected with  motorable roads and entire  villages  were supplied with  Finland  aid  water projects  which included one thousand tube wells. The villages and towns benefited from pipe born water projects.

Most of the schools were supplied with double story buildings and the teacher shortage problem was solved.

By 1985  Harispattuwa was  developed to the standard of  any  highly  developed  electorate  in the  country;  and so it happened because it was a burning desire for Late Dr. Hameed. 

On Dr. Hameed’s request, President  Zia- ul- Haq of Pakistan and president Fidel  Castro of  Cuba saw to it that about one hundred  doctors were trained and qualified in their  respective counties. At present they are serving in many parts of Sri Lanka showcasing their talents.

The Late Dr. Hameed became the first Foreign Minister in 1977; which portfolio was held by the head of the government until his period began. This appointment was made by the then President J.R. Jayewardene. 

As  the new foreign Minister he had to visit most of the countries, meet the rulers and  leaders of those countries which triggered the cartoonists like  Wijesoma,  Yooonus,  Gerine,  and Abeysekera to  publish  humorous  cartoons   in the newspapers. Our Foreign Minister took the artistic creations of him by the cartoonists on a complimentary manner and published a book full of cartons. 

In  1979, President  J.R Jayewardene,  while  handing over  the  leadership of the non–aligned   movement  to Fidel Castro  in  Havana, singled  out  his Foreign Minister  A.C.S .Hameed  for the excellent  contributions  which  had  been  made by him at the time of handing  over the reins of the movement  to President  Jayewardene’s. 

After his (Dr. Hameed) demise, many politicians wrote pieces of appreciation on The Late Dr. Hameed.

Professor G.L Peiris wrote about Dr. Hameed in the newspapers.  Mr. Bradman Weerakoon in his appreciation dated 02-09-2001 in Sunday Times wrote about Dr. A. C. S. Hameed, referring to him as a ‘courageous man’. A.C.S. will always be remembered for the sustained effort he made towards negotiating for a political settlement with regard to the ethnic conflict in the island. 

When he took over as Foreign Minister we had only one embassy in a gulf country and that was in Egypt.

He started embassies in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc.

Thousands of our people went to work in these countries and today millions of dollars are being sent to Sri Lanka by these people.

Oh brother we sadly remember the day you left this world.

Everyone in the family still feels your absence very sadly.

Though you passed away from this world 25 years ago, we do not feel that you passed away.

We miss your pleasing smile, advice and the loud laughter.

There were thousands of your supporters, well-wishers, dignitaries, and family members present at your funeral. All of them walked to the village mosque to pay their last respects.

The young and the old of all faiths still talk of your good deeds done for them. 

We pray to Allah to keep you in Jennathul  Firdouse – Aameen .  Your brother,  Ghafoor.