Many works including education and public services of the Muslim community have been going on for a long time through the massive assets left by our forefathers based on ‘Waqf’.
The 91-year-old Ghafooriyya Arabic College in Maharagama is an educational institution that was ‘Waqf’ by the late Alhaj N T H Abdul Ghafoor, who is regarded as one of the contributors to the nation in the history of Sri Lanka.
Today its pitiful state is being looted by the present descendants of the bequeaths.
A most despicable attempt to loot the 17-acre where the Arabic College is located is not enough to grab the Colombo Grandpass land allotted for its income.
It was insufficient to usurp the Colombo Grandpass space that was earmarked for its income. A very nefarious attempt is underway to demolish the 17-acre campus where the Arabic College is located.
Since the 1980s, its alumni have been at the forefront of maintaining the college.
In this situation, some members of the said family are in an attempt to seize these assets in a dictatorial manner by keeping them all aside.
In the situation where the court case has been going on for the past three years, these reckless actions are taking advantage of an interim order.
The Alumni Association organized a special public meeting on August 17, at Miami Hall, Wellawatta to protect the college and its properties from this situation.
Members of Parliament including Muslim Congress Leader Rauf Hakeem, People’s Congress Leader Rishad Badiudeen, Mujibur Rahman, former Western Province Governor Asaath Sali, Senior Advocate NM Shaheed, Advocate Rushdi Habeeb, All Ceylon Jammiathul Ulama General Secretary Ash- Sheikh Arkam Nooramith, Senior Journalist NM Ameen were present in the meeting. Senior Ulama and alumni including journalists participated in the meeting and shared their views on the next steps.
The Special Executive Committee was set up and included political leaders to deal with this matter at the end of the event.
All those present unanimously decided to end the matter under the guidance of this committee.
Meanwhile, “not only the property of Maharagama, Ghafooriyya Arabic College but many other properties allocated to the Muslim community by Muslim wellwishers have been expropriated today. It is our duty to protect them” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and former minister Rauf Hakeem said.
