(September 30, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankans of all communities participated in the Ramadan Iftar hosted by the Sri Lanka Islamic Forum UK (SLIF-UK) held on the 07th September 2009 Monday at the London Muslim Centre, Whitechapel, London.This year’s lftar was sponsored by world Islamic call society and facilitated by UK Arab society . The event started with with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Qaari As Sheikh Shamila from World Islamic Call Society.
SLIF UK’s annual Ifthar is one of the annual events that gives a platform and an opportunity to all Sri Lankan communities Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese to engage and discuss current socio religious political matters that are of interest to all communities in Sri Lanka. This is a part of the bridge-building efforts of the SLIF between the different Sri Lankan communities. In this unique event, together with a large number of Muslims a significant number of Tamils and Sinhalese representing various Tamil and Sinhala Organisations were present as invitees; not to miss a good number of female participants as well. Members of UK Arab Society also participated in the event.
Commencing with the welcome address of Dr. Musthafa Rayes, the current President of SLIF-UK events followed with the speech of Br.Ajmal Masroor, Imaam and Islam Channel TV presenter, who explained the significance of fasting in the month of Ramadan, he outlined the objective of Muslims partaking in the Ifthar with invitees. In this instance, he said that the SLIF-UK members and other Sri Lankan communities participating in such large numbers will go a long way in promoting peace and harmony among the various Sri Lankan communities in the present differences prevailing in the country.
Lord Nazeer Ahamed, a Member of House of Lords, who was the next scheduled speaker could not participate due to an unexpected bereavement in his family although he arrived in London to attend the event he and had to return back at the eleventh hour.
Special guest at the event the newly appointed Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in London, Mr. P.M. Amza, in his address, emphasized the importance of all Sri Lankan communities working together with understanding.
After his speech the floor was open for questions, answers and comments. Comments such as ‘we have been associating with Muslims for ages but it is a big omission that none ever talked to up to now on the significance of fasting and it is indeed only today we got enlightened about fasting’ and ‘in my 38 years of life I have had many Muslim friends but it was only today I attended a Muslim function’ etc, were made by non Muslim brothers and sisters.
The Project Manager of UK Arab Society, Br.Mohammad El Haddad, in his speech said that the event is a great momentum where Muslims and non-Muslims together taking part to share the feelings and experience of this blessed month of Ramadan.
At the appropriate time of 7.37 pm with the recital of the Azaan (call for prayers) at which time the fasting for the day too should be ended, all the guest s were served with dates, the traditional Sri Lankan Muslim kanji, other items and the usual Sri Lankan faluda.
This was followed by dinner ending-up with traditional wattappalm for desert.
The event concluded with the address of thanks delivered by the Chairman, Media and Public Relations of SLIF-UK, As Sheik Najah Mohamed, with the guests departing with a long memorable event in their minds. -Sri Lanka Guardian
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