Reverend Members of the Clergy
Mr. Speaker
Hon. Ministers
Members of Parliament
Mr. M H Mohomed, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Islamic Centre
Foreign Delegates and Distinguished Invitees
It is my honour and privilege
today to address the inaugural session of this important
International Islamic Conference.
The theme of the conference
is an important one – “Justice, World Peace
and Coexistence in a Pluralistic Society”. Both
in a local as well as in a global context the theme
is both relevant and appropriate.
The coexistence of diversity
has been the abiding feature of Sri Lankan society from
ancient times. The Muslims for example have a recorded
presence in the island from about the middle of the
13th century. While fully integrating themselves into
the national society, the Sri Lankan nation has always
provided the Muslims a system in which they have been
able to preserve their unique religious and cultural
identity.
It is a fact of history that
Arabs have been visiting our shores from trade, even
before the advent of Islam. Serendib – an ancient
name for our country – has its origin in the Arab
language. The 14th century Arab traveler, - the famous
Ibnu Batuta – describes his visit to towns populated
by Sri Lankan Muslims. Sinhala literary works of the
15th century such as the Gira Sandeshaya and the Kokila
Sandeshaya describe the presence of the Muslim communities
of that period.
As we look into our country’s
history, we find that the Muslim community of our country
has in the past, always enjoyed royal patronage. As
a loyal and integral part of the national entity, they
have performed important services in the royal army.
History describes how they have also participated in
the ‘Vihara’ and ‘Devala’ systems
of the Kandyan kingdom.
The Hambantota district from
which I come, provides a home to the Malays who arrived
in our country form Indonesia and Malaysia. While on
the one hand they are an important segment of our Muslim
community, they are also at the same time a dedicated
and committed part of the national community.
In the British period of our
history, the Muslims were well represented in our legislature
and have played an important role in the more recent
history of our country. It is relevant to recall that
the first Muslim member of the legislature in this period
was the Hon. M C Abdul Rahuman, the great grandfather
of Al. Haj. M H Mohamed.
Let us also recall at least
a few of the names of those patriotic Muslim leaders
who were in the forefront of our national struggle for
independence – Dr. T B Jayah, Sir Mohamed Marcan
Markar, Sir Razeek Fareed, Dr. M C M Kaleel and Dr.
Badiu-din Mahmud among others.
The more recent history of
our country records the distinguished contribution made
by past and present Muslim leadership in the task of
nation building across the political divide. There are
scholars who have suggested that the history and role
of the Muslim community in the plural society of our
country provide an important key to successful nation
building in our country.
In the crafting of a successful
plural society there is much that our nation can learn
from its Muslim community. They are widely distributed
geographically and live for a large part among the Sinhala
and Tamil communities. And in doing so they have integrated
themselves most peacefully and harmoniously with the
neighbours among whom they live, while at the same time
protecting their own culture, religion and way of life.
As part of their methodology of integrating in a plural
society while maintaining their own identity the Muslims
speak two languages in some parts of the country and
even three languages in some of our towns.
In conclusion let me congratulate
the Sri Lankan Islamic Centre under the leadership of
Mr. M H Mohamed for convincing the International Muslim
Community to hold this important conference in Sri Lanka.
Let us also thank His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al-Turki,
Secretary General of the World Muslim League in the
Holy City of Mecca, for accepting the invitation of
our Muslim brothers to hold the conference in our country.
I wish your conference all
success.
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