Appreciations

Al-Haj Dr. M. Fouzy Mohamed M.B.B.S, had the distinction of being the first Muslim medical practitioner from the Kalutara district to hold both Western M.B.B.S. and indigenous qualifications from abroad.

He was a native of Maradana, Beruwala, where the earliest Arab settlers first set foot. In later years he practised at Kaleel’s Nursing Home and at his dispensary at Dematagoda, Maradana. He was a resident of Wellawatta. Dr. Mohamed passed away on February 4, this year at the age of 72 years and his burial took place at the Dehiwala Jummah Mosque burial grounds, amidst a large gathering of relatives, friends and others.

He was born on 19.01.1935 and had his early education at Holy Cross College, Kalutara and then proceeded to Zahira College, Colombo for his secondary education.His greatest achievements are his children of whom three (two sons and a daughter) are medical practitioners in government hospitals. Further, he gave honorary counselling or advice to people who wanted to pursue professional higher education abroad.

He was the eldest son of the Al-Haj, A.L.M.P. Mohamed, a pioneer Muslim Inspector of Schools, who had motivated the educational growth of the Muslims in the south west and southern coastal belt during his tenure in office. Dr. Fouzy was a son-in-law of the late Mr. M.N.A. Jamaldeen of Kalutara and of late Mrs. Jezeema Jamaldeen of Veyangalle, Agalawatta.

He worked at government hospitals in Kalutara, Puttalam and did private practice in Matara, Kalutara, Kollupitiya and Beruwala. As he had many needs to fulfil, he took up an appointment as a medical officer in the Sultanate of Oman to work in state hospitals where he served for a considerable period. He returned to Sri Lanka and worked as a private practitioner thereafter.

I have associated with him since boyhood as we both hailed from the same town and were schoolmates at Zahira College, Colombo. Later, I too was selected to serve as an English teacher in a government school under the Ministry of Education in Oman. When I reached Oman I was grateful to find that my friend had been serving in Nizwa, a provincial city in Oman where I too was posted as a teacher. This made me renew my old contact, and we cherished each other’s friendship and brotherhood.

In addition to the Sri Lankan national languages he was able to communicate with the Arab patients in Arabic and with the Pakistani and Indian expatriates in Urdu and Hindi. He was very good at diagnosing diseases and as a result became popular with his patients. In Oman I had the opportunity to witness his linguistic ability. Even in Sri Lanka he was famous for his diagnostic ability and patients with various problems always sought his advice. He was always willing to help the poor and the downtrodden.
Finally, he had an ailment and was in hospital where he died after two days. He was a faithful husband to his wife Hajiyani Sithy Fareeda and a loving father to his children. His death is not only a loss to his family but to everyone who was connected to him.
May Allah grant him Jennathul Firdouse.

A man who cared for many