When a former hockey international is re-appointed Principal of a school, one has to sit up and take notice. This is the case with Amal International situated in Havelock Town.

Sahid Afridi of Amal International receives his colours from Mr. Shabir Mughal, Deputy Security Consultant United Nations Sri Lanka at a Fei Quando Karate ceremony. Looking on is Chief Karate Instructor Hassan Khalid.

The Amal International Basketball team which won the Silver Medal at the Wongu Peace Cup in Seoul, South Korea before their departure to the competition. From left: Shabeer Ahmed, Safraz Nizamdeen, Mrs. A.R. Mihilar (Deputy Principal Academy), A.J.M. Farook (Principal), M.M. Ayub (Deputy Principal Administration), Rizan Zain, Thanveer Ashraf, Shadhath Ahamed (Manager), Gerald Jacob (Sports Coordinator and Coach)

The school's management has re-appointed A.J.M. Farook as its head for the second time around. Farook was at the helm of the school from 2004 to 2007 and now he is back in the saddle, the post which he took over once again in 2009.

Sports play a vital role in the school's curricular. Karate, swimming and basketball are the institution's main sporting spheres. Fei Quando Black Belt International Hassan Khalid is in charge of the karate and swimming activities - two activities that the

school is doing very well. Basketball too is very popular. Early this month the team coached by Gerald Jacobs bagged the Silver Medal at the Wongu Peace Cup Basketball Tournament 2010, organized by the International Federation for World Peace in Seoul, South Korea. Amal International's basketball team for the competition comprised of Shabeer Ahmed, Safraz Nizamdeen, Rizan Zain, Thanveer Ashraf, Shadhath Ahmed (Manager) and Coach Gerald Jacob, who has been selected to attend the Seventh Masters Games in Queensland, Australia.

Farook, who hails from Matale, the Cradle of Hockey in Sri Lanka, is an old boy of Zahira College Matale famous for its hockey. Like a duck taking to water Farook excelled in the game as its center forward and went on to represent the Combined Schools. From there he graduated into the National team and was the side's main goal getter in international competitions. At school level his administration qualities were well known and nurtured. It was just a matter of time before he was appointed Manager of the Combined Schools Hockey Team, Selector and Coach. He was also secretary of the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Federation in 1977.

At the National level too he ended up as Coach, Selector and player and was Vice President of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) in 1993 when the late Vernon Silva was the SLHF's President. Farook has memories of an illustrious hockey career playing alongside the late Stanley Fernando and goalie V. Tharmarajah of Jaffna fame on tours to India for the Corera Cup games against Tamil Nadu, a key fixture which held center stage at that time.

Amal International's present Chairman is Mr. M.S.M. Liyawdeen. Earlier this prestigious post was held by Messrs. Faiz Musthapha, Akram Mukthar and Hanif Yusuf. The school was started by Messrs M.C.M. Zarook and Hadji Mohammed Abdul Karim Dangara, who had supplied the finances. Earlier Principals of the school included Messrs Jamaldeen, Kaiyoon, Sufian, Aziz Faleel and its present Principal Mr. A.J.M. Farook.

According to Mr. Farook, the staff at Amal International are very well qualified and the results by Amal International students at Public Examinations are ,"Very, very good".

The school is a project of the Center for Islamic Studies and its Board of Directors are doing their best to lift the standards of the school at every possible level, explained Mr. Farook.

The school will be celebrating its 20th year in existence on January 20, 2011 and the institution is making elaborate plans to celebrate it in a fitting manner.

Principal A.J.M. Farook	Azeez Abubakr	Gerald Jacob