APPRECIATIONS
View(s):An exemplar of national unity
A. H. M. Anver
The 25th death anniversary of Abdul Hameed Mohamed Anver, popularly known as A.H.M. Anver fell on April 16. He passed away at the age of 72 while serving the nation from southern Sri Lanka. He began his political career in the late 1950s at a very young age, becoming a member of the Galle Municipal Council contesting the Katugoda ward, one of the 15 electoral wards in Galle’s Four Gravets municipality administrative area.
Mr. Anver was a prominent political figure in the Southern Province, serving the country for nearly 50 years as a gentleman politician. He represented a multicultural and diverse constituency in the Southern Province and rendered his services without any ethnic or cultural barriers.
He was born in April 10, 1928 in Katugoda, to a distinguished business family from the Southern Province. They were among the leading millers at that time, manufacturing crepe rubber and coconut oil for export. Later, he joined the family business, becoming the Managing Director of A.R. Abdul Hameed & Bros., and Nugaduwa Mills Ltd., at a very young age, following the sudden demise of his beloved father, Al-Haj A.R. Abdul Hameed – a businessman and philanthropist. He received his primary and secondary education at St. Aloysius College, Galle.
Mr. Anver started his social activities following the footsteps of his paternal uncle and the former Mayor of Galle, Al–Haj A. R. M. Thassim, who built the ‘Thassim Chest Clinic’ at his own cost in Galle for the benefit of the people. Because of his contribution to social and community services, Al-Haj Thassim was honoured with the titles of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the British monarch. Following in his path Mr Anver won elections consecutively with the blessings of the majority Sinhalese–Buddhists. He was admired and respected by all communities.
His political career started in 1956 as the President of the Youth Front of the United National Party in Galle District. Subsequently, he contested the Galle Municipal Council election and became a member of the Municipal Council for Katugoda ward in the Galle Municipality area from 1965 to 1975. He was then appointed as a Working Director of the Southern Regional Transport Board from 1979 to 1981. He contested the District Development Council election and served as a member of the District Development Council from 1981 to 1983.
Subsequently, he contested the mayoral election in 1983 and served as Mayor of Galle until 1988. He resigned to contest the Southern Provincial Council election and became a Provincial Council member after a remarkable victory. Mr. Anver was the Provincial Council Minister for Food, Cooperatives, Transport, Industries, Housing, Water Supplies and Drainage.
Mr. Anver used the opportunity to work closely with other communities. He stood for national unity and sought to break down the barriers which divided society.
He was President of the All Island Sinhala-Muslim Goodwill Foundation, and helped Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, Muslim mosques and the churches of the Christian community in the country without any religious barriers. An exemplar of national unity, he was a clean politician and role model for genuine politics. Currently, his son Ansar Anver continues his community service as a member of the Galle Municipal Council.
We pray to Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant him a special place in Jennah. Aameen.
Dr. Zain Fayiz Saleem
His distinct laughter will echo in our hearts
SUREN WILSON
It is one year since Suren went to his Eternal Rest.
He left for Jaffna one day, and the next morning, prior to attending to the work he had gone there to do, he called his wife in Colombo, and had his usual morning chat.
A while later, he started working, and was standing and talking with the person who was to attend to the details of the required work, when his Heavenly Father, called him Home.
One minute he was here; the next minute, he was there!!
The most perfect way to go. As if from one room to another, with one step. What an immense blessing!
We miss him, his embracing warmth, his irreplaceable presence, his constant companionship, and the strength that he was.
Much as we miss him, for the son, husband, father, brother, uncle and friend that he was, we are comforted all the time by our faith, that one day, we shall all be together, again, forever, on that Golden Shore, face to face with our Heavenly Father.
The words of Bishop Brent, explains that faith in simple terms:
“ What is dying?”
A ship sails, and I stand watching until she fades on the horizon….and someone at my side says, ‘she is gone’.
Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all; she is just as large as when I saw her. The diminished size, and total loss of sight, is in me, not in her, and just at the moment that someone at my side says, ‘she is gone!’, there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up the glad shout, ‘There she comes!’
And that, is dying.”
The hallmark of Suren’s very warm and loving personality was his ebullient laughter! Before we saw him anywhere, we would hear his inimitable laughter.
When our individual ships draw close to the Golden Shore, I am certain that before we see the shore, we will hear Suren’s bubbly laughter as he waits, with our Heavenly Father, and all those who have gone before, to embracingly welcome us into our Eternal Home.
Mahen (Machang) Fernando
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