Remembering ACS Hameed

11 April 2023 04:11 am Views - 951

Late Dr A.C.S. Hameed was born on the 10th of April 1928 at Kurugoda, Akurana
Oh! Dearest brother we miss your thundering laughter & happiness on your Birthday
How happily you received your friends, kith and kin on your Birthday
You entered National Politics in the year 1960 which was one of your ambitions fulfilled in life.
Represented Harispattuwa without a break for 39 years 
Harispattuwa is predominantly a Buddhist electorate 
Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims worked hard and always won the electorate
You built Seemamalakaya and Baudha Mandalayas in the electorate
You also improved Buddhist temples, Hindu temples and Mosques in the electorate 
Late President JR appointed you as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the country 
This portfolio made you travel to many foreign countries.
Meeting Presidents, Prime Ministers and officials of many countries 
Though you were abroad in many other countries 
You never neglected your voters from 173 villages of Harispattuwa
Met them at least once a month at your residence at Katugastota
From morning to midnight solving the voters’ problems and serving them refreshments.
The 173 villages of Harispattuwa started blooming like cities from 1977
Connecting all 173 villages with tarred roads, electricity, water supply, school buildings, 
Thousands of employment locally and abroad For Males and Females at their own choice 
Today it is a pride to see our Officers in commanding positions in our missions abroad
Reputed cartoonists Wijesoma, Yoonus, Geraine & Abeysekara published 
Humorous cartoons about the Minister’s travel and meeting Dignitaries abroad,
The Minister appreciated the cartoons and published them into a book of cartoons as a souvenir
Which showed his appreciation for criticism when you are in public life 
In public meetings, he was happy to declare that he and his family 
Eats and wears everything halal.
He didn’t want electorates for his sons and siblings 
His charity to people in need was like the river that flows 
In 1963, thousands of deeds the Muslim were not registered
as the officials wanted to prove Muslim citizenship.
In 1981 Late Dr Hameed solved this problem with the help of the Late JR
He published the book Thousand Years of Muslims of Sri Lanka with the help of Professor Lorna Devarajha of the University of Sri Lanka.
Oh! Allah, we pray that all gates of haven be kept open for him to 
 enter Jennathul Firdouse
Aameen  
-Brother Ghafoor