Moors' Islamic Cultural Home (MICH)

Diary of Significant Events 1944-1965

published in the MICH Souvenir I of 1944-65

Date Event
Aug-2-1944

Sha'ban 12 1363H - Inaugural Meeting of the MICH held at Hijat Depot, No 5 Second Cross Street, Pettah, Colombo 11, Sri Lanka.

 

Those present were:- ARA Razik, Member of the State Council (Chair), AM hamid, Rasheed Bin Hassan MMC, Razeen Abdul Cader, WM Hassim JP, ARM Zarook, SL Mohamed, MBM Thassim, HASM Raffiudeen, MFA Jawad, MB MOhammed, MHM Kamil, MIM Ghouse, ALM Lafir, AH Macan Markar, SM Ismail, AIL Marikar
Aug-27-1945 First Annual General Meeting held at No 5 Second Cross Street, Pettah, Colombo 11, Draft constitution of the Home discussed and adopted with a number of amendments. Attendance at meeting was 64. The Building Fund topped the Rs 50,000 mark.
May-22-1946 First Reading of the MICH Incorporation Bill moved in the State Council by ARA Razik MSC and seconded by Hon George E de Silva, Minister of Health.
Jul-3-1946 Secon Reading of the MICH Incorporation Bill moved by ARA Razik MSC and seconded by Hon George E de Silva Minister of Health.
Aug-31-1946 Second AGM held at "Pasha Villa", 115 Dematagoda Road, Colombo 9, premises owned by HARA Majeed which the Home came to occupy on this day. Attendance 106. Amendments to the Incorporation Bill urged by the Legal Secretary along with amendments moved by SM Ismail were accepted. ARA Razik and Sir Mohammed Macan Markar addressed the meeting prior to the election of office bearers. Razik was unanimously elected President on the proposition of Sir Macan Markar who occupied the chair protem. Central Building Fund stood at Rs 93,284.12 as at Aug-16-1946.
Sep-25-1946 Standing Committee "A" Report with amendments to MICH Incorporation Bill presented by CWW Kannangara, Minister of Education. ARA Razik moved the amendments made by Standing Committee "A" Report in the Bill titled "An Ordinance to incorporate the Moors' Islamic Cultural Home" to be taken into consideration. Amendments made by Standing Committee considered, Razik moved Bill to be read a third time and passed. The Bill came into the Statute Book as Ordinance No 46 of 1946.
Oct-8-1946 Scheme for the training of Hafiz Al Qur'an was initiated by AIL Marikar at the meeting of the Board of Trustees.
May-23-1947 MICH Almanac for 1947 containing valid information pertaining to the Muslims was printed and published.
Jun-5-1947 First broadcast of the Adhan on Radio Ceylon, during the time of sunset (breakfast) of Ramadan, was carried out on the initiative of AIL Marikar. Adhan was recited by Qari WLHM Ramiz Alim.
Jul-1-1947 Printing and publication of Muslim Palar Vasakam Tamil Reader containing Islamic material, written by SP Saminathan & ALM Ismail initiated by Sir Razik fareed and IM Asanon.
Sep-28-1947 Third AGM was held with an attendance of 89 members. Central Building Fund stood at Rs 101,360.37
Dec-31-1947 Publication of MICH Desk Diary on the initiative of AH Macan Markar.
Feb-15-1948 Reception by MICH at the Galle Face Hotel on the occasion of the Independence of Ceylon from the British which was attended by Lord Soulbury, Rt Hon DS Senanayake, Prime Minister, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke GCMG, and other Cabinet Ministers and distinguished guests including HH the Maharajah & Maharanee of Baroda.
May-25-1948 Motion for the allotment of land in the Fort of Colombo for MUCH Buidling HQ was moved in the Senate by Senator Sir Razik Fareed, seconded by Mr RFS de Mel, Mayor of Colombo. The motion was accepted by Hon Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Leader of the Senate on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
Aug-15-1948 Fourth AGM. AIL Marikar's motion urging the Minister of Agriculture & lands to allot a suitable extent of land in Colombo Fort for the MICH HQ Building was unanimously passed.
Sep-7-1948 MICH delegation led by Sir Razik Fareed met Hon Dudley Senanayake, Minister of Agriculture & Lans, with the request to implement the motion passed by the Senate.
Jan-25-1949 Board of Trustees at its meeting passed a vote of appreciation and thanks to Hon Dudley Senanayake, Minister of Agriculture & lands for reserving a block of land in Colombo Fort for the MICH HQ Buiding as notified by his letter No C 381 of 19 January 1949.
Aug-20-1950 First Annual Quranic Recital Contest held and won by MSM rafeek of Weligama. 70 year old al Haj Aliyar Lebbe Ahmed Lebbe of Sainthamaruthu won the award for Hafiz.
Aug-26-1951 Second Annual Quranic Recital Contest held and won by MA Abdul Rahman of Galle, runner up MAC Mohamed Nuhman of Akurana.
Nov-9-1951 Public dinner to Senator Sir Razik fareed at the GOH on the conferment of Knighthood by His Majesty King George VI. ARM Thassim, Mayor of Galle presided. A Gold Medallion with the crest of MICH was presented to Sir Razik after the dinner.
Aug-24-1952 Third Annual Quranic Recital Contest held and won by MS Mohamed Cassim of Akkaraipattu, runner up MA Abdul Rahman of Galle.
Jan-27-1953 MICH recognized as an approved charity for income tax relief on donations on the initiative of AH Macan Markar.
Apr-30-1954 Grandpass Needlework Center commenced under the supervision of Ms Saleema Lafir and Ms Asma Beebee.
Apr-19-1955 Memorandum presented to Sir John Kotelawala for the release of Crown Land in Duke Street, Fort, Colombo 1, allocated to MICH.
Aug-28-1955 Motion for the translation of the Qur'an into Sinhala by AIL Marikar accepted at the Eleventh AGM.
Oct-20-1955 Design for the Seal of MICH, prepared by Mahir Junaid, approved by the Board of Trustees.
Nov-11-1955 Legal transfer of land and dwelling house at Makola, Kelaniya, by Lady F to MICH for the establishment of the Lady fareed Home for the Aged.areed
May-16-1956 Board of Trustees appoint AAM Thowfeek as Administrative Secretary of MICH.
Aug-12-1956 Foundation Stone laid for Lady Fareed Home for the Aged at Makola, Kelaniya.
Jun-5-1957 Donation of SL Rs 50,000 by Asia Foundation to the MICH Building Fund. Total Fund now stands at Rs 291,116.12
Sep-22-1957 Formal opening of Lady fareed Home for the Aged at Makola, Kelaniya by Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Governor General.
Oct-29-1958 Agreement entered into by MICH for translation of Qur'an by a team consisting of Pinoris Wickremasinghe, Moulavi MACA Lafir, & Moulavi MI Abdul Hameed.
Nov-2-1958 Qur'an translation into Sinhala project commences.
Mar-6-1959 MICH Fort HQ Building Plan on Raft Foundation submitted MD Baseran, Consulting Engineer.
Aug-4-1958 Duke Street site handed over to MICH by Government Agent, Colombo District.
Aug-13-1958 Discussions of Sir Cyril de Zoysa's proposal for change of site with AHLA Saleem, AIL Marikar and AH Macan Markar.
Sep-10-1958 Suggestion for alternate site to that of Duke Street site discussed at "Darul Barakah", Fareed Place by Sir Razik Fareed, HWarasuriya, Sir Cyril de Zoysa, AHLA Saleem, MFA Jawad and Hon Joint Secretaries.
Oct-2-1958 Board of Trustees favor alternate site offered at 27, Bristol Street, Fort, Colombo 1, for sake of amity and goodwill.
Aug-28-1960 Sixteenth AGM. AIL Marikar moved a motion regretting the delay and urging the Government to release the alternate site now offered at Bristol Street in lieu of the original site at Duke Street. Mohidden Jalaldeen's emergency motion protesting against the discriminatory attitude of Radio Ceylon in refusing to allow the one hour live broadcast of the Qur'an Recital Contest also passed.
Sep-14-1961 Printing and publication of First Teachings of Islam by Moulavi Abdul Aleem Sideeq and MIM Haniffa, translated into Sinhala by Ms Rupa Bandhuwardena.
Sep-19-1961 Board of Trustees accepts lowest tender of Rs 516,809.20 by ACM Fuard for construction of the raft foundation and ferro-concrete five storey structure of the proposed MICH HQ Building at 27 Bristol Street, Fort, Colombo 1. The selected tender was Rs 171,000 lower than the next lowest bid.
Nov-28-1961 Crown Land at 27 Bristol Street, Fort, Colombo 1 was fomally handed over to the MICH by the District Surveyor in the presence of M Hussain, Inspector of Police, Fort, Colombo 1.
Oct-27-1963 Lease Indenture for lease of Crown Land at 27 Bristol Street, Fort, Colombo 1 for ninety years commencing Nov 28 1961 at an annual rent of Rs 14,000 entered into between Secretary to the Governor General on behalf of the Crown (lessor) and MICH (lessee).