By: Ashraff.A. Samad
Fifteen years sound, but quite a long period. But not when it comes to Ashraff . It seems only yesterday that he took off without bidding us farewell.
However it is, but sad even after this long period, leaders are born every where in the world and the services rendered by them for the good of their community are many. Although such services are remembered by the people now and then: all their names would not become historical as that of Minister Ashraff whose 15th years remembrance falls today September 16. 2015.
Mohamed Hussain Mohamed Ashraff Minister , a great and worthy son of the Eastern Province was born Sammanthurai . He was indeed not born with the proverbial silver spoon but at the time of his untimely death in the political establishment of this country. Indeed within a very short spell of half a dozen years he was Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and National Unity Alliance Founder Leader, died on September 16th 2000 while on his way to his native Ampara District in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter which crashed in a blaze of flames in Aranyake.
Being a son of the Eastern soil he had his primary education at Wesley College, Kalmunai and had to leave his home region to pursue further studies at the metropolis in 1970 he joint Law College where he excelled and manifested prowess, In the field of constitutional Law by writing the first book on Tamil with particular reference to 1972 Republican Constituents of Sri Lanka Law College the natural nursery of many a political leader, he was the president of the Law students, Muslim Majilis and of the student community.
In 1974 he joint Attorney General’s Department as a state Counsel, and worked there to get himself acquainted with the law to become an eminent Lawyer.
He practiced in Kallmuani and completed Master Degree in Law prior to becoming a Senior Minister . He was honoured with the title Presidential Council .
Ashraff saw as nobody did before him, the political potential of the Eastern Province with its predominant Muslim population.
In November 1986 the SLMC became a national political party and created history in Sri Lankan Muslims politics. The symbol of his party was the tree.which was planned and nurtured in the Eastern and Northern Muslims areas in Sri Lanka. In 1989 he contested the parliamentary election and entered parliament as an MP. At the 1994 general election he was returned to parliament seven MPs from the East North.
Two SLMC MPs were appointed Deputy Ministers and one MP, SLMC played a constructive role to install the Former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunge Government in a hung parliament , Ashraff became minister of Ports, Shipping, Rehabilitation and Reconstructions, Ashraff fulfilled his responsibilities as a Minister with the utmost dedication and efficiency. The Colombo Port made vast strides under his leadership, achieving the government’s vision of becoming one of Asia’s leading ports.
His dedicated efforts have transformed his home district of Ampara from backward rural district into a farby developed area. Moving rapidly towards modernism.
His single – handed dedication to established the South Eastern University Oluvil will be recorded in letters of gold.
His constant struggle to obtain the rights of the Muslims people had much success during the last six years.
He had a vast following among the Muslim people who appreciated his vision, the immense sacrifices he made for their cause and his sincerity of purpose, more than all these the late Ashraff was a man with a very big heart. In friendship he was warm, sincere and forgiving his kindness was limitless.
As a minister he was not only a policy formulator, a policy implementer , a keen monitor but also a hard task master, in implementing the decisions of the Government he had a total vision , In the problems of the affected and displaced persons and port employees, he acted as catalyst without causing any embarrassment to the government.
His qualities of leadership and respect for bureaucracy developed loyalty and team spirit. Ashraff was a very kind hearted sensitive and highly emotional personality always with ready smile and kind word never failing to greet his staff at least with a smile, and was a stickler for correct details.
A good administrator should be a good human being, Despite all the knowledge and techniques of administration and management one cannot be a good administrator unless one has good qualities Late Leader Ashraff, possessed all these qualities coupled with attractive talents in ample measure.
Ashraff was a deep religious man and would commence nothing without remembering the Almightily and seeking his guidance and blessings . He was an excellent writer of Tamil prose as well as English. He generous was in full bloom in his poetic compositions. His anthology of poems has been hailed as a piece of outstanding literacy merit by none other than former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu , who himself is a respected Tamil Scholar Mr, Karunanidhi was so enthralled by the title of anthology of his poems that he commented “This title by itself is a matter for contemplated enlightenment and ultimate enjoyment of all the qualities and talents Ashraff wished to outlive him was his literary talents, because he valued them above all other achievements.
Nothing has happened to your Leader
Never forget this in your life
Leaders never die
Haven’t I told you this ?
Pardon me if I hvaent’t
Has your Leader’s body been
Coated with the sandalwood of blood
Should the smell of the same fragrance
Smell in the womb of his tomb as well
Then take this body away
Pray and burry without
Any further delay
- Poem written by Late M.H.M. Ashraff – from his “You The I” poetry book
But Ferial Ashraff remains, Ferial who hears Ashraff’s soul cry; who knew the Ashraff who put his people before everything else. She doesn’t need a banner or poster with him in the back drop to remind her commitment.
Presently so many Muslim Leaders are born but nobody follow Ashraff ‘s food steps.
He worked hard for peace
May Allah grant his soul “Jinnath Firdouse”