ASHRAFF. A. SAMAD-
Leaders are born every where 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 for became historical as that of great leader in Late Minister Ashraff sixteenth year remembrance falls on the 2016.
Late M H M Ashraff, LLM, PC one time Cabinet Minister Member of Parliament and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and National Unity Alliance founder Leader died on September 6, 2000 while on his way to his native Sammanthurai and Kalmuani. A Sri Lanka Air force helicopter which crashed in a blaze of flames in Aranyake. It is almost sixteen years since he left us never to return. Never do I pause now but follow Ashraff, the man with the golden heart; and end yet another day with a much lighter frame of mind. He was a tough politician with much vigour and strength to many.
Ashraff saw as nobody did before aim., the political potential of the Eastern Province with its predominant Muslim habitation before his advent Muslim politicians aligned themselves to the two major political parties, the UNP and the SLFP. He was no doubt permitted by the waves of radicalism then sweeping across the Islamic world and the growing power of the Arab states.
Mr Ashraff was a very kind hearted sensitive and highly emotional personally always with a ready smile and kind word never failing to greet his staff and supporters at least with a smile and nod but at the same time he was a leader who wonted things done correctly and was a stickler for correct details. Ashraff was deeply religious man and would commence nothing without remembering the Almighty and seeking his guidance and blessings.
Ashraff had a special place in his heart of Ampara District, the district he represented, and the eastern province in general. His dedicated efforts have transformed his home district Ampara from a backward rural district into a fairly developed area, moving rapidly towards modernism. He initiated several development projects in the province including a port and university at Oluvil. His single -handed dedication to established the South Eastern University will be recorded in letters of gold. every year more than four thousands students entering here and enjoying full fill graduates. He went to Ampara District coastal areas whenever he found the time to spent time with his constants and inspect development projects.
After Ashraff demises so far no any other politicians helped the North and East Muslims. They are facing very hardship problems day to day life. Muslims still facing very hardship their lands , fishing, agriculture, employments ,housing livelihood.
Ashraff fulfilled his responsibilities as a minister with the utmost dedication and efficiency. The Colombo Port made vast strides under his leadership, towards achieving the government's vision of becoming on of Asia' s Leading Ports.
His constant struggle to obtain the rights of the Muslim People had much success during the Last six years. He had a vast following among the Muslims people who appreciated his vision, the immense sacrifices he made for their cause and his sincerity of purpose, More than all these 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 and Leader of the political party, he was not only a police 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/displaced persons and port employees. he acted as a catalyst without causing any embarrassment to the government. The ministry official enjoyed working with him. His qualities of leadership and respect for bureaucracy developed loyalty and team spirit.
A good administrator should be a good human being, Despite all the knowledge and techniques of administration and has good qualities. Later Leader Ashraff posses all these qualities coupled with attractive talents in ample measure. He did not cultivate these qualities but they were part of his nature. His experience in the political field enriched his administrative acumen and it became handy,
In parliament as well as on the political platform. He was one of the most eloquent speakers. while he mainly spoke in English and Tamil and Sinhala He made memorable contribution to many parliamentary debates, His impassioned defense of the new constitution (during the recent ) debate proved his sincere commitment to a peaceful united Sri Lanka.
Immaculately attired and ever smiling Ashraff was an energetic minister who strove to discharging his duties to the best of his ability, Through embroiled in a number of controvesied , he never bore a perusal grudge towards his political adversaries. He was a shining star in the local political firmament who shed light on the need for a united Sri Lnaka where all communities could live peacefully together.
Former Minister Ferial Ashraff was alwas in the backgorund when her husband roared in the arena of politics. The suddenly with his tragic death she was pushed into that same arena. It was by choice that she entered the arena . come what may she was in arena. They were blessed with only child and named his as Ahamed Aman Ashraff.
Ashraff was an excellent writer of Tamil prose as well as in English. His genius was in full bloom in his poetic compositions, His anthology of poems has been hailed as a piece of outstanding literary merit by non other than the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who himself is a respected Tamil Scholar was so enthralled by the title of the anthology of his poems that he commented "This title by itself is a matter for contemplated enlightenment and ultimate enjoyment of all the qualifies and talents Ashraff wished to outlive him was his literary talents because he valued them above all other achievements.
the poem is taken from the Poetry collection of the Late Ashraff to mark (" I and You" his 58th birth anniversary which fell on October 23)
Fighters march on
Poet by: MHM Ashraff
On soldiers of our cause
Set out march on
Be not confused
Thinking that our enemies have won
When he stills my voice with his bullets forget not
Only then the rays of the winning sun
Ppenetrated the dark caves of our struggle
Nothing happened to your leader
Never forgot this in your life
Leaders never die
Haven't told you this ?
Pardon me if i haven't
Non of our fighters will ever die
March forwarded oh fighters
There is no time to rest and watch
Wast no time
In washing this corpse
Neither water nor rose water is needed
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 bury without
Any further delay
By washing his body
At the last moment
Defy not the directives of your leadership
Enough of you homage with tears
Forgot your sorrows and lift my body
The bullets of his rifle
Only obeyed the commanded of the master
Weep not the waste you time
Lift the body up
And pray and bury soon
He succeeded in installing his long standing dream a roof to shelter the SLMC head quarters which he named "Dharsslam" the house of peace and dedicated it to Sri Lanka as a whole -
He worked hard for peace
"May Allah grant his soul " jannath Firdouse - paradise for him.