UK Lecture - Reading
Veteran Sri Lankan journalist and author Latheef Farook, explained the critical situation faced by the island’s Muslims to Sri Lankan Muslim community in the Borough of Reading on 17 Sunday May 2015. This is incidentally the first event , on a three week long lecture tour to United Kingdom undertaken by him , at the invitation of Mubarak Junaideen , Chair of the Sri Lanka Muslim Cultural Centre, Harrow UK and coordinated by social activist and writer Lukman Harees . The Reading event was chaired by Haleem Sharifdeen , Chair of Association of Sri Lankan Muslims (ASLAM) , Reading.
Latheef Farook who is now on a three week long lecture tour to United Kingdom explained the critical situation faced by the island’s Muslims to Sri Lankan Muslim community in the city of Reading on 17 Sunday May 2015.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest Latheef Farook pointed out that the Sri Lanka is passing through a very crucial phase in its history with intensive discussions on constitutional changes and electoral reforms and the like.
In this critical political environment it is extremely essential that the Muslim community too take every possible measure to ensure that it’s and privileges are safeguarded .Failure to do so means betraying the community as a while and placing the future generation in peril. This is especially so in view of the hostile campaign unleashed against the entire Muslim community by a small minority of racist elements from the majority community backed by powerful forces.
However there is good news because these racist were rejected by the mainstream Sinhalese who voted for President Maithripala Sirisena and supported his move to bring communal harmony and peace with rights and dignity to call communities-be they Sinhalese Tamils. Muslims, Malays, Burghers and all others.
He also emphasised the need for Muslim community to explore every possible means to join hands with peace loving, majority Sinhalese to restabilising communal harmony in the interest of all in the country.
He also explained the pivotal role played by the emerging civil society in the Muslims community in Sri Lanka while politicians who are expected to be in the forefront in safeguarding the rights and privileges of the community remain inactive and indifference.
