01st October 2021 18:45:08 Hours
A representative gathering of Muslim Officers and Other Rankers in the Army who assembled at Colpetty Jumma Mosque this morning (30) joined a special Islamic prayer session to bless the forthcoming 72nd Army Anniversary and the Army Day as one more segment of multi-religious anniversary observances.
General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest for the occasion was received on arrival by Brigadier Ashker Mutaliph, Chairman, Army Muslim Association, together with Al-Haj Mohammed Khaleel, Chairman, Secretary and members of the Board of Trustees at Colpetty Jummah Mosque.
Trilingual welcome speeches made by the clergy announced the importance of the event before the proceedings got underway. A few seconds later, prayer sessions got to a start after decorating the holy place in keeping with Islamic traditions before trilingual welcome speeches were made highlighting the importance of the day’s prayers.
The customary Islamic religious sermon, ‘Bayan’ then invoked blessings symbolically on Army flags and the organization, lauding its services, being rendered for the best interests of the country. The Imam Moulavi, A.B.M Rizvan of Colpetty Jumma Mosque conducted the special chanting, ‘Qirath’ prayers and Moulavi Amher Hakeemdeen afterwards performed the wishful prayers, ‘Duwa’ according to the sequence of Islamic invocations.
On the same occasion, Al-Haj Kaleel Mohomad, Chairman, Board of Trustees in return presented a special memento to the day's Chief Guest, Commander of the Army as an appreciation on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Similarly, Al-Haj I.S Hameed, Secretary, Board of Trustees awarded a copy of the Holy Quran to the Commander of the Army as a token of goodwill.
General Shavendra Silva after the culmination of the special Islamic religious prayers presented a plaque and made a financial donation towards the development of the holy premises and shared a couple of views with Moulavis on co-existence, harmony and reconciliation in the country.
The event, organized by the Army Muslim Association, Chaired by Brigadier Ashker Mutaliph, was attended by Major General Priyantha Perera, Chief of Staff, Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda, Deputy Chief of Staff, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Senior Officers and Other Ranks, together with a representative gathering of Muslim members in the Army.
Thursday's religious ceremony was the 2nd in sequence that has been organized to coincide with the 72nd Army Anniversary. Earlier on Monday (27), the first flag blessing ceremony took place at Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa premises.
