Azwer tells World Malaysian Islamic Tamil Literary
'Tamil language and culture fostered and promoted well in Sri Lanka'
Sri Lanka occupies a pre-eminent position in the world in
facilitating the promotion of the Tamil langauge - Tamil and Islamic
culture. The Mahinda Rajapaksa reg-ime made it a condition for public
servants to pass a proficiency examination to enable them to secure
promotions in service, said Parliamentarian AHM Azwer addressing 500
delegates attending the International Islamic-Tamil Conference concluded
recently at the Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Dato Tan Sri Nur Mohammed Yacoup
delivered the keynote address. A special message from Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razack was read by Dr Haji Mohammed Haniffa.
Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem, who led a contingent of 225-delegates
from Sri Lanka, addressed the Opening and the Closing sessions.
MP Azwer said that Sri Lanka provided the best atmosphere for the
development of the Tamil langauge and Tamil culture in the world. State
patronage is comprehensively provided for the growth of Tamil
literature, art and culture in every part of the country.
Colombo has become the centre for the releasing of Tamil literary
work, in the South of Colombo, where a large number of novels, short
stories, poetry and other allied subjects printed in the Tamil Nadu were
regularly released in this cultural hall. So much so that recently as
much as 35-books in the Tamil langauge, printed by a well-known
publisher in Chennai, were ceremoniously released in a single day at
this place, adding a new dimension to the inter-linguistic and
inter-literary and inter-cultural revival between the Tamil Nadu and Sri
Ramakrishna Mission has become the home for holding the
much-celebrated 'Kamban Vizha' attended by a large number of Tamil
scholars and musical maestros converging at this place from India,
Malaysia, Singapore and other countries, where Tamil is spoken and
learnt. The annual VEL Vizha, restored after 17-years, was always
enthusiastically received by the Head of State Mahinda Rajapaksa,
opposite to his official residence "Temple Trees."
What was most significant and historic was the fact that it was left
to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to address the UN General Assembly in
Tamil on behalf of the seven million world Tamil population, a fact that
would not be equalled by any Tamil born anywhere in this planet! Azwer
There are thousands of Tamil and Muslim schools with Tamil as a
medium of instruction, he said. Muslims in the meantime, occupy a unique
position in that they foster and help the growth of the Tamil language
whilst living among the Sinhala people throughout the island. This is a
unique feature in the world ethnic and racial inter-groupings. Azwer
paid a tribute to the memory of the late Thaninayaga Adigalar hailing
from Jaffna, who started the World Tamil Literary Conference, closely
followed by Allama Dr M M Uwise pioneering the Islamic Tamil World
Alhaj A K A Abdul Samad, MP, the Tamil Nadu Muslim League Leader
Janab S M Shahabdeen, JP of Sri Lanka were two persons who contributed
immensely in the organization of this World Tamil Moot.
Scholars, writers and poets from sri Lanka took centre stage in their
contributions that they made before the conference.
Books written by Sri Lankans, Dr Ahamed Thassim Manipulavar, Abdul
Majeed (Kalmunai) and a Tamil translation of Dr C G Weeramantry's book
on Islamic Law, were released at this conference. Releasing of Prof A R
Abdur Raheem's book titled Prophet Muhammad, translated by Sathankulam
Abdul Jabbar (SMA) was a significant event hailed by the literati
Dr MSM Anas, Alhaj SHM Jameel, Sheik Aghar Mohamed (Naleemi) M M
Najimul Hussain, Pottuvil Mohamed Yesmin and other Sri Lankan scholars
and poets were present.