SRI LANKA MUSLIMS IN MERSEYSIDE, LIVERPOOL,
JOIN AT ‘IFTHAR’ EVENT AND ORGANISE EID (FESTIVAL) CELEBRATION
Members of around fifty Sri Lanka Muslim families living in Merseyside, Liverpool, joined to have their ‘Ifthar’ (ending of the day’s Ramazan fast) together on 9th August at the Pakistan Assocation Centre in Merseyside. Smaller ‘Ifthar’ gatherings in the past have been held in private residences. Encouraged by the response from the community the organisers decided to have a public event this year.
The effort was supported by the Chief Imam of Merseyside Al-Rahma Mosque, Dr. Abdul Karim Awad and Members of the Arab, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi communities as well. The Imam, who was the Chief Guest at the occasion, in his address emphasised on the importance of communities working together to promote their religious and cultural interests and their welfare. He stressed that the Sri Lanka Muslim Community in Merseyside should have an organisation of their own, with its own Centre so that they can pursue their activities in an organised manner. Towards this, he said he would take steps to provide financial and other support to procure a suitable building for this purpose. He also volunteered to conduct Islam and Quran Classes for children of the Sri Lanka Muslim Community free of any charge and that he would arrange or the conduct of such activities in the Pakistan Association Centre until the Sri Lanka Community finds its own premises.
Sri Lankan Muslim Professionals, Businessmen and Students resident in and around Merseyside came together to organise the event and are expected to form an organised body to take forward their activities.
Prior to the ‘Ifthar’ event members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Community in Merseyside assisted the representatives of Islamic Centre, Milton Keynes, to collect funds for the building of a Mosque in Milton Keynes.
At a subsequent meeting the organisers decided to celebrate the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival) with a joint lunch, sports and other events.