Dheen Arachchiar (1860 – 1915) of  Negombo

 

Samsudheen Vithane Arachchiar (1860 - 1915) of Negombo.

 

He was born in 1860 in Negombo. Both his father and paternal grandfather were Vidanes (Officers below that of an Arachchi but wielded considerable authority) in Negombo. After completing his studies (Cambridge Senior) he got involved in the family business. He was  appointed as the Vithane Arachchiar for Negombo in 1896 and hence was popularly known as Dheen Arachchiar. He held this post until his death at the age of 55 on the 11th of December 1915.

 

 He got married to Miss Hafsa Marikar (Whose father too was a Vidane) of Thihariya. Near his ancestral home (in the Eastern border of Negombo) he built his house “Yathreeb” (which was one of the landmark buildings in Negombo until it was demolished in 1992 due to the high cost of maintainace) along Mirigama Road (facing St Lazarus Road and bordering Jayaratne Road) in Negombo. As he was highly respected by all the communities this place became to be known as Dheen Junction as a mark of respect to him. Udayar Thoppuwa Mosque (Abalathadi Palli) at Mirigama Road, Dheen Junction, Negombo was built by him and is administrated by the family fund.

 

Proctor Ismail Dheen JP (1894 – 1968) - 2c of Negombo.

 

The first Muslim to qualify as a Lawyer in Negombo and was also the first person to be appointed as the Quazi for Negombo.  As the Trustee (1915–1968) of the Udhayar Masjidh, he took interest in putting up additional buildings with the contribution of the family members.  

 

One of the founder members of the Board of Trustees of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home

 

   Appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the whole Island by the British Government

 

Proctor Abdul Raheeman JPUM (1896-1965) - 2d  of Negombo.

 

Only Muslim to be the Chairman of the then Negombo Urban Council He was a Crown Counsel and was also an Unofficial Magistrate . Raheemanabad at  Periyamulla Negombo is named after him as a mark of respect to him.

 

One of the founder members of the Board of Trustees of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home

        

 Al Haj M.A.M.A.Hassen JP (1903-1997) - 2i of Weveldeniya.

 

Donated his land to build Babul Hassen Central College of Warakapola.  Also donated three shops each to Warakapola Grand Jumma Mosque, Town Mosque and two shops to Ganithapura Jumma Mosque in Warakapola.

 

In addition to this in 1993 he donated four acres of land in Ganithapura, Warakapola to needy Muslims and this area is now known as Hassenpura.

 

One of the founder members and president of the Muslim Ladies Arabic College of Kal-Eliya from the inception till his demise.

 

He played a leading role in promoting the improvements to the Warakapola town.

 

His children (Mrs Hafeela Cassim and Mr Abdul Raheeman Hassen JP) as per his wishes donated the property of Dharul Hassenath Academy of Warakapola under a deed of Trust (Wagf) in 2001

 

One of the founder members of the Board of Trustees of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home

 

 Appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the whole Island by the British Government.

 

Mrs Safa Ismail (1914) – 2b3a  of Puttalam

 

The first Muslim girl to get enrolled at Newstead  College Negombo.

 

Proctor H.S.Ismail (1901-1974) – 2b3a of Puttalam.

 

 A member of the Puttalam Urban Council from 1928-1947 and was its chairman from 1942-1947.

 

 The only uncontested member in the first Parliament.  the Deputy minister of Food (1947-48)  the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (parliament) and subsequently was appointed as the Speaker in 1956 and held this post till 1959 and thereby became the first Muslim to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives.                                                           

 

As the founder President of the Ceylon Baithulmal fund, he served it until his death

 

One of the founder members of the Board of Trustees of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home.

 

 Was instrumental in setting up the  Puttalam Zahira College.

 

Mr. Anis Sheriff JP (1922) – 2b3f of Negombo.

 

The first Muslim to be the Deputy Mayor of Negombo Municipal Council and was also a member of the Western Provincial Council.

 

Dr. M.T.Abdulla (1926) – 2b3g of Negombo.

      

He completed the MBBS Examination at the Colombo medical faculty in 1952 and thereby became  first Muslim to qualify as a Doctor in Negombo. He was a Member of the District Committee. 

 

Advocate Kaleel Raheeman (1933- 1998) - 2d3d of Negombo.

 

As the Trustee  (1981-1998) of the Udhayar Masjidh he expanded the Mosque and built a row of shops with the contribution of the family members as a source of income to the mosque.

 

He also served as the Quazi for Negombo.

 

He was a co-vice president of the Sri Lanka Bar Association in 1989/90 and 1990/91.

 

Proctor Mahroof JPUM (1919-1990) - 2e3b of Negombo.

 

Crown Counsel, an unofficial Magistrate of the Gampaha Magistrate Court and also was a member of the Negombo Municipal Council.

 

Dr Rifdhy Dheen  (1942) – 2f3d of USA

 

He donated a plot of land along Colombo-Chillaw Road in Negombo to the Negombo Grand Mosque in 2001 to build a Mosque.The    Mosque has been named as Al Masjidhul Dheen

 

Mr.A.R.M.Rafeek JP (1927-1989) - 2g3b of Warakapola,

 

Like his father ( Muhammed Lebbe Abdul Raheem of Marikar Villa Pasyala ) he too contributed to the development of his community by playing a leading role in promoting the improvements to the hospital, places of religious worship, schools, co-operatives in Warakapola and the road leading to the Warakapola Grand Jumma Mosque. He was also responsible in getting the road leading to the Warakapola Grand Jumma Mosque named as Masjid Mawatha in 1982.

 

Appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the whole Island in 1983.      

 

Mr. Saleem Marikar (1925) - 2g3c of Negombo

 

The attributes of preparing the family tree and the family album of the Dheen Arachchiar’s family goes to him. It was he who took the pains to collect and compile details during his leisure time.

 

Proctor S.L.M.Cassim JPUM (1923-1985) - 2i3a of Kurunegala.

 

 Unofficial Magistrate of the Kurunegala Magistrate Court.

 

 

Mr.S.M.Sabry FCA (1940) – 2b3e4a of Ratmalana.

 

The first Muslim to be the Auditor General of Sri Lanka.

 

Mr.S.L.M.Farook (1937- 1996) - 2e3a4b of Mawanella.

 

 Member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council at the time of his death.

 

Dr.M.S.M.Mihilar JP (1946) - 2g3b4a of Warakapola.

 

Founder President of the Horagolla Mosque which is now known as Masjid Al Hudha in Horagolla, Warakapola. In 1975 when he was putting up his house in Horagolla Warakapola he had the intention of building a mosque as there wasn’t a mosque in that area. In order to accomplish his desire, with the generous contribution of the community a small plot of land was purchased in 1977 and the mosque was built in 1979.

 

Together with his brother he donated the property of Al-Madhrasathus-Shareefiyyah of Warakapola to the Warakapola Grand Jumma Mosque in December 1999 (21st Ramadhan 1420)  

 

He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the Judicial District of Kegalle in 1983.

 

Mr. M.A.C.Reyan (1947) - 2g3b4b of Katugastota.

 

Obained the highest number of preferential votes for the Pathadumbara Electorate during the local government elections held in 1991 and thereby became the first Muslim to be the Vice Chairman of the Pathadumbara Pradeshiya Sabava.

 

Mr.Ajward Cassim (1955-1995) – 2i3a4a of Belgrade.

 

Migrated to Yugoslavia and was appointed as the Honorary Counsel General of Sri Lanka for Yugoslavia and held this post until his death.

 

Abbreviations  

JPUM          -        Justice of Peace and Unofficial Magistrate.

JP               -        Justice of the Peace.

Dr               -        Doctor.

C. Eng         -        Chartered Engineer.

FCA             -        Fellow Chartered Accountant.

FCMA          -        Fellow Chartered Management Accountant

ACA            -        Associate Chartered Accountant.

ACMA         -        Associate Chartered Management Accountant

d.               -        Died.