WORLD MEMON ORGANIZATION MEETINGS - COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

from May 18, 2006 to May 21, 2006

A BRIEF REPORT

Al Hamdulillah the Wold Memon Organisation (WMO) Board of Trustees, Management and the 4th  Annual General  Meetings, Celebrations and commemoration of the Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary) of the Memon Association of Srilanka (MASL) combined with  other social gatherings of the memon community in Colombo Srilanka were great success. I am certain the participants and attendees will cherish those memories for a long time.

All meetings were held at Trans Asia Hotel Colombo and most delegates had booked their accommodation rooms at that hotel.

From Wednesday 17th May certain foreign delegates and other participants had started reaching Colombo  with their accompanying spouses and other family members; most of them reached on Thursday 18th May receiving warm welcome from their hosts. 

Every WMO member who attended the meeting was presented with a brief case that contained Agenda of the respective meetings, reports, program details and other useful information.

All meetings and events commenced with recitation of verses from holy Qura'an.

Thursday 18th May afternoon the Board of Trustees held their  meeting and  agenda circulated earlier were conducted. Appropriate decisions were made. Minutes of the meeting will be forwarded soon to all Trustees.

Friday 19th May morning Members of the Board of Management commenced their 7th meeting that happened to be the last meeting of the outgoing Board. There was a break for Juma'a prayers offered at Memon Hanafi Mosque. Afrer Salat-e-Juma'a attendees had lunch at Summer field Restaurant.

At 4:00 p.m.  7 delegates led by the WMO President Haji Abdul Razzak Yakoob proceeded to the President House to have audience with His Excellency  the President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka Mahinda Rajapaksa. The delegates included Deputy President Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Founding Member and Vice President Middle East Chapter Aboobaker Cassim, Vice President Africa Abdul Sattar Dada, Vice President Europe Nawsad A. Gani, Vice President Pakistan Pir Mohammad Kalia and Chair Person Ladies Wing Hamida Bai Bhiwandiwala.

7 office bearers of the Memon Association of Srilanka (MASL) had joined the WMO delegation. Delegations had very useful talks with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a very cordial and freindly atomosphere.Views were exchanged on several matters of common interest particularly those of human welfare and development of business. As a gesture of goodwill and solidarity with the  people of Srilanka and their Government WMO President presented a letter committing a donation of US$ 25,000/- (United States Dollars twenty five thousand) towards the President's Relief Fund.  President Majhinda appreciated the gesture and assured his Government's help and co-operation to the Memon Community in the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of the WMO and MASL.

At 6:00 p.m. the Board of Management members gathered again and continued their discussions and deliberations. They completed agenda of the meeting. Minutes of the meeting will be forwarded soon to the Board members separately.

The Board meeting passed a special resolution strongly condemning the contents of allegations levelled and unwarranted comments made against the WMO President Haji Abdul Razzak Yakoob in an Article published in Asia Times Hong Kong on 19 April.  Members considered that allegations made were baseless without any substance and that the article was written in bad taste out of jealousy. They expressed their anger that writer did not consider the Memons to be real Muslims.  Management members asserted that WMO is a non-sectarian and non-political organization registered in the United Kingdom . All its affairs are managed by over 70 members of the Board of Management who are elected from 7 different Regions (Countries) of the world. They categorically denied that as President Haji Abdul Razzak could have used WMO funds unilaterally without obtaining absolute consent of the board members who are leading businessmen, lawyers, qualified accountants, doctors and renowned social workers in their respective countries   

A dinner was hosted by MASL President Dr. Haroon Admani at his residence where over 300 guests including the WMO delegates, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives and a large number of the community members were present.

Saturday 20th May 2006 morning session: Ceremony and Celebrations of 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee), Launching of the book "Memons of Srilanka", Distribution of Awards of Appreciation to the founder members and Past President of the MASL and inauguration of the 4th Annual General Meeting of the WMO. 

His Excellency the Prime Minister of Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka Ratnasiri Wickremanayke had agreed to be the Chief Guest but due to his indisposition caused by an accidental fall and under medical advice he regretted his inability to attend. He (the PM) however, nominated senior minister His Excellency the Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Rohitha Bogollagama  and requested him to be the Chief Guest at the ceremony. In his statement that was read out by His Excellency Rohitha Bogollagama the Prime  Minister paid glowing tributes to the Memon Community in Srilanka acknowledging that it has been playing an important role in the development of the country. He also thanked the community for the help extended when the deadly tsumani disaster struck the island in December 2004 saying that memons were among the first to come up with relief.

The Chief Guest congratulated community on completion of 50 years of their association MASL and hosting the 4th Annual General Meeting of the WMO .  

The WMO and MASL President presented to the Chief guest the first copy of the book Memons In Srilanka compiled by Asif Hussein and Hameed Karim Bhoja. The book was also distributed  amongst special invitees. Both authors of the book were felicitated with the awards presented by the Chief Guest together with the WMO and MASL President.

Welcome address was delivered by M H Omar past President of MASL and Vice President WMO South Asia Chapter.

Haji Adul Razzak Yaqoob President of the WMO in his brief speech asked members of the Community to be loyal to the country they are citizens of and contribute towards its development not forgetting their duty and responsibility to unite, uphold and uplift the community. He urged them to keep their identity by speaking  memon language at home so as their children learn and  speak the same language.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie Deputy President in his address briefly introduced the concept of the WMO  its aims, objectives and mission.

Dr. Haroon Admani President MASL presented a video on Zakat and Housing Projects giving details of the houses purchased/renovated by the association and donated for use to the distressed families in Srilanka. He announced that MASL has initiated a new project of building 100 hoses at a cost of US$ One million. While local community members have contributed US$ half million he requested WMO to contribute the remaining half a million so as the  project may be completed as soon as possible. 

Another video was shown on Memon Women that exhibited  achievements of ladies in Srilanka in various fields of social work, business and education. 

A documentary video produced by the Pakistan chapter was played. That exhibited the 1st and 2nd International Convention held in Dubai where official formation of the WMO was initiated and approved. It also highlighted the proceedings at the past 3 AGMs and relief work undertaken for October 2005 earthquake victims in Pakistan . This is a good beginning and the video will be updated with details of  each meeting and other important events and activities in future. Abdul Hamid Tayyab Suriya and presented by Abdul Sattat H. Muhammad Jakhura. A copy of the video was distributed to all those who attended the ceremony. President of the WMO and MASL awarded medals to the writer and presenter of the video.

The morning session concluded with a vote of thanks by Shahid Sanghani Chairman Organising committee of MASL. Shahid thanked Board Members of the WMO for accepting the invitastion to hold its 4th AGM in Colombo that coincided with the celebrations of the 50yh Anniversary of the MASL. he also thanked the MASL President, Vice President, General Secretary and other executives for their guidance and the volunteers for extending their support help and co-operation in making the arrangements well.

Attendees were served with sumptuous buffet lunch at King's Court of the hotel.

Immediately after Zuhar prayers and lunch Agenda of the 4th AGM were conducted..

Elections were held for Middle East Chapter where 7 candidates had filed nomination for 5 seats allocated. Elections were held by secret ballot and those  members of the chapter who were present cast their votes in person.

From India chapter no one had filed nomination form. About 15 observers from that ( India ) chapter gave a list of names to the Board of management requesting them to nominate  the person they (Board members) may deem appropriate and make choice of.

Membership drive was launched that had very encouraging response form the community members of Srilanka. Immediately 3 members offered to become Trustees; later the number increased to 6. Many others joined as Life and Annual member. MASL officials will collect the membership forms, collect the fee  and advise the name and contact details later.  

4th AGM was concluded with Dua'a.

A dinner was hosted by M H Omar, Elyas Abdul Kareem and Abdul Sattar Kassim at Poolside of the hotel; ladies were served at Safron Terrace.

Sunday 21st May first meeting of the new board of management was held chaired jointly by Nawsad A Gani of Europe and Pir Mohammad Kalia of Pakistan chapter.

Following Office bearers were elected:

• President Haji Abdul Razzak Yaqoob (UAE)

• Deputy President Sir Iqbal Sacranie ( UK )

• Secretary General Abba Ali Yusuf ( UK )

• Deputy Secretary General Mohammed Yasin Saya ( Pakistan )

• Treasurer Muhammed Yusuf Adil ( Pakistan )

• Deputy Treasurer Abdul Wahid Aboo ( Kenya Africa )

Africa chapter

• Vice President (VP) Abdul Sattar Dada

• Assistant Secretary General (ASG) Feizul Ayub

Europe chapter

• VP Nawsad A Gani

• ASG Dr Ismail Harunani

India

• VP Abdul Latif Haji Hakam

• ASG to be announced/nominated later after consultations

Middle East

• VP Aboobaker Cassim

• ASG Muhammed Rafiq Noorani

Pakistan

• VP Pir Mohammad Kalia

• ASG Shoaib Ismail

USA & North America

• VP Yusuf Tar

• ASG to be announced/nominated after completing the management structure of the chapter 

Other (including South East Asia and Far East countries)

• M H Omar

• Asharaf Sattar Sayani

Ladies Wing

• Chair Person Hamida Bai Bhiwandiwala

• Deputy Chair Person Shabana Razak  

Following the conclusion of the first  meeting of the newly elected board a lunch was hosted by the Memon Association of Srilanka at its hall where the WMO President inaugurated the MASL website designed by  young  Imran Pakhali. More than 500 guests attended the lunch and ceremony.

His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Plan Implementation Hussein A. Bhaila hosted the dinner at Crystal Ball room Taj Samudra Hotel. There again Ministers, Senior Government officials and media representatives were present and interacted with  the WMO delegates.The host Hussein A. Bhaila welcomed the invitees and the WMO President delivered a brief speech.

Overall the meetings and events were well attended and achieved the success.