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| Wednesday, 17 March 2004 |
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Sports | |
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Appreciation : Huthaifa Halimdeen When the late Gamini Dissanayake promised the impossible: to get the Asgiriya grounds reconstructed to an International Cricket Stadium standard in a very short timeframe, he did not have too far to go to identify the man he needed: for there was Huthaifa Halimdeen. The rest is history. When Nihal Wijesuriya decided to build a Sports Club for Trinitians at the Asgiriya grounds, his only choice for managing the project was Huthaifa. Again, the rest is history. Successive Presidents of Trinity's Old Boys' Association, took on the mantle of office with the assurance that Huthaifa will be the moving spirit. Be it Senator B. H. Dunuwille, Madawela Dissawe, M. D. H. Jayawardena, E. L. Senanayake, Hector Kobbekaduwa, Willie Ratnavale, Neville Samarakoon or Kavan Rambukwella all of whom regretfully departed they counted so much on Huthaifa's unparalled abilities and unstinted commitment. The dependency went on, with subsequent Presidents too, upto the time of his passing away. I recall the time when the late Attorney Lakshman Wijegoonewardena perhaps the longest serving Secretary of the Association - wanted to call it quits. He was coaxed to stay on with the assurance that Huthaifa will function as the de facto Secretary. Together with such dedicated personalities as Harry Goonetileke, Huthaifa took on the challenge of transforming the traditionally conservative town of Kandy with the much renowned annual social event - the "Rugger Ball" that follows the Brady Shield match. While management and logistics was his forte. I cannot recall anyone in the long history of Trinity who strove so hard, for so long, with such success as Huthaifa did in raising funds for the college. His tenacity was such that those who were parsimonious would slip by or look askance when Huthaifa was sighted! But those who contributed in small and big amounts for the College did so because of the passion he displayed for the cause, for his integrity and public accountability. I know this for a fact for I was closely associated with him, over many years, in fund-raising events. He was a stickler for details and timely accounts. In whatever he undertook to do he practised, step by step, the grammar of efficiency and effectiveness - be in running the affairs of the OBA or a political campaign, as Harinda Dunuwille his great friend will vouch. He had a unbroken record of having served for a continuous period of half a century in one capacity or another, including that of Vice-President, in the Old Boys' Association - an achievement that was recognised and feted during the "Night of the Lions" event a few years ago. While the wings of history leave many a person behind and forgotten, Huthaifa however, lived a life that was so inherently associated with Trinity that one could say that much of his own history was so tightly linked to the history and events of Trinity far beyond half a century. He displayed the same passion when he was a Trustee of the Mosque down, what was then called, King's Street. He was devoted to the poor and unbefriended. Their cause was his concern. And so he brought joy to a countless number of people, young and old. In a fitting tribute he paid to his Master for the blessings bestowed on him, Huthaifa undertook the Haj Pilgrimage a few years ago. We pray that the Almighty rewards him with paradisiacal bliss for his faith, service to the community, and for being the gentleman and good Samaritan he was. M. V. MUHSIN, |
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