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| Friday, 11 June 2004 |
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All Ceylon Y.M.M.A. Conference - the premier Muslim youth organization by Rasheed M. Imthiyaz All Ceylon Young Men's Muslim Association the premier Muslim youth, non governmental organization in Sri Lanka conducts its 54th annual convention on June 13 at Bank of Ceylon headquarters auditorium, Colombo 1. Iskandar Sarudin, High Commissioner of Malaysia, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest and Saleem Marsoof P.C, President, Court of Appeal will be Guest of Honour. All Ceylon Young Men's Muslim Association has completed 54 years of service to the community and the nation and is marching towards its centenary. Young Men's Muslim Associations have been functioning in Sri Lanka from the early part of the 20th century. The YMMA Mutwal, Colombo, the first one formed in 1917, is almost 87 years old. On April 2nd 1950, late Dr. A. M. A. Azeez organized a meeting which was held at Zahira College and representatives of the YMMAs of Aluthkade, Central, Kuruwe Street, Maligawatte and Mutwal participated. They unanimously decided to inaugurate the All Ceylon YMMA Conference, with the objective of coordinating all existing YMMAs in Sri Lanka. April 30, 1950 was a memorable day for the Muslim youth of this country. The inaugural meeting of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference was held on that day at Zahira College, Colombo. Dr. A. M. A. Azeez chaired the meeting, Sixty seven delegates from 17 YMMAs were present. This inaugural meeting was a turning point in welding all YMMAs together to stabilise the YMMA movement and the All Ceylon YMMA Conference came into existence. Today it has completed 54 years of service to the community and the nation as the premier Muslim youth, non governmental organization in Sri Lanka. From 1950 to date several youngsters have taken up leadership positions in the organization. Annual general, meetings are held every year in time without interruption and elections are held in a democratic manner by secret ballot. To date 40 Presidents have taken the leadership. They are elected to high office not for their status but for their service. Not for their wealth but for their worth. About 60 branch YMMAs from various part of the country are expected to participate in this year's annual convention. The main feature of the programme is the presentation of the annual report by the Secretary followed by the awards ceremony. These awards are presented to branches and individuals who have performed some service. In the recent past, specially during the tenure (year 2002/2003) of the present Executive Committee of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference, under the leadership of Ashroff Rumi, National President several activities for the benefit of the youths were implemented. In the field religious activities, the Meelad Day celebrations together with its annual publication. "On the Life and Times of Holy Prophet Muhammed" took a leading place. Residential Leadership Training is an important feature of YMMA activities. A Leadership Training Camp for the benefit of young women in the Eastern Province at Akkaraipattu was launched. Project Chairman K. N. Deen has been very successful in conducting this project. Our Regional Administration and Training Centre in Bammanna, Kurunegala is the nerve centre for all the branches in the Kurunegala region where we hold almost all the Training camps. This could cater to fifty trainees with fully fledged trainers quarters. Apart from that a massive cultivation project is carried out. Jiffry Haniffa is the Chairman of the Bammanna Training Centre. All Ceylon YMMA Conference is planning to make this centre a full time residential vocational and training centre for the benefit of the youths of Sri Lanka. Educational scholarships are another important feature of the Association where poor and needy students are granted cash awards so that they do not drop out from school due to poverty. Advanced Level and university students are given Rs. 750 and Rs. 1,000 respectively per month for the entire period of their educational career 107 educational scholarships will be awarded on 12th June when the all island branch YMMAs gather at the Central Council meeting. Nadvi Bahaudeen, Chairman, education project, has been very instrumental in getting a large number of funds from the well-to-do who have assured continuous funding to this project. An anti-drug programme under the theme "Towards a Drug Free Society" was another feature of All Ceylon YMMA Conference activities. A large number of young boys are invited to participate in an anti drug workshop. A comprehensive four day workshop on the theme of "Enhancing Life Skills" was held at Bammanna, Kurunegala which was sponsored by the Colombo Plan with the kind courtesy of Tay Bian How, Director, Drug Advisory Programme of the Colombo Plan, Iflal Abdullah, chairman of this committee took an active part for the successful implementation of the project. |
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