President visits ailing friend's abode

Sudath SILVA

BADDEGAMA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa who visited Baddegama to pay his last respects to Punyawathie Gunasinghe, mother of Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda, was informed by some associates present about an old Muslim friend of the President, Al Haj Mubarak who was ailing.

On his return journey to Colombo, the President did not fail to drop into the home of his close friend for over 20 years, at 23, St. Anne's Road, Beruwela. Taken back by this sudden visit of the Head of State, the Mubarak family welcomed the President with joy.

The President recalled to the family, the days when he as MP, Minister and then Prime Minister would step in to their home whenever he visited his electorate in the South and exchanged friendly banter with his pal.

President Rajapaksa who stayed for nearly one hour at the Mubarak home, moved freely with the family members and also enjoyed a cup of tea served by his hosts.

On leaving the Mubarak home, the President also visited the homes of three other Muslim friends, Al Haj Hussein, Al Haj Nauser Jabir and Al Haj Faleel Hadjiar in the same area. The President was accompanied by Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Provincial Councillor Nauzer Fowzie.