Death of M.P.M. Azhar Chief Editor of Nawamani

The sudden death of Al Haj M.P.M. Azhar Chief Editor of the Tamil Weekly “Nawamani” removes from the Sri Lankan journalistic world a veteran and the most senior Muslim media man, states a condolence message issued by Al Haj A.H.M. Azwer, President Advisor.

Mr. Azhar established a record in covering parliamentary proceedings continuously for 25 years for Dinapahty and Virakesari. He was a celebrated column-writer in both these papers before commencing publication of “Navamani”.

He was a rare journalist, who true to his conscious but pen to paper without being influenced by any evil forces and could not be lured by gains monitory.

May Allah grant him Jennathul Firdous! concludes Mr. Azwer in his message.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan Ambassador in Iran M.M. Zahair PC, issuing condolence message said. News of the sudden death yesterday of Al-Haj M.P.M. Azhar, Editor of the well-known Tamil language weekly ‘Navamani’ came as a rude shock, given his presence at a book releasing ceremony in Colombo only the previous evening.

A respected intellectual, Azhar Hadji was an accomplished writer and brought up ‘Navamani’ as one of the most popular weekly newspapers in Tamil reflecting primarily Muslim opinion.

The death of Azhar Hadji removes from our midst, a prominent Muslim journalist, who contributed effectively and relentlessly to echoing the Muslim viewpoint, without allowing it to get submerged in the Tamil view- point, during a period which saw, following the rise of the LTTE, the emergence of endless issues based on conflicting ethnic view-points. His Janaza took place at Maligawatta Muslim Burial Grounds yesterday.