My eldest brother the proprietor of Simayas, Dickwella, Al Haj M.H.M. Fahurudeen passed away peacefully at Durdans Private Hospital, Kollupitiya recently.
Simaya is a household name in the Southern province due to a number of various trades he was involved in namely textiles, building materials, gift electrical items, export of garments, transport etc ably assisted by his younger brothers. In short he was a colossus among the businessmen in the Southern province for the last four decades.
He moved with the most influential and powerful persons in the country both politically and socially while not forgetting the ordinary people in the district of Matara.
Though he belonged to the Moor community, he treated the members of the majority community as his own and kith and kin.
He helped generously those who needed his assistance irrespective of race, caste or creed. He helped and participated in all the religious, social and educational activities of both Buddhists and Muslims. He also took special interest in renovating the Dickwella Jummah Mosque, spending a huge sum of money. It stands out as a monument to his meritorious act.
He was a good and dedicated family man looking after his loyal wife and devoted children.
They all stood by him in both happiness and distress. They all were by his side when he breathed his last at the hospital.
I am failing in my duty if I do not mention his four affectionate daughters and sons-in-law, one expert involved in gem export, medical doctor, a chartered accountant, and an engineer who look special interest in caring him till the very last moment.
During his last few years he became more interested in the welfare of his close relatives and often inquired about their day to day life whenever he was visited by them, complaining about his own health problems and recalling his past business experiences and achievements. He was extra ordinarily kind, generous and gentle to everybody who visited him.
The vast crowd belonging to all communities that thronged his daughters’ residence at Nelson Place, Wellawatte and the Dehiwala Jummah Mosque is a testimony to the esteem and respect they had for him.
May Allah bestow on him
Jennathul Firdouse.
Al Haj M.H.M. Shamsudeen,
Former Deputy Director of Education.