In a Peaceful Manner

Staff Report, "Sufi Saint Abdullah’s birthday celebrated in Kattankudy amidst tight security provided by armed forces" - Asian Tribune - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Friday August 8, 2008

All Ceylon Thareekathul Mufliheen, a Sufi Order, celebrated the 84th birth of Sufi Saint Sheihul Mufleen M.S.M Abdullah (RA) recently at Kattankudy, in the Batticaloa district, with the deployment of a large contingent of Police, Army and STF personnel in Kattankudy.

Sheihul Mufliheen M.S.M Abdullah (Ra) passed away on 6th December, 2006, at a private hospital in Colombo. In keeping with his wish the body of the spiritual leader was taken to the Head Office by his followers and intermitted according to Islamic rights.

But a group of religious extremists opposed to this organization, on hearing funeral ceremony M.S.M Abdullah (Ra) held in Kattankudy, instigated the people of Kattankudy to protest against this burial and inflicted enormous damage to public and private property and in particular over a hundred abodes of the followers were damaged and set ablaze.

This violent situation lasted throughout a week. The body of the spiritual leader was exhumed and taken away from the burial site in the pretext of demolishing an unauthorized building, the fate of which is yet unknown.

M.C.A. Hameed, President of the All Ceylon Thareekathul Mufliheen told Asian Tribune that to seek justice for this inhuman act, a Fundamental Rights Case No. SC/FR 200/2007 was filed with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

The verdict was given on the 2nd July, 2008 by the Supreme Court presided by Justice Sarath N Silva, Justice J. Balapatabendi & Justice J. Dissanayake to those displaced to return back to Kattankudy and conduct their activities as in the past.

Accordingly hundreds Sufi Muslims went to Kattankudy and held the annual feast and the 84th birth anniversary on the 24th July, 2008.

A large gathering of Muslim and Tamil populace participated at the feast.
With the deployment of a large contingent of Police, Army and STF personnel in Kattankudy the feast ended in a peaceful manner.

Mr. Hamid said, All Ceylon Thareekathul Mufliheen is a Sufi Order, founded 35 years ago by the spiritual leader Sheihul Mufliheen M.S.M. Abdullah (Ra).
The Head Office is located in Kattankudy with branches in other parts of the country.

He stressed that members of this organization strictly follow a non-violent spiritual path to achieve eternal peace and tranquility, self-realization or union with God through contemplation, meditation and purification of mind.

[Picture: Celebrations held in Kattankudy. Photo: Asian Tribune].