COMING TOGETHER: The SLFC hosted Sri Lankan Muslim Majlis members for Iftar.

By Umer Nangiana


In a first, one of the most active Sri Lankan community organisations, Sri Lankan Friends’ Club (SLFC) recently hosted Qatar-based Sri Lankan Muslims at an Iftar party organised at Stafford Sri Lankan International School.
A large number of Sri Lankan Muslims attended the party. The guests were served traditional Sri Lankan food. Biryani, a regular feature at all gatherings hosted by communities from the sub-continent, was also on the menu.
The hosts and the guests sat on one giant table and following the tradition, broke their fasts together.  
“The main aim for organising the event is to strengthen the communal harmony, enhance mutual understanding and promote friendship among different Sri Lankan nationalities living in Doha,” said Nandika Jayashantha, the President of SLFC.
It was the first time ever that SLFC had organised an Iftar party for their Muslim compatriots from Sri Lankan Majlis Qatar (SMLQ) in Doha. However, the club remains active in other community activities throughout the year. SLFC provides support to all national and public events conducted by Sri Lankans in Qatar with the aim of enhancing the Sri Lankan image in Qatar.
Besides organising sports, recreational and social welfare activities in Doha, the club also takes part in events of national importance for Sri Lankan community.
Last year, it was an important member of the organising committee that held the largest public celebration for Sri Lankan expatriates, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Bak Maha Ulela 2014). The New Year marks the harvest of a year’s hard work, ploughing of fields for a new crop that is reckoned to bring prosperity and growth. A host of activities were organised for Sri Lankan expatriates in Qatar, who flocked to Al Sadd Sports Club in large numbers to partake in a day-long recreation comprising Sri Lankan games, played to the beat of traditional songs and ballads.
The recent Iftar for SMLQ members was organised in line SLFC’s objective of improving the communal harmony among Sri Lankans. Kumudu Fonseka, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sri Lankan school in Qatar, also participated.
Rzan Moulana, who represented SLMQ, appreciated the initiative by the club and assured his organisation’s full support for such events in future as well. “We will not hesitate to support the activities organised by the club in future and we believe that this will in turn strengthen the ties among different Sri Lankan nationalities living in Doha and outside,” said Moulana.
Founded in 2001 on the 1st day of Ramadan, SLMQ aims at bringing Sri Lankan families living in Qatar together.
Some of SLMQ’s recent activities include a competition in drawing, colouring, essay writing and public speaking to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day. The competition was open to all Sri Lankan children in Qatar.
SLMQ also hosted a cookery show for the community members last year at Tariq Bin Ziad Independent School. The event included a live salad demo, Lecture on Healthy Living and Nutrition, Quiz, Kids programme and football for men.