Culture & Heritage

Muslim weddings are joyous occasions as they celebrate the coming together of man and wife which is the very foundation of the family and of human civilization. Muslim marriages are based on the mutual consent of bride and groom in the presence of witnesses. Although the bride is usually given away by her guardian, usually her father or brother, it …

The staple fare of the Moors of Sri Lanka is rice which is consumed with a number of curries or side dishes. The traditional Moorish dishes given below figure on special and festive occasions.   BURIYANI   A favourite rice dish which figures prominently in Moorish feasts is the buriyani, a rich and delectable dish that has its origins in Moghul …

The Malays of Sri Lanka who were brought over during the period of Dutch rule in the country, practice a number of traditional customs derived from both Islamic practice and long-cherished Malay cultural traditions that evolved in Indonesia and Malaysia. Here are the main ones marking the main landmarks of life.   BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD   The birth customs of …

Depicting a scene in the hospital at Cordóba, then in Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain), this 1883 illustration shows the famed physician Al-Zahrawi (called Abulcasis in the West) attending to a patient while his assistant carries a box of medicines (photo: Science Photo Library/Sheila Terry). Contents 1 Asylum of the Sick 2 The First Hospitals 3 Mobile Dispensaries 4 Permanent Hospitals 5 Organization 6 Patient Care 7 Young Frenchman’s …

Late Dr. A.C.S. Hameed entered Sri Lankan legislature in March 1960, Representing Harispattuwa constituency, in the Central Province.   He had been in Parliament winning 8 elections for a continuous period of 39 years from 1960 to 1999.  This was one of the longest unbroken Parliamentary records of a member of the U.N.P.  He passed away on September 3, 1999 after …