Akkaraipattu builds research center in honour of Researcher Marhoom M.I.M Mohideen. By Latheef Farook

The Marhoom M.I.M.Mohideen Research & Documentation Centre  in Akkaraipattu was ceremonially opened by Chairman of the Governing Body of the The Marhoom M.I.M.Mohideen Research & Documentation Centre (MRDC) Engineer Jahfar M Ismail on 30th September, 2022.  The centre was established on the efforts of late M.I.M. Mohideen’s  colleagues, contemporaries and  relatives.

Late Mohideen is a well known researcher, popular writer and a reputed analyst in Sri Lanka.

“The Centre is open to the general public to use the enormous amount of late Mohideen’s research findings, statistics, data for those interested to utilize them for various purposes  including research works. Those who want to use the materials and copy them can do so free of charge” the Centre Chief Executive Officer Siraj Mashoor said.

Born in Akkaraipattu in the East and married to Khairul Inaya, daughter of prominent Colombo businessman and deputy President of All Ceylon Muslim League Marhoom M.A.C.M.Saleh, well known researcher and political activist M .I. M. Mohideen passed away recently at the age of 84.

It was this close association and political activities made him to become the general secretary of All Ceylon Muslim League headed by Dr M.C.M.Kaleel. 

Besides other activities serving the community Mohideen’s specialty has been to document Muslim issues from land issues in the north and east, northern Muslim refugees and the plight of Muslim Tsunami victims. As the Director of all Ceylon Muslim Documentation Centre he has painstakingly documented the atrocities committed to Muslims during the three decades of ethnic war.  

In the wake of December 2004 devastating tsunami he prepared an extensive document on the destructions to Muslim areas in the east of the island. His Muslim Reconstruction and Resettlement Organization, MRRO, conducted an assessment survey of the damages to persons, residences and occupations of the Tsunami affected Muslims in the eastern Province.

As part of this program he interviewed more than 72,000 Muslim victims of LTTE atrocities and tsunami victims. This document provides vivid details of government discrimination against Muslim tsunami victims. One of the most valuable documents made by him was on the topic of land issues of especially Muslims in the east.

The atrocities committed by both the government and the LTTE to Mutur Muslims during the eight day  war,1-8 August 2006, was   documented in his work “ Battle of Muthur-Ethnic Cleansing and Massacre of Muslims”.

He is the brother in law and well known activist Mamoun Saleh who was forced to settle down in Californian after his family business, M.A.C.M.Saleh & Sons at Bristol Building in Colombo Fort was burnt down during the July 1983 riots and reduced overnight to penury.

Mohideen is no more, but left his legacy in the form of his research works which for     generations to come help the community destined to live in the midst of racist elements backed by foreign Islamophic forces. Mohideen has been a great asset to the community which failed to recognize his hard work.