While the proposed burqa ban threatens to take away the fundamental rights of some Muslim women, the true victim of this debate has been women’s rights activists. By actively supporting this ban it has become obvious that these activists are hypocrites whose sole purpose is to oppress non-western women, and impose foreign sensibilities on them through any means possible, even if that means becoming a hypocrite to the very principles of freedom that they so passionately keep blabbing about in the media.

By actively supporting this ban it has become obvious that these [women's rights] activists are hypocrites whose sole purpose is to oppress non-western women...

Excuses such as difficulty in communicating, and security concerns are weak at best, and the Covid-19 pandemic with its compulsory face mask requirement has further shown that the reasons presented to ban the burqa are without a shred of merit. It is no wonder that many believe the pandemic is an act of God, that has rendered the case against the burqa, completely void. Many non-Muslims have now come to the conclusion that face coverings of any kind are not the “great barrier” that these women’s rights activists claim it to be. The article that appears here, discusses this to great merit.

...the Covid-19 pandemic with its compulsory face mask requirement has further shown that the reasons presented to ban the burqa are without a shred of merit.

The burqa maybe worn by only a few women, but defending their right to do so is the responsibility of our entire community and the greater country. If we fail to secure the rights of these women, the threat to our rights in the future will be overwhelming. In addition, we must consider the threat posed to women by these women’s rights groups, and ensure that these groups respect the opinion of the women they claim to represent without allowing them to hijack the voice of the women folk to further their agenda.

If we fail to secure the rights of these women, the threat to our rights in the future will be overwhelming.

The ICCPR, is an agreement by all members of the United Nations, about a civilian's right to political opinion. This agreement puts in place multiple safeguards to ensure that citizens are not persecuted due to their political opinions or beliefs. Along with granting civilians their rights to freedom of expression, there are also some important restrictions that this covenant puts in place.

The first of these restrictions appear in Article 19, which states that free speech is only allowed as long as it -

1. respects the rights or reputations of others, 
2. protects national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals. 

Article 20 explicitly prohibits -

1. any propaganda for war
2. advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

If any of your social media posts contains any of the above, you are liable for arrest and prosecution by law enforcement. As a matter of fact, the ICCPR has been cited in several arrests in recent time of people who have made inappropriate social media posts.

Therefore, before you post anything online or on social media, ask yourself, whether your message contains any of the above. If it does, remove it immediately. 

Young adults and teenagers are extremely prone to outbursts on social media, and therefore you should educate them about the restrictions in the ICCPR and advise them that political discussions on social media are best avoided.

You can read the text of the covenant here.

The COVID-19 pandemic is receding, and as the world emerges from their homes, they will face a new, and possibly an even more difficult challenge, and that is the economy. The economies of many countries are in shreds, more so countries like Sri Lanka, where a large part of the national income is based on tourism and exports. Therefore, we must be alert and take economic precautions to make sure we are safe from financial difficulties.

Tourism is unlikely to bounce back to its former glory anytime soon. PCR/Antigen tests are very uncomfortable, and they are likely to be made compulsory for any traveler in the future. This is enough to change the mind of anyone considering a holiday in Sri Lanka. A single trip may require more than one PCR test. One test when you are departing your home country, and one test when you land at your destination. Travelers are bound to think twice before booking flights solely due to this.

As developed nations begin to spend on vaccines and medical research, their budget for third world economies will shrink. This will reduce the number of tax concessions, and reduction in export volumes for a little while, causing big deficits in our earnings. Exports are the primary source of foreign exchange for our nation, and without the dollars rolling in, everything will go up in price.

Therefore, 2021 is a bad year for luxury purchases. Lock-downs have not completely gone away, and you may be unlucky enough to face one yourself. So, be thrifty with your funds, and retain as much as you can to take care of important expenses. If you have children this is a good time to talk about this with them.  

Sri Lanka imports almost all of its Turmeric from India. It’s a spice that is high in demand in the country. In 2019 the Sri Lankan government temporarily halted import of Turmeric, to allow local agricultural development. Since this spice is widely used in the country, it seems sensible to try and produce it locally. 

However, Sri Lankan Turmeric production still falls short of island-wide demand. Without Indian imports to make up for the deficit, Turmeric is now increasing in price within the market. These high prices are good for farmers who are starting to grow Turmeric. Early income will allow them to develop their crop and increase their supply.

High demand for Turmeric not only attracts farmers, it also attracting smugglers. High market price has made smuggling Turmeric into the country very profitable. Therefore, quite unsurprisingly criminal organizations, and ambitious importers have risked getting caught by law enforcement to smuggle this spice into the country. Poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is also pushing people into these illegal and risky ventures.

Turmeric has ready demand in Sri Lanka. It is a spice used in every Sri Lankan kitchen. It is used as an anti-microbial in preparing food items. The Tamil community have several traditional uses for this spice apart from food preparation. It is widely used in cleansing the home and the body and as such this community is a large consumer of Turmeric.

If you are interested in starting Turmeric production of your own, visit this page from the Department of Export Agriculture for some helpful information about the crop.

 The entirety of 2020 was spent with confusion and uncertainty. Some of us felt it more than others. Many of us are trying to forget that awful year and are eager to get back to the "old normal". Doing so is a huge gamble and is best avoided. Instead, let us take a hint from the experts who have dubbed the current situation the "new normal", and embrace it for what it is.

One thing that should change immediately is how we spend our free time. Avoid attending crowded places, such as public parks and recreation spaces. These places are under the watchful eye of the Public Health Units (PHU) and quite possibly the military. Random checks can be carried out, and the resulting inconvenience may not be worth it. This is obviously a secondary concern to contracting COVID-19 yourself. The PHU’s random testing at Galle Face in Colombo should serve as a stark warning.

Continuing the theme of avoiding large gatherings, please refrain from hosting any functions at your home that involves a large number of people, such that the crowd is visible from the outside. Weddings and Walimas are best conducted discreetly, with a minimum number of people attending the function. Contact tracing is real, and should a person that attended the function test positive for COVID-19 the family and the couple may also be inconvenienced.

Finally, there has never been a better time to take a good hard look at your finances. If you are a salaried person, remember the golden rule of having three month’s salary in the bank and one month’s salary in the hand. COVID-19 has a friend, and that friend is called poverty. This last one is probably the trickiest. It is unfortunate that many of our people live from a salary out of pocket. But if there was ever a good time to change, that would be now.

This article only speaks of the precautions above because they are the most likely to be forgotten. Obviously, all other precautions such as washing your hands and so on, must be adhered to. 2020 took us all by surprise, so let’s be a little restrained in 2021 until we see how things unfold.

Its been a year since Sri Lankans lost their ability to secure the rights of their dead. Many have already been lost to the fire, and still more are given an undignified and uncertain stay inside morgue freezers. As the fundamental rights of our people are being eroded, it is important to note who, from this so-called global Ummah, has came to our assistance. The sad truth is, only a very few. The only people to raise any kind of action have been from a few of our own brethren in Britain and similar countries.

Therefore, seek unity within the community. The Muslim community of our blessed island welcomes diversity, but let not that diversity allow the crows of evil to pick us out individually and destroy us collectively. Being part of a global community or Ummah is a great thing! But it is not the safety net that we thought it was. Mobilizing such a large group is complex, and for a small community like ours, it is too slow to be of use at a time of crisis. 2020 was a great teacher, and it taught us that the term “api wennuwen api”, is not just for the Singhalese.

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan,

Small litter collectors, like the one in the image, will go a long way in keeping our city clean. Ibn Serendib found this one just outside the Havelock post office on Dickman’s road (or Lester James Pieris Mawatha) in Colombo, near some convenience stores where he made a purchase. The effect of its presence is clearly visible in the surrounding area as he didn’t see a single piece of litter on the ground. He feels that if more of these facilities are available around the city, our battle with garbage will be an easier one.


Blaming citizens for littering is easy. In principal we all should not litter. But in our modern consumer-oriented lifestyle, every little purchase we make gives us packaging that we must discard. We could hold on to it if we had confidence a trash can would be nearby, but to this day, you will have to go a long way before you will encounter one. Therefore, the less disciplined amongst us are easily tempted to litter. Problems are best tackled with solutions rather than blame, and these types of small litter bins are ideal to combat our littering problem. The cleanliness around this bin shows us that people are not simply sloppy and will make use of a solution if it is available.

Problems are best tackled with solutions rather than blame ...

The bin in the picture is made of flimsy plastic, so probably doesn’t cost more than a hundred Serendib coins to produce. We have light poles all over the place, so they can be installed there. There are already people who go around our streets to sweep, so they would find it a whole lot easier to empty a series of these bins, rather than sweeping litter off the ground. And the net effect of all of these things will be a cleaner city and country for us and our children.

Therefore, if the esteemed reader has a few moments to spare, draft a letter to our honorable Rosy. Tell her that the Colombo Municipal Council is doing something right by installing these bins, and how much you appreciate them. Every letter counts, and who knows, maybe our tax coins will finally work for us.

... draft a letter to our honorable Rosy. Tell her that the Colombo Municipal Council is doing something right by installing these bins ...

Cleanliness is half of our dheen, and may Allah bless us with it!

Motorcycles are a cost-effective means of transport, and widely used by the Saraceni as a family vehicle. Many Saraceni use it to get to work, take their children to school, and perform domestic chores on a daily basis. On open roads, the motorcycle is a breeze to operate, but in congested traffic the experience quickly turns challenging, because a motorcycle needs to keep moving to remain stable. The risky maneuvers we see some motorcyclists take seem fool-hardy for a person in a three-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle, but that is because we find it hard to empathize with a motorcyclist’s concerns.


A motorcycle is easy to ride when it is going at a high speed, however as mentioned earlier, it becomes highly unstable when going at slower speeds. The lesser the speed, the harder the balance, and if there is a passenger, it becomes an even bigger challenge. The speed at which normal traffic moves during rush hour, can make a motorcyclist’s ride very unpleasant, especially if they are tired after work, as they have to put extra effort into balance. If a motorcycle has to come to a complete stop, then the weight of the vehicle rests on the rider’s legs, and this can become quite painful when repeated many times. This is why motorcyclists try to keep moving, through traffic taking advantage of any gap between vehicles, so that they can maintain speed and motion.

Therefore, dear Saracen, if you are fortunate enough to own a four wheeled vehicle, where stopping and speeding up is comfortable and kind on your body, empathize with the motorcyclist, who does not have that facility. He travels in the hot sun exposed to the elements, and the noxious fumes emitted by other vehicles such as yours. Being kind to his ways will earn Allah’s kindness for you. If you see a motorcyclist behind you, acknowledge him, and give him room to pass, as you continue at a slower speed. When changing lanes, always consult the side mirrors and make sure you are not cutting off a motorcyclist trying to move forward. Your attention to another’s safety, will ensure Allah’s assistance to your own.

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

M.C. Siddhi Lebbe is a beloved national hero, and father to the Saracen. The esteemed reader can enjoy a summarized biography of the man in our post titled "181st birth anniversary of our national hero, M.C. Siddi Lebbe" by Fazli Sameer; while this post will discuss his message, which is as relevant today as it was all those years ago. Much of Siddhi Lebbe’s thoughts and advice are documented in the Muslim Nesan (مسليم نشن), his weekly publication and the inspiration for the Serendib Nesan. Ibn Serendib highly recommends giving the Muslim Nesan a read, if a copy is accessible.


The importance of education is probably the most prominent subject in Siddhi Lebbe’s message. He stressed the need to educate the Saracen, and backed up his call by founding numerous schools, of which, Zahira College is the most prominent. An educated population is not only financially stable, but resilient to outside interference. Education is essential in understanding the complex world we live in, and in responding to the numerous challenges that we face. In the information age, the biggest threat to our community is misguidance. Leading people astray is such a destructive tool that it is the Shaithan’s favorite and therefore creating a community that can act intelligently is of utmost importance.

The importance of education is probably the most prominent subject ...

The lack of penmanship, and media publications within our community is a large void, something Siddhi Lebbe tried to fill with the publication of the “Muslim Nesan”. The Saraceni have firsthand experience on how mainstream media in this country, pervasively neglected our side of the story, and proceeded to add insult to injury during the aftermath of April’s tragedy. The Saraceni were unable to counter them, and the mis-informers took the opportunity to highjack our voice. Therefore, in a world where public opinion is governed by media, the Saraceni should invest in this area, so our community can stand up for itself. Media is an important tool to keep our people educated and informed of current affairs, so they are better prepared for any eventuality.

The Saraceni have firsthand experience on how mainstream media in this country, pervasively neglected our side of the story ...

Siddhi Lebbe urged the Saracen to hold on to their culture, and as a part of that learn and use Arabic more frequently. Our culture is the safety net for our people, born and unborn. It is a pillar of our identity, which is key to our survival in this country. More than a century ago, Siddhi Lebbe saw a threat to the Arabic language, and how people will try to oppose it, by virtue that the Saracen do not speak it. That threat has been realized today, as the some have called for the removal of all Arabic signage. At present this is implemented only for street names, but their call is general, and in time it will extend to even private usage of the Arabic language if we continue the way we are. If the Arabic language is demonized in this way, the Al-Quran will be the next target, and that will be catastrophic to our religion.

... Siddhi Lebbe saw a threat to the Arabic language, and how people will try to oppose it, by virtue that the Saracen do not speak it. 

Through middle-eastern employment, it is a fact, that more none Muslims know Arabic than the Saraceni, and this is indeed a sad statistic. Therefore, let us strive to learn this language, because it is a beautiful one, and has many commercial and international benefits. Our supporters are primarily in the Arabic speaking world, and even today it is they that have sent a powerful message, calling for our safety. Events in that part of the world directly, and indirectly affect the Saraceni, and therefore the ability to communicate with the middle east, and understand information from that region is very important. Learning Arabic has never been as easy as it is today, and therefor let us take advantage of it.

Events in that part of the world [middle east] directly, and indirectly affect the Saraceni, and therefore the ability to communicate with the middle east, and understand information from that region is very important. 

During Siddhi Lebbe’s time, there was no representation of our people in the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and Siddhi Lebbe agitated quite forcefully for politicians to come forward, because he felt the disadvantages very clearly. Without representation in the ruling bodies of the country, we are cattle waiting for slaughter. Even today, those that oppose us target our representatives, and we are in a precarious situation of having our community’s leaders expelled from the decision-making process. Therefore, we must secure what Siddhi Lebbe fought to achieve, and stand by our leaders, as they stand up for our rights. Politics and internal disputes can be attended to later.

Without representation in the ruling bodies of the country, we are cattle waiting for slaughter.

Finally, Ibn Serendib would like to draw his reader’s attention to Siddhi Lebbe’s most pervasive message, which is the message of unity and togetherness. We are but a few and our community is but small. We need each and everyone we have, in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other communities in this nation. If we scatter, our strength will be lost, and along with that so will our freedoms and our rights, and we will leave our future generations vulnerable to untold exploitations. Therefore, let us resolve to get closer to one another, understand each other and ultimately support ourselves. The phrase “Api wenuwen api” is something that has worked for other communities, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t work for us.

May Allah grant our noble hero Janath-ul-Firdous, and grant the Saraceni prosperity!

By Fazli Sameer

This day marks the 181st birth anniversary of M.C.Siddi Lebbe; national hero, son of Ceylon, and father of the modern Muslim community. He is what every Muslim aspires to be; well groomed, educated, religious, charitable and restless with patriotism to his people. His vision and foresight from more than a century ago shaped our community and helped us rise from despair, making us resilient in the face of change and ultimately, a prominent minority in our country.


Muhammad Cassim Siddi Lebbe was born on June 11th, 1938, in Kandy. The ancestors of Siddi Lebbe were Arabs who had migrated to the Kandyan kingdom. His father, Muhammad Lebbe Siddi Lebbe, was one of the first Ceylonese Proctors and also the Head Moorman in 1833. Muhammad Cassim was also known as Siddi Lebbe just like his father. Siddi Lebbe had an older brother, who was an Arabic educated Aalim, under whose care he learnt to read the Quran and studied Tamil and English.

After his preliminary education at Quran School, Kandy, Muhammad Cassim (M.C.) Siddi Lebbe continued his studies and qualified as a Proctor of the District Court in 1862. Two years later he became a Proctor of the Supreme Court and practiced as a Notary Public. He married the sister-in-law of Casie Lebbe Marikar Muhammad Yousoof, grandson of O.L.M. Shekhadi Marikar, whose ancestors hailed from Konya, in Central Turkey.

Muslim Nesan, circa 1882

He studied the Arabic language to perfection and read many significant works of Islamic scholars and thereby excelled in religious knowledge, surpassing some of the local Ulema of the time. He started a Muslim journal called the “Muslim Nesan”, in English and Tamil, in order to educate his fellow Muslim community members. He also published a monthly journal called the “Torch of Wisdom”. He clamored to teach the Muslims their religion through these two journals where he urged the community to study the Arabic language.

Siddi Lebbe also wrote and published “Hidayathul Cassimiya”, “TuhuwathulNahwa” (key to grammar), “Shurut As Salat” (observance of Prayer), and the Arabic Study Book Part I & II. His Tamil works were “Tamil Primer”, a novel of Hassen Bey, “History of the Turkish and Greek War”, and “History of the Moors of Ceylon”, Gnana Teepan(1892), Assembly “Udaya Kathai” which was a Tamil novel (1885), Abu Navas, and Asrarul A’lam.

His wide scheme of educating the Muslim community resulted in the establishment of many Tamil and Arabic Schools in many parts of the Central Province including Kandy, Gampola, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, some of which he managed and financed by himself. Helped by the munificence of A.M. Wappachi Marikar, he founded Madrasathul Zahira which became the present day Zahira College, in Colombo in 1892. He also established a girl’s school at his residence in Kandy where his sister was the head-teacher.

M.C. Siddi Lebbe's house in Kandy, now a boutique hotel called the "The Secret Kandy"

M.C. Siddi Lebbe passed away on the 5th of February, 1898. During his life he used the medium of newspaper articles, books, and speeches to induce the Muslim community to make an attempt to uplift themselves from the backward condition they were in. And for his service to our community and the independence movement, he was named a national hero, when Sri Lanka gained its independence in 1948.

May Allah grant him Janath-ul-Fridous, and bless us with more men of his caliber!

Lane laws are now being strictly enforced in our cities. The police say, that anyone caught violating these laws will face fines, so it’s a pretty serious affair. Given that no one really cared about these laws until now, here is a refresher of some of the laws you should keep in mind while driving from now on. This is not a comprehensive list of lane laws, but Ibn Serendib believes it maybe just enough to help you through the day.


Broken Lane Line – You can cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, and you can cross it to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road.

Solid Lane Line – You CANNOT cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, but you can cross it to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road.

Double Solid Lane Line – You CANNOT cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, and you CANNOT cross this line to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road. YOU CANNOT CROSS THIS LINE FOR ANY REASON.

Solid and Broken Lane Line – You can cross this line to overtake a vehicle, if the broken line is on the same side as your lane. If the solid line is on the same side as your lane you cannot overtake a vehicle in front of you. In the illustration above, vehicles on the right lane can overtake a vehicle, but the vehicles on the left lane cannot overtake a vehicle. Vehicles on both sides can turn into a street on the opposite side of the road, by crossing the line.

Checkered area

Checkered area on the road – You CANNOT drive on this area for any reason. You CANNOT cross this area for any reason

In addition keep the following in mind as well -

Bus Lanes – The bus lane is usually situated on the left side of the road. It is an offence for any vehicle other than an omnibus, in service for public transport to use the bus lane. If you need to turn into a street on the left, keep off the bus lane until you need to turn and cut across.

Keep in between the lane lines – Your vehicle should be between the white lane lines when driving. In case the road is a single carriage way, your vehicle should be between the center line, and the solid white line marking the left side of the lane. DO NOT drive on the lines.

Signal always before changing lanes – If you are on a multilane road, always apply your signal when you are changing lanes. DO NOT change without signaling first!

Do not drive over the solid line on the left side of the lane – If there is a solid white line on the left side of the lane, it marks the end of the road, and beyond that is where the pedestrians walk. DO NOT cross it.

May Allah spare you any inconvenience!

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

Along with the joy and festivities of Eid-ul-Fithr 2019, let us once again reinforce our solidarity with the victims of the attack of 21st April, 2019, who were slain in cold-blood by vicious and cold-hearted people.


As a community that has stood by this country throughout its history, the Sri Lankan Muslims will stand in defiance of those that try to create disharmony and animosity amongst our people as preached by our beloved prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and move forward in achieving peace and prosperity within our blessed island.

Therefore dear Saracen, during the Eid rejoice, and at the same time ask dua' for those that perished in vain for they are truly innocent, and ask Allah to ease the pain of their families and loved ones. Also make dua' that such events do not occur in the future, and that we can move forward as a righteous and united nation.

May Allah keep us all safe!

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

The National Thowheed Jama’ath and similar organizations have been banned by the rulers of our nation, and being a member of such an organization is illegal. This has made a sizable population of our fellow Saraceni, who have been netted into membership within these organizations isolated, insecure and exposed. While the rulers and our community leaders concentrate on the wrong doers, we must accept that many of these former members are innocent, and now exploited for no wrong doing on their part.



Therefore, in the aftermath of April’s tragedy, and within this holy month of Ramadhan, the Saraceni should reach out to our fellow community members who have been unfortunate in this respect and recall them to the folds of the Saracen. Neglecting them is to our peril, in this world and the next, as Allah has placed much weight on kinship, and paradise is forfeit for neglecting such ties, especially in a situation as difficult as the present.

...the Saraceni should reach out to our fellow community members who have been unfortunate in this respect and recall them to the folds of the Saracen. 

Our approach should be dignified and cordial. It must be supportive and sincere. And ultimately inviting and embracing. The Saraceni should be the initiators, actively seeking out the remnants of those organizations and sincerely extending a hand and ear. Ultimately, we must be accommodating and accepting, and Allah will reward us handsomely. For those that are oppressed are nearer and dearer to god, and any relief we bring them will be viewed upon by Allah in the most beneficial way.

For those that are oppressed are nearer and dearer to god, and any relief we bring them will be viewed upon by Allah in the most beneficial way.

Despite what may have happened in the past, division is not an option within the current climate in the island. Any and all fractures must be attended to immediately so that we can face future challenges with unity and strength. Ibn Serendib urgently requests your consideration on this matter.

May Allah save us from the wrong path, and guide us on the right one!

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

In his article titled “The burka may have bigger enemies than you thought”, Ibn Serendib discussed the possibility of international motivations in the recent terrorist attacks. In this post, Ibn Serendib would like to discuss the current situation of our Saraceni, and what we need to think about, going forward, for the sake of our beloved children, born and unborn.


In the day’s bygone, the Saraceni had only the ruling majority to manage, and that is a great success story. However, post 2004 even the ruling majority is ruled by international forces, centered in the West, and within the folds of the United Nations (UN). The rulers are being controlled by funding and financial aid, and they need to comply in order to ensure that our country can be sustained. Conditions for receiving this aid, have begun to include social policy, and the recent influx of aid into the country immediately after 21st April 2019, though officially publicized as assistance to fight terrorism, could well have been payment for getting the burka banned.

... post 2004 even the ruling majority is ruled by international forces, centered in the West, and within the folds of the United Nations (UN).

The rulers, and the majority in this country have been at peace with the Saraceni for a very long time, and there is no reason for hostilities. Telling the Saraceni what to do with regard to culture and social aspects make the rulers and the majority extremely uncomfortable, as they fear antagonizing not just the Saraceni but also the greater Islamic world which they depend on. However, when the Saraceni get in the way of financial aid and international funding, the rulers are put under pressure, and they tend to vent it in crude and amateur ways, which may have manifested in the form of tension and unrest.

Telling the Saraceni what to do with regard to culture and social aspects make the rulers and the majority extremely uncomfortable, as they fear antagonizing not just the Saraceni but also the greater Islamic world

The Saraceni are no more a fledgling community anymore. They have grown larger and stronger, and are now key players in the country. Therefore, they should start acting like “the big boys” that they have become, and preempt intervention by the rulers, by being sensitive to international pressure and taking steps to align themselves with important developments, before the rulers are required to step in. In this way we will become an asset to the country, and will be able to retain greater freedoms than we could otherwise.

In order to achieve preemption to government intervention, the Saraceni need to start thinking about a suitable social and cultural leadership structure, which can affect community wide maneuvering. For example, as the burka began to run shy of its welcome, such a leadership would have been invaluable to convince those that patronized the burka, to give it a rest, and thus avoided a ban. The burka could be resurrected at a much later, more conducive time. Many Saraceni expect this from our infamous mufti; you know, the one that wants to kiss the Cardinal. This is a natural choice as social and cultural leadership in other communities are affected by similar people, such as the mahanayakes, cardinals etc. However, mixing religious leadership with social and cultural leadership is not ideal, and concentrates too much power in a single individual, making him a bad religious leader, or a bad social leader or even both.

... the Saraceni need to start thinking about a suitable social and cultural leadership structure, which can affect community wide maneuvering.

Politicians have been the traditional place for social leadership in bygone days. But we were small then, and we are not small anymore. Unlike the good old days, when the likes of the erudite and eloquent M.C. Siddhi Lebbe and the Honorable Sir Razik Fareed roamed this earth straddling bother political and social leadership in our community, our present politicians do not have the same skill. Therefore, can we depend on them for this task?

As a matter of fact, this exact problem concerned the Late Sir Razik, and was one of the reasons he established the All Ceylon Moor Association (ACMA), to create a forum from within which social and cultural leaders can emerge. However, as Ibn Serendib has been told time and time again by those that have tried to gain membership, that this organization has turned into a closed-up family affair, whose predominant activities are historical, rather than progressive. It’s president, an esteemed professor from amongst the Saracen, should have been retired a long time ago. Its general secretary, a medical doctor, is barely concerned about new members or increasing the envelope of this organization, as much as he is with his profession. The ACMA is in dire need of new blood. Will they rise to this challenge?

Therefore, how can we affect social and cultural leadership? Where will the next M.C. Siddhi Lebbe come from? Will he (or she) come at all? These are important questions that Ibn Serendib wishes to pose for esteemed consideration of his readers.

May Allah guide them in their thinking! Ameen!

Assalamu alaikum, ya nesan!

The burka and its close associate the abaya-niqab combination has been thrust into the spotlight, rather unceremoniously, in recent times. It is an attire that is now illegal in our blessed island and indeed in many countries across the world, following years of opposition from all quarters of society. Although the vocal opponents of this garment come from feminists, racists and security establishments, their arguments are often contradictory and they are not people who can sustain a campaign for as long as the campaign against the burka has lasted. Therefore, this leads Ibn Serendib to conclude that the burka has a bigger enemy than those mentioned earlier; namely the technology industry.


Many tech companies have invested billions of dollars in face recognition and surveillance systems, in the hope that they will be deployed internationally, and yield massive profits for their creators. Face recognition surveillance works by employing a camera to capture an image of the subject’s face, and uses the features and proportions of the eyes, nose bridge and mouth to uniquely recognize an individual. One single camera can recognize potentially hundreds of such faces in its picture frame, per second, and match this with a database of each person’s record. The record will contain information of the person, including nationality, criminal history, and social media opinions. Artificial intelligence algorithms can determine whether the individual is a risk by using this information, and authorities could intercept potentially risky people.

features and proportions of the eyes, nose bridge and mouth to uniquely recognize an individual.

This technology is a necessity in our airports, train stations, highways and other transit locations, as checking desks are highly inefficient in coping with the ever-increasing population. This is where the burka, niqab and any other garments that conceals the face run afoul of the rulers. Face recognition surveillance only works if it can image your face, and if you are wearing a burka it cannot do so. Therefore, international security think tanks maybe motivated to eradicate this garment altogether. Face concealing motor cycle helmets, scarves and the such like have already been banned with a swift stroke of legislation. But the burka, has been a more sensitive issue due to its religious affiliations, and therefore needed a more sophisticated, if not subversive approach. Using an extremely serious issue like terrorism may have been employed to shock and scare people into accepting a burka ban. Ibn Serendib feels this maybe the motive behind recent events.

Face concealing motor cycle helmets, scarves and the such like have already been banned with a swift stroke of legislation. But the burka, has been a more sensitive issue...

The deep pockets of the technology industry, are highly capable of financing sustained campaigns for social change to increase the market success of their technology, and it isn’t entirely impossible that they will indirectly finance activists to advocate for changes on their behalf.

In the future Ibn Serendib feels that the hijab, caps, hats and beards will also be targeted to allow imaging the hairline and the jawline as face recognition parameters, to improve the accuracy of these systems. And it is interesting to imagine what type of social strategies will be employed to condition society to comply, in enabling these advances in technology.

Allah is all knowing, and all merciful!

Assalamu Alaikum, Ya Nesan!

Ethnic strife and conflict are nothing new. It has been played, and replayed over and over again in every human collective for millennia. Despite many organizations and social groups, both national and international claiming to strive to eradicate conflict, wisdom tells us that their ambition is naïve and fickle. Therefore, as a mature community, we need to learn to mitigate the effects of ethnic conflict, and diffuse escalation whenever it arises.

Get to know them, so you can help them better!

One of the compounding side effects of ethnic conflicts is the development of disenfranchised groups of people. Attacked and then abandoned, they are a significant catalyst in escalating the situation. They often fall pray to bad actors, and are vulnerable to influence, and may engage in activities that they wouldn’t otherwise engage in, for the sake of survival. The isolation created by the loss of property will inadvertently make these people feel that their community has forgotten them, and therefore their loyalty and allegiance will begin to thin. There is a good chance that they will be the poison within. This needs to be avoided at all costs as analysts in conflict have time and time again identified the disenfranchisement of victims of ethnic conflicts as the main reason for the situation to degrade and become unstable.

The isolation created by the loss of property will inadvertently make these people feel that their community has forgotten them, and therefore their loyalty and allegiance will begin to thin.

Allah, the creator of all things has spoken to us about this, and the holy prophet, a statesman par excellence has conveyed to us the solution; charity. In light of the current situation we must approach this otherwise mechanical aspect of the holy month of Ramadhan with conscious sophistication.

The act of giving must be preceded with the act of knowing. So, avoid defaulting to the usual dry rations, and the such likes. Before you give, strive to talk to the victims, and learn of their situation so your charity will be a better fit. This is something we almost never do, but is very important to maximize the effectiveness of charity. If you do this, Allah will channel invaluable knowledge to you through these victims, which will help you avoid a similar plight.

... Before you give, strive to talk to the victims, and learn of their situation so your charity will be a better fit.

It would be more beneficial if you avoid the path of blanket charity, where you give a little, to many, but target your charity to a few, and make it sufficient for them to avoid the grip of victimhood. Zakat al-Fitr is a wonderful and powerful tool, which we must be leveraged, and there is no better time than now!

May Allah keep us all safe, and give us prosperity!

Assalamu Alaikum Ya Nesan!

The results of the 2018 local government elections come as no surprise. What does surprise people is that a government like the UPFA/UNP alliance would have selected a First Past the Post voting system, which is known to be disadvantageous to coalition governments. By agreeing to this system, the UNP, which is currently a coalition government, has literally soiled its own possible victory. None the less such has come to pass, and the much expected victory for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peremuna (SLPP) has come about.

Changing the voting system from Proportional Representation voting to Mixed Proportional Representation voting (which includes First Past the Post voting) was done with a promise of yielding a stable government. However it has achieved anything but, because for the first time in the country’s history the governing organs have been spread across 3 parties. The executive branch is with the UPFA, the central government is with the UNP and the local government bodies have gone to the SLPP. With such a split, it seems the elusive goal of stable government has become even more elusive.

The government has repeatedly claimed that the victory of the SLPP has been due to the “will of the people” changing since 2015, and that it is a “warning” to them. However if you look at the voting tally such is not the case. The SLPP, which is largely associated with Mahinda Rajapakse, and the UPFA/UNP alliance have secured a vote that is similar to the 2015 election where the Rajapakse faction had about 44 percent and the UPFA/UNP alliance had roughly about 52 percent of the public vote, and therefore no change in the “people’s will” can be seen. The different outcome is solely because of the change in the voting system, and how the winner is selected. For a discussion of the new voting system, Ibn Serendib invites you to read the article titled “LG elections 2018 with new election system”.

All this instability puts minorities in a questionable position. Not only will the First Past the Post voting system marginalize minority votes, the unstable governments that it will yield may cause ruling parties to pander to the largest ethnic group. Therefore 2018 symbolize a revolution in the politics of the island, and in-keeping with these changes, the Saracen should adopt a different strategy to maintain their interests within the country.

Future elections which will be held under the Mixed Proportional Representation voting system, and therefore the outcome of these elections have become anyone’s guess. Will Mahinda make a spirited return to power? Will the UNP come to power after a very long absence? Will the incumbent president run for a second term? There are so many interesting questions.

May Allah preserve the integrity of our nation, Ameen!

Assalamu Alaikum Ya Nesan!

Local government elections for 2018 will be held on 10th February, tomorrow. It will be the first election held under the Mixed Proportional voting system, where 60 percent of the seats will be allocated according to according to a First Past the Post voting to the simple majority winner, and the remaining seats will be allocated according to the Proportional Representation system, among those that didn’t win.

This local government election is the first time since 1978 a Mixed Proportional voting system will be used. Futures elections will move to the Mixed Proportional voting system as well. This is also the first time that nearly all local government elections will be held on the same day.

This mixed system of First Past the Post and Proportional Representation voting systems is what is referred to as the Mixed Proportional voting system.

First Past the Post voting system simply means that the highest vote taker will win 60 percent of the seats in local government. For example if Party A gets 39 percent of the vote, Party B gets 31 percent of the vote, and party C and D get 20 and 10 percent respectively, Party A wins the vote, and gets 60 percent of the seats, although only 39 percent of the people voted for them.

First Past the Post voting system simply means that the highest vote taker will win 60 percent of the seats in local government.

Under the previous Proportional Representation voting system, Party A will get only 39 percent of the seats because they got 39 percent of the vote, and the rest of the seats will be allocated to the other parties according to their percentages of votes. This system is deliberately designed to give the winner a majority, to spare them having to negotiate with other parties in order to conduct duties.

This system is good mainly because it prevents coalition politics and the winner can do whatever they want without having to negotiate with other parties. This system is bad, because of the same thing, since there is no need for a coalition, the winning party can ignore other parties. This will marginalize the needs of people who voted for other parties, even though together they outnumber the people that voted for the winning party. In the example above 39 percent voted for Party A, but a majority of 61 percent actually didn’t vote for them, they voted for others, but now have no say.

To mitigate the unfair representation in First Past the Post to some extent, the election provides 40 percent of the seats according to the Proportional Representation system, among those that didn’t win. This is there to give the loosing parties some representation. This mixed system of First Past the Post and Proportional Representation voting systems is what is referred to as the Mixed Proportional voting system.

The government decided to adopt this system because they claim it’s simpler and easier for voters, who only need to cast a single vote, as opposed to 3 votes in the previous system. The votes become easier to count as well, because you do not have to tally up 2nd and 3rd choices. However the imbalance in representation, where a party that does not have the population majority can have a majority in government serves to deny the voter fair representation and therefore is seen as not very Democratic.

Will this new system actually improve the governments efficiency by giving the winner an artificial majority, or will it serve to marginalize people, and cause problems? We do not know yet, but there are people who support both arguments.

In a communal political theater like Sri Lanka, this system is a double edged sword for minority parties. Theoretically they have a chance of dominating government, but practically they may end up never gaining any representation in local government ever again, as winning the elections will always favor one of two main parties, like the Republicans and Democrats in America, or Labour and Conservatives in Great Britain. In Sri Lanka it will always be either the UNP or the SLFP, who will rule without having to bargain with the JVP, SLMC, TNA, or even the JHU like they used to. The two main parties have always dominated elections. This is nothing new. However they will be less swayed by these other parties, and how the big parties perform without having to bargain with these small parties, and its effect on minorities is yet to be seen.

May our peace reign and country prosper!

Assalamu Alaikum Ya Nesan!

February 4th 2018, will be a great day in the history of our people. It marks the 70th anniversary of the Saracen being united as one people and gaining a government that rules according to their sensibilities. This is a precious victory for the Saracen, and they must renew their determination to never again fall subservient to another foreign power, or even a local one for that matter.

As the government organizes parades to march, and people organize parties to drink, the Saracen should sit down to give thanks to the almighty for the great gift that they have received. They must remember the great sons of our nation that fought and won the battle for independence. M.C. Siddi Lebbe, T.B. Jayah, I.L.M Aziz and Sir Razeek Fareed are among the many great people that Allah gifted to us, in response for our prayers for victory. Recite the Quran, at least Surah Al-Yaseen or even a Surah Al-Fathiha and donate the merits of your supplications to these people. May Allah forgive their sins, and give them Jannah for the invaluable service they rendered their people during a critical time in the history of the Saracen, and may we be blessed with many more men and women of equal courage and determination. Ameen!

May Allah preserve our independence for generations to come.

Assalamu Alaikum Ya Nesan!

Beruwela was rather unexpected and unwelcome by equal measure, and the mechanics of the event is most concerning. While it is true that the Government did step in, and some compensation was made to the victims, they do little to ease the tension. The culprits that encouraged the situation went unpunished, and the climate that made it possible is still prevalent creating a crippling uncertainty that can affect the progress of the people. While the politically naïve resorted to comforting themselves with hope, that such events are exceptional, and will be dealt with much better now that there is a precedence, Father time had other plans, and Gintota served to remind them that hope is not for cheap people.

Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, with Former American Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

“There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones” says the Great Anwar Sadat, and practicing the wisdom in his words is the need of the hour. The response to Gintota by the greater Muslim community is therefore highly praiseworthy. Assistance and compassion made its way swiftly to the affected area and despite the disappointing leadership shown by ruling elements, both Muslim and otherwise, the people of our blessed Serendib followed the world renowned leadership of the Great Sadat. It is this that bought us hope, and nothing else.

Ibn Serendib does not want to imply that our government is bigoted, and credit where it’s due, some compensation to the affected parties were made. However by their nature, governments would rather sweep problems, even big ones under the rug if they can do so, and money is not a valid currency to by peace. The situation clearly demonstrates the capabilities of some elements within the country to carry out coordinated assaults at a moment’s notice, and deal a deadly impact on their victims. And this capability needs to be managed to prevent it being used at inopportune moments. Such assaults need not be violent like Gintota, they can be verbal and political like the unfortunate Wilpattu. The most successful way to do this is following Sadat’s advice, because it has been proven time and time again that if today they came for your brother, tomorrow they will most certainly come for you.

The Muslim community has become a “diaper wearing adolescent” of sorts. It still harks back to the day that they were but a few, comfortable within their Tariq’ah’s or Jammaths or Kachchi’s or whatever other type of fragmented organization they had, dependant on the milk of international charity and the warmth of the bosom of the government. Whether this approach worked for them in the past is questionable, but as the size and complexity of this community has grown, with specialized needs both within the local and international arena, the time has come for this community to act like a big boy. “If we don't grow, we aren't really living”, says Gail Sheehy a renowned American author, and “If we aren’t living there are people waiting to bury us”, adds Ibn Serendib, a not so renowned author, but a well seasoned Muslim.

Therefore remember, whether you are Moor, Malay or belong to some other insignificant group, no one really cares, especially when they have come to rob you. Follow Sadat, to become one family, only then will hope and happiness come and we can become an integral part of this great country.

May Allah give us all hope!