EXPLANATION ON NEWS REPORT
This news item referred to was, sudden found. When reading online, the Ceylon Daily News of 4th February 2017, on instinct my eyes were drawn to the attention of old, defaced, discoloured, two pages of the Ceylon Daily News of 6th February 1948, being displayed online, side by side of the Ceylon Daily News, I was reading.
It is the defaced fifth page of the CDN of 06.02.1948, which carried the sub heading: “MUSLIM WOMAN HOISTS LION FLAG”. Hence my interest was further aroused to read this news item and to get more information. But the news item was not clear and not readable, as you can observe from the images posted below:
NOTE: As the news item was not readable at all, a scan copy of page No 5 of the CDN of 6th February 1948, was obtained from the micro film library in the National Archives, on 20/02/2017. This news item is quite interesting and long. This news item runs into two lengthy columns. It reports Independence Day Celebrations in Anuradhapura, Mount Lavania, Galle, Moratuwa, Piliyandala, Kalutara, JaEla,Kegalle, Avissawella, Ratnapura, Baddegama, Wadduwa and Beruwala.
This news item carried the following about Beruwala:
“MUSLIM WOMAN HOISTS LION FLAG – Independence Celebrations was held under the auspices of the Beruwala Muslim Ladies Association at M…n..a. Estate, Beruwala amidst a very large gathering of Ladies and Children. Mrs M.L.M.Jamaldeen, the President of the Association hoisting the Lion Flag, while the National Anthem was sung. MesdamesI.L.M.Yusuf, M.L.M.Aoobucker, M.L.M.I .Marikar , A.M.M. Hussain and B.M.Thasim addressed thegathering on the significance of the day”. Sports Meet for Children.
It is significant to state here that several decades ago even in the 1940s, the Muslim community had the warm heart to celebrate the first Independence Day Celebrations in Beruwala. It is therefore evident that the Muslim community stood shoulder to shoulder with the majority community, as did Dr T.B.Jayah , strongly supporting D.S.Senanyake in our struggle for Independence. This is real Unity in Diversity.