Muslim religious dignitary Al Haj Niyas Moulawi died of a heart attack this morning in Badulla. He was the coordinator to the President on Muslim religious affairs. His mortal remains are being brought to Colombo for final rites, sources close to him told Adaderana.

A father four boys and two girls, Niyas Moulavi, almost a household name and an orator equally good in Tamil as well as Sinhala, was liked by not only Muslims but also by Buddhists, Hindus and Christian alike for his down to earth concepts that humanity knows no religious and ethnic boundaries.

His mission was upholding peace and harmony everywhere. Appearing often on the ITN’s ‘Doramadalawa’ programme he showed the he respects every religion and faith, accepting that it is the attitude that Islam encourages.

Niyas Mohamed was the second son in a 14 children family of a tailor named Cader Sahibu Samsudeen Abdur Raheem and his wife Zainabu Beevee from Talawakelle.

Niyas got his primary school education in Talawakelle Hindu College and preliminary religious teaching in the neighborhood Madrasa. 

Later they moved to Gampola where they had relatives. He continued his schooling at Zahira College, Gampola in the Sinhalese language medium while continuing his religious studies at Mariyawatta mosque. He was an avid hockey player as well.

Consequently, in 1966 he enrolled fulltime in the Gaffooriya Arabic College in Maharagama. He became a Moulavi from Gaffooriya and received his ‘Kiyadhee’ certificate from Madampe Arabic College.

Niyas Moulavi led his first group of Hajj pilgrims in 1978 and continuously guided pilgrims to the Holy city of Mecca until 2006 and was soon awarded with an honor title ‘Murshidul Haji’.

Niyas Moulavi was a frequent guest at radio and television media programmes. He did ‘Ayyamum Theliwum’ in Tamil language and ‘Doramandalawa’ and ‘Sandakada Pahana’ in Sinhalese language winning audience in every ethnic group by his captivating eloquence sprinkled with a sense of humor and with hilarious anecdotes that induced one to think deeply as well.

He started an Arabic college with some 20 students, which was later named Ihsaniya Arabic College.

Niyas Moulavi is honorary member of the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama, while being the president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Peace Council and he heads the Majlisul Ulama, a union that looks after the welfare of the Alims in this country. In the meantime, he is an all island Justice of the Peace as well as a religious advisor for many societies including the mosques in the up country.

He has been honored with various titles such as ‘Thajul Uloom’ ‘Alimul Faleel’ ‘Murshidus Salam’ ‘Desha Keerthi’ ‘Desha Bandu’ ‘Sama Manya’ ‘Keerthi Sri’ etc.

Niyas Moulavi established a branch of Ihsaniyya in his native Talawakelle. He also operated another Madrasa at Mikbar Jumma Masjid in Kochcghikade, Negombo as well. - (Details from - Founder History - Ihsaniyyah Arabic College)