Sri Lankan politician
Abdul Rauff Hibbathul Hakeem (born 13 April 1960) is aSri Lankan politician and current member ofparliament , representing theKandy electorate since 2010. Hakeem is the leader of theSri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the largest Islamic party in Sri Lanka.
Early life and education [ edit ] Hakeem was born 13 April 1960 inNawalapitiya inKandy District .[ 1] [ 2] Royal College, Colombo [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Sri Lanka Law College , taking oath as anattorney-at-law .[ 5] LL.M. degree from theUniversity of Colombo .[ 2]
Hakeem metM. H. M. Ashraff , founder of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, whilst working atFaisz Musthapha 's lawchambers .[ 6]
Hakeem joined the SLMC in 1988.[ 1] [ 5] 1994 parliamentary election , the SLMC entered an electoral pact with main opposition alliance, thePeople's Alliance (PA).[ 7]
After the election, Hakeem was appointed as a PANational List MP in theSri Lankan Parliament .[ 8] [ 9] [ 7] [ 7] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
By 2000, relations between the SLMC and PA had become strained.[ 14] National Unity Alliance (NUA) with the aim of creating a "united Sri Lanka by 2012".[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19]
Following Ashraff's death, Hakeem became the SLMC's'thesiya thalaivar' (national leader), however, a power struggle ensued between Ashraff's widowFerial Ashraff and Hakeem for control of the party.[ 5] [ 20]
Hakeem contested the2000 parliamentary election as one of the NUA's candidates in theKandy District . He was elected and re-entered Parliament.[ 21] [ 22] [ 23] president Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed Hakeem from his ministerial position.[ 24] [ 25] [ 20] [ 26] [ 27] [ 20]
In October 2001, the Hakeem-led SLMC joined theUnited National Party -ledUnited National Front (UNF).[ 28] 2001 parliamentary election as one of the UNF's candidates in the Kandy District, and was successfully reelected.[ 29] [ 30] [ 31]
Hakeem contested the2004 parliamentary election as one of the SLMC's candidates in theAmpara District . He was elected and re-entered Parliament.[ 32] United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
In January 2007, the SLMC joined the UPFA.[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] Minister of Posts and Telecommunication .[ 36] [ 37] [ 38] [ 39] [ 40] 2008 provincial council election as one of the UNF's candidates in theTrincomalee District and was elected to theEastern Provincial Council (EPC).[ 41] [ 42] [ 43]
Hakeem contested the2010 parliamentary election as one of the UNF's candidates in the Kandy District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament.[ 44]
In November 2010, the SLMC defected to the UPFA again,[ 45] [ 46] Minister of Justice .[ 47] [ 48]
In December 2014, the SLMC left the UPFA to support common opposition candidateMaithripala Sirisena at thepresidential election .[ 49] [ 50] Mahinda Rajapaksa dismissed Hakeem from his ministerial position.[ 51] Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage in the new cabinet.[ 52] [ 53] [ 54] [ 55]
In July 2015, the SLMC joined with other anti-Rajapaksa parties to form theUnited National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) to contest the parliamentary election.[ 56] [ 57] [ 58] 2015 parliamentary election . He was elected and re-entered Parliament.[ 59] [ 60] Minister of City Planning and Water Supply following the election.[ 61] [ 62] [ 63]
In 2020, followingopposition leader Sajith Premadasa 's split from the UNP, the SLMC opted to join Premadasa's new alliance, theSamagi Jana Balawegaya .[ 64] 2020 parliamentary election , Hakeem was reelected to parliament as a candidate of the SJB in the Kandy District, and was reelected again in2024 .[ 65]
Hakeem is married to Shanaz (Shahnaz), owner of an ice cream parlour inColombo .[ 66] [ 67] [ 68]
Kumari Cooray controversy [ edit ] During Hakeem's 2001 parliamentary election campaign, Kumari Cooray, daughter of politician Mervyn J. Cooray, claimed and then denied that she had been having anaffair with Hakeem.[ 69] Speaker position in Parliament, Cooray appeared onRupavahini and claimed that Hakeem had ended their relationship and that she was suicidal.[ 70] [ 71] Kollupitiya on 6 October 2005.[ 72] [ 73] Sunday Times [ 74]
^a b "Directory of Members: Rauff Hakeem" .Parliament of Sri Lanka .^a b c Liyanasuriya, Sathya (6 March 2014)." .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) ^ "PA consorts with SLMC" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ Goonarathne, Elmo (27 February 2015)."Ideals ofashraff and hakeem" .Ceylon Today the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved19 March 2016 . ^a b c Peebles, Patrick (2015).Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka Rowman & Littlefield . p. 167.ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5 ^ Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (20 September 2015)."Remembering MHM Ashraff the Legendary Leader of the Muslim Congress on his 15th Death Anniversary" . dbsjeyaraj.com. Archived fromthe original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved19 March 2016 . ^a b c Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (30 September 2000)."Obituary: A pioneering leader - M.H.M. Ashraff, 1948-2000" .Frontline 17 (20). ^ "Segudawood and Nijamudeen betrayed Muslim Congress - DUA" .Daily News (Sri Lanka) ^ Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (9 February 2003)."The leadership crisis in the Muslim congress" .The Sunday Leader ^ "Senior Sri Lankan Minister killed in helicopter crash" .TamilNet ^ "The New Cabinet" (PDF) .Tamil Times XIII (8): 4. 15 August 1994.ISSN 0266-4488 .^ Samad, Ashraff A. (16 September 2012)."Remembering a Minister, poet and inspiring Muslim leader" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ "Deputy Chairman of Committees" .Parliament of Sri Lanka .^ "Helicopter crash probe launched" .BBC News ^ Peiris, Roshan (19 September 1999)."Ashraff's mission 2012: unity in diversity" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ Salman, M. H. M. (27 January 2015)."Democracy without Opposition and the NUA" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) ^ "Key minister killed in Sri Lanka crash" .BBC News ^ "Ashraff dies in mystery crash" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ "Minister Ashraff among 14 killed in helicopter crash" (PDF) .Tamil Times XIX (9): 4. 15 September 2000.ISSN 0266-4488 .^a b c Farook, Latheef (23 December 2014)."SLMC: Liability on the Muslim community" .Daily FT the original on 24 September 2015. ^a b "General Election 2000 Preferences" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 2010-08-26.^ "New cabinet sworn in today" .Current Affairs . Policy Research and Information Unit,Presidential Secretariat . 19 October 2000. Archived fromthe original on 3 March 2016.^ "SLMC, EPDP get plum portfolios" .TamilNet ^ "Rauff Hakeem removed from cabinet" .TamilNet ^ Subramanian, Nirupama (21 June 2001)."SLMC may offer issue-based support" .The Hindu the original on 9 February 2015. ^ Satyapalan, Franklin R. (21 June 2001)."SLMC-NUA quit PA coalition" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ "Sri Lanka govt. faces collapse as Muslims leave" .TamilNet ^ "UNP to contest as UNF with elephant symbol" .TamilNet ^a b "General Election 2001 Preferences" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 2015-09-24.^ "New Ministers" .Daily News (Sri Lanka) the original on 2 February 2012.^ "Wickremesinghe appoints cabinet of 25" .TamilNet ^a b "General Election 2004 Preferences" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 2010-03-04.^ "UNP dissidents, SLMC join UPFA government, appointed ministers" .TamilNet ^ "18 jumbos cross over" .Daily News (Sri Lanka) the original on 25 February 2012.^ Chandani Kirinde and Chris Kamalendran (28 January 2007)."Crossover today, MoU ends" .The Sunday Times ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1482/08. 29 January 2007. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 22 February 2014.^ "The New Cabinet" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ "SLMC resigns from Rajapaksa government" .TamilNet ^ "Why the SLMC quit the Rajapaska government" .The Nation (Sri Lanka) the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved2016-03-19 .^ "Hakeem resigns parliamentary seat to contest EPC election" .TamilNet ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PROVINCIAL COUNCILS ELECTIONS ACT, No. 2 OF 1988 Eastern Province Provincial Council" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1549/17. 15 May 2008. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 25 May 2014.^ "Hakim takes oath as UNP national list parliamentarian" .TamilNet ^ Nakkawita, Wijitha; de Silva, Lakshmi (11 July 2008)."Hakeem sworn in as MP" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^a b c "Parliamentary General Election - 2010 Kandy Preferences" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 2010-06-17.^ "SLMC officially crosses over to government" .TamilNet ^ Bandara, Kelum (13 November 2010)."SLMC decides to join govt" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) the original on 19 July 2011. ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1681/2. 22 November 2010. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 22 February 2014.^ "New Faced Boost Cabinet as Hopes Rise" .The Nation (Sri Lanka) . 28 November 2010. Archived fromthe original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved19 March 2016 .^ "Sri Lanka's biggest Muslim party ditches Rajapaksa" .The Guardian Associated Press . 28 December 2014.^ "SLMC to support Sirisena, Hakeem resigns ministerial portfolio" .TamilNet ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications NOTIFICATION" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1895/45. 3 January 2015. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 8 April 2015. Retrieved19 March 2016 .^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1897/16. 18 January 2015. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 28 January 2015.^ "New Cabinet ministers sworn in" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) ^ "New Cabinet takes oaths" .The Nation (Sri Lanka) the original on 18 January 2015.^ Imtiaz, Zahrah; Moramudali, Umesh (13 January 2015)."27-member cabinet 10 State ministers 08 Deputy ministers" .Ceylon Today the original on 18 January 2015. ^ Perera, Yohan (13 July 2015)."Good Governance MoU signed" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved19 March 2016 . ^ "Disillusioned supporters of Sri Lanka President form a new front with UNP to contest parliamentary elections" .Colombo Page . 11 July 2015.^ Rajasingham, K. T. (12 July 2015)."A Broad Holy Alliance for Good Governance – Minus Maithripala Srisena" .Asian Tribune ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, No. 1 OF 1981" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1928/03. 19 August 2015. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.^ "Ranil tops with over 500,000 votes in Colombo" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF) .The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 1932/07. 14 September 2015.[permanent dead link ^ "New Cabinet" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) ^ "The new Cabinet" .Ceylon Today the original on 7 September 2015.^ "JHU, Tamil Progressive Alliance and SLMC to support Sajith's Alliance" .News First . 12 February 2020. Retrieved11 July 2025 .^a b "Kandy District preferential vote results" .www.adaderana.lk . 15 November 2024. Retrieved11 July 2025 .^ "Features" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ Abeynayake, Rajpal (13 October 2002)."A different parlour game altogether" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ Jayasekara, Bandula (4 March 2016)."Anagarika Mahinda, Soprano Ranil, CBK into Coconuts" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ Satyapalan, Franklin R. (7 October 2005)."Suicide drama in Hakeem's compound" .The Island (Sri Lanka) ^ "Rauff Hakeem cheated me in love" .Daily News (Sri Lanka) ^ "We will pay you Rs. 20 million" .The Sunday Leader the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved16 October 2016 .^ Hettiarachchi, Kumudini (23 October 2005)."From fame to flames" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ Jayasinghe, Jayampathy (9 October 2005)."Kumari Cooray suicide : Police probe security lapse" .Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) Archived from the original on 4 January 2006. Retrieved19 March 2016 . ^ Fuard, Asif (9 October 2005)."Police question Hakeem on Kumari's death" .The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) ^ Jayakody, Pradeep (28 August 2015)."The Comparison of Preferential Votes in 2015 & 2010" .The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
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