
Muslim elder & trustee of the mosque; Rauf Arooz

- Meeran Jumma Mosque, 37 Rampart Street
In the Fort, we are very close. When Ban Ki-moon came here in 2016 he met with all the religious leaders and was impressed by our peaceful, multi-faith community. He said this is a nice place to live.



Runs in the family
As one of the two trustees selected by the community, I take care of the interests of the mosque. It’s a job that my father also did for 30 years. I was born in 78 Lighthouse Street, my mother’s house, so the Fort has always been home. Growing up my friends and I used to go fishing behind the Lighthouse and Dutch Hospital. We knew the best spots to find different types of fish including mullet. Off the jetty in the old harbour, we would catch small fish using pins with earthworms attached. We would cook them at home and then eat them with string hoppers on the ramparts.
Harmony and cohesion
The Fort community Is very united. I regularly speak to the head monk, as well as the reverend fathers. When we need to discuss important matters, we all meet at the temple. There have been times when Christians and Buddhists have guarded the mosque during prayer time and vice versa. During Ramadan, we invite residents of all faiths to come and break fast with us at the Muslim Cultural Association.
A sweet tooth
In the 1960s, when I was doing my O-Levels, I used to go to Sinhala classes four times a week at the temple. The head monk at that time wouldn’t accept any money but we knew he liked watalappan, a type of caramel pudding, and so my mother would specially make it for him. When we wanted to leave the class early, we would move the clock forward!
Ban Ki-moon
In the Fort, we are very close. When Ban Ki-moon – the then Secretary general of the United Nations - came here in 2016 he met with all the religious leaders and was impressed by our peaceful, multi-faith community. He said this is a nice place to live. Before taking a helicopter to Temple Trees for tea, he even took a 15-minute walk with us on the ramparts.