ISSN: 1391 - 0531 Sunday March 2, 2008 Vol.

42 - No 40
Kandy Times

That exile from Egypt who inspired many

125th anniversary celebration of Orabi Pasha’s arrival in Ceylon

By Udumbara Udugama

Colonel Orabi Pasha came to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, 125 years ago. A special programme
has been planned on March 8 at the Orabi Pasha Cultural Centre in Kandy to
commemorate his visit, Director of the Orabi Pasha Cultural Centre, Mohamed
Saleemdeen told Kandy Times.

The event will take place under the patronage of Gehan Amin, Ambassador of the Arab
Republic of Egypt in Sri Lanka with Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor, Central Province as
the Chief Guest.

Orbi Pasha was a famous

Egyptian nationalist and Army
leader exiled to Ceylon from
1883 - 1901. He was born in
1842 to a peasant family. After
studying at Al-Azhar, Orabi was
conscripted to the Army and rose
to be a remarkable officer. He
was the leader of the National
Revolt in Egypt. The
discrimination in the Army and mismanagement of the Khedive led to the formation of the
National Movement in 1881 under the leadership of Colonel Orabi. They compelled the
Khedive to appoint a Revolutionary Government with Orabi as War Minister.

Orabi led a national revolt against the injustices of the Turkish ruler Fewfik, who called on
the British to protect him. The Egyptians under Orabi fought gallantly but vainly against
the British troops who entered Cairo and occupied Egypt for 70 years. Orabi was arrested
and sentenced with six other officers to exile for life in Ceylon.

Orabi is remembered here as a great patriot who inspired the nationalists in Ceylon and
influenced the Muslims to build the first modern Muslim school "Zahira College".
According to the information published by the Orabi Pasha Foundation, Colonel Orabi
Pasha and six other officers were sent with their families by a special train to Suez under
tight security. The following day, December 27, 1882 they left Suez on the chartered ship
SS Mariotis. Its destination was Serendib or Ceylon, which was chosen as the country of
exile for these seven soldiers.
On January 10, 1883 the Mariotis anchored in the Colombo harbour. It is stated that the
Muslim community gathered to welcome the exiles. The Police cleared the way to the
carriages prepared to transfer the exiles to their residences. Orabi Pasha was taken to the
Lake House and the rest to different places. A Muslim constable was assigned to each
house to guard the occupants.

The exiles established good relations with the Ceylonese, particularly with the Muslims.
This association influenced the language and dress of the Muslims who began to wear the
Egyptian trousers and the fez (Turboush), imitating the Pashas. During his 19 years of
exile, Orabi Pasha inspired the Ceylonese nationalists and influenced the Muslim
community. He guided them and they, with the leading members of the community such
as Siddi Lebbe, Wapiche Marikar and Careemjee Jefferjee, founded Zahira College in
1892 in honour of Orabi Pasha who was chosen as the first Honorary Chairman of the
School.

It was called Zahira after Al Azhar University in

Cairo, which pays for the maintenance of four
teachers in the college. The exiles had felt the ill
effects of the climate in Colombo. Helmi Pasha
died in 1891 in Colombo. The others moved to
Kandy in 1892. Orabi Pasha lived in the house
known as 'Arabi House'. Mohamed Fahim Pasha
died in 1894 and Yacoub Pasha in 1899. Toulba
Pasha was the first exile to be permitted to return
to Egypt in 1899 due to ill health. Thereafter, El
Barondi Pasha left for Egypt. Ali Fahmi Pasha
and Orabi Pasha got their pardon in 1901. On
September 17,1901 the German Ship 'Princess
Orabi Pasha: Remembered as a great Irene' sailed from the Colombo Harbour with
patriot. Orabi Pasha and his family to their motherland
Egypt, where he died peacefully on September
21, 1911.

Mr. Saleemdeen stated that the Orabi Pasha Cultural Centre and the Museum of the
Embassy of Egypt in Sri Lanka which was established in Kandy are a glowing tribute to
these heroes. The Cultural Centre and the Foundation are dedicated to the upliftment of
the standard of education of the less privileged students of all communities.

The Cultural Centre has a library and a reading room. Five university students have been
selected for scholarship grants this year. There is a pre-school at the Centre with over 25
children in attendance. The Professional Studies Department trains pre-school teachers
who obtain a diploma. He stated that most of these teachers are from nearby villages in
Kandy and once they pass the examination they open their own pre-schools in their
villages.

There are language courses in Arabic, Sinhala and English. Vocational training is provided
in the fields of dress-making, cookery & Wilton cake decoration, beauty culture and bridal
dressing. "We will start computer studies in the near future," Mr. Saleemdeen said. Classes
in knitting, crochet work, patchwork & quilting, fabric painting, flower making, ribbon
and machine embroidery, curtain making are very popular where many girls have been
trained and most of them are self-employed.

The Centre also has other activities such as Islamic religious events, educational seminars
and workshops, health and nutrition awareness programmes and exhibitions and sale of
the students’ work. "During the past 20 years our Centre has trained over 3700 girls
mostly school leavers in the field of vocational education. Most students attending our
classes are from low income families. So, we charge a very nominal fee. Therefore, we
face regular financial constraints to meet our monthly budgeted expenditure for
maintenance and staff salaries. We depend on donations from well-wishers to bridge our
budget," Mr. Saleemdeen said.

In 1983, in anticipation of the Centenary Commemoration of the arrival of Orabi Pasha in

Ceylon Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel as President of the 'All Ceylon Muslim League' appointed the
Orabi Pasha Centenary Committee. They organised a meeting on January 1, 1983 at
Zahira College, Colombo, under the auspices of R. Premadasa, the Prime Minister at the
time. At this meeting it was decided to declare 1983 as Orabi Pasha Year in Sri Lanka and
the Prime Minister approved the following recommendations - the purchase of the Orabi
Pasha House in Kandy by the Egyptian Embassy for its transformation into a permanent
Museum, the naming of part of Maradana Road as Orabi Pasha Street, and in return the
naming of a road in Cairo as Sri Lanka Street; and the issuing of a commemorative stamp
for Orabi Pasha (the Egyptian Government also decided to do the same)

The Sri Lanka Stamp Bulletin No. 148 - commemorative issue - 13, November 1983
states: "The Minister of Posts and Telecommunication will issue today a postage stamp in
the denomination of .50 cents to mark the Orabi Pasha Year in Sri Lanka.”

During the course of the Orabi Pasha Year 1983, President J.R. Jayawardene paid an
official friendly visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from June 18 - 26. This was the first
State visit of any Sri Lankan President to Egypt. The Orabi Pasha Museum at No. 26,
George E. de Silva Mawatha, Kandy was inaugurated on November 13, 1983 in the
presence of an Egyptian delegation headed by Mohamed Abdl Hamid Radwan, Egyptian
Minister of State for Culture, as representative of Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of
the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Mr. Saleemdeen stated that on March 8, 2008 at the 125th anniversary celebration, there
will be an extensive programme with an opening address by the Ambassador of the Arab
Republic of Egypt in Sri Lanka, a video film on Orabi Pasha, a students' programme, 125
Anniversary Souvenir launch, Orabi Pasha oration by Dr. M.S.M. Anes, address by the
Chief Guest Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and presentation of awards. There will be an exhibition
of the work of the students of the Orabi Pasha Cultural Centre.

(The information on Orabi Pasha is from the publications by the Embassy of the Arab
Republic of Egypt and the Orabi Pasha Foundation.)

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