Veteran diplomat, academic, author and columnist Mr. N.M.M. Izeth Hussain has passed away today.
Born in 1927 and educated at St Joseph’s College, Colombo, and University of Ceylon between 1946 to 1950. Graduated with a BA (English Honours) in 1950.
He held the post of Assistant Controller of Immigration and Emigration from 1951 to 1953. He was a member of the Foreign Service from 1953 to 1988. Served in diplomatic missions in the UK, Pakistan, France, Egypt, Philippines, and China. He was an Ambassador in the Philippines from 1982 to 1985. Even after his retirement from the Foreign Service, he was appointed as the Ambassador to Russia from 1995 to 1998.
He has published a large number of articles, seminar papers etc. on a wide variety of subjects including Islam, the Sri Lankan Muslims, International relations, Sri Lankan politics, and literature.
He was a member of the Board of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies from 1989 to 1994. He has been actively involved from the inception in the effort to establish the Sailan Muslim website.
He has written more than 200 articles to Colombo Telegraph voluntarily like most of our contributors.
The funeral will take place tomorrow night (14th June) at 10.00 p.m. at the muslim burial grounds, Dehiwela Jumma Mosque, hospital Road, Dehiwela.
