Defence Ministry holds ‘Ifthar’

Friday, 25 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended a traditional ‘Ifthar’ ceremony at the Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo on Wednesday. The ‘Iftar’ was hosted by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

Special prayers and sermons were conducted to invoke blessings on the people and the nation during the ceremony. Moulavi Fazil Farook made a special sermon. The evening ‘Magrib’ prayer was also conducted soon after the Ifthar ceremony. ‘Ifthar’ is the breaking of fast of Muslims during the month of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world undertake a month long fast during this holy month. It is the third of the five obligations of Islam. Muslims fast from early morning to sundown giving prominence to religious observances.

The Ifthar’ is being held every year under an initiative of Rajapaksa. Muslims will celebrate the ‘Eid Ul Fitr’, the Ramadan festival with the sighting of the new moon that will signify the beginning of the new month of the lunar calendar. Religious dignitaries, Defence Ministry officials, tri forces commanders, professionals, scholars, and security forces officers were also present at the occasion.