The Saudi Arabia Embassy in Sri Lanka held a ceremony on the occasion of the celebration of International Arabic Language Day under the theme ‘The Arabic Language – The Language of Poetry and Arts’ at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo on Monday (18).
The ceremony was attended by a number of prominent Ministers and Members of Parliament, including State Minister of Rural Economy Kadar Masthan, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress Rishad Bathiudeen, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, and government officials from a number of ministries, including the Foreign Ministry, heads of the diplomatic missions, Islamic leaders and media personnel.
During this ceremony, Deputy Head of the Mission, Minister Plenipotentiary, Abdul-Elah Arkobi delivered a speech in which he explained the Kingdom’s interest in the Arabic language – the language of Holy Qur’an, since the era of the founder of the Kingdom, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, until the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Kingdom’s efforts to spread and promote the Arabic language within and outside Saudi Arabia through establishing universities and institutes and launching many initiatives and programmes to teach the Arabic language.
The establishing of the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language is also one such initiative to serve the classical Arabic language regionally and globally, spread and empower it, and maintain its integrity.
Professor Syed Mohamed Mohamed Mazahir, Senior Lecturer, the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, University of South-Eastern Sri Lanka, and Professor Mohamed Salim, Senior Lecturer, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Peradeniya, also gave speeches in which they explained the status of the Arabic language and the importance of celebrating the International Day.
They also spoke of the role of the Arabic language in the renaissance of nations in general, especially the European Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, in which Arabic knowledge was transferred to other cultures.
They spoke of its role in spreading Greek and Roman sciences and philosophies in the Renaissance era, praising the interest and care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, by serving the classical Arabic language regionally and globally, spreading and empowering it, preserving its integrity, and establishing
the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language to support and strengthen the Arabic language.
During this ceremony, video clips were shown highlighting the valuable efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in spreading the Arabic language and its value, status and beauty inside and outside the Kingdom.
Tables were also placed in a corner of the hotel’s ceremony hall with participation of a number of professional calligraphers to display the beauty of Arabic calligraphy, which attracted the attention and interest of the distinguished guests significantly.
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