Sheikha Fatima Residence for Female Students in Sri Lanka
His Excellency Saeed Al Nuaimi, the UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Sri Lanka, laid the foundation stone for the “Sheikha Fatima Residence for Muslim Female Students” during a grand ceremony held on Monday, attended by more than 500 dignitaries. The residence, funded by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, is estimated to cost around 20 million Sri Lankan Rupees.
The six-story building will include a ground floor dedicated to cultural and educational activities, including Quran memorization and Arabic language education, and halls for conferences and lectures. The upper floors (from the second to the sixth) will accommodate about 300 female students, significantly increasing capacity from the current 30-student facility.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Alavi Moulana, Governor of the Western Province and former Minister of Labor; Haji A.M. Marleen, President of the Moor Cultural Association; Farida Sharifuddin, President of the Women’s Association of the Moor Cultural Association; members of parliament; and Arab and Muslim diplomats accredited to Sri Lanka.
In his address, His Excellency Saeed Al Nuaimi highlighted the significant humanitarian and charitable contributions of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. He noted that under her guidance, the UAE women’s movement has embraced international visions, enabling it to play an essential role in global activities, especially those concerning women and children.
He emphasized that Her Highness’s efforts have inspired local, regional, and international organizations to honor her with numerous medals and awards, which not only reflect her achievements in family, women, and child care within the UAE but also showcase the international recognition she has received for her work abroad. He mentioned that Her Highness was named “Personality of the Year 2001” by UNICEF in acknowledgment of her continuous efforts to care for children worldwide.
He explained that Her Highness’s commitment to child welfare extends beyond the UAE. She has devoted significant efforts to alleviating the suffering of children in the occupied Palestinian territories and supporting orphans and widows in conflict zones globally. Her achievements include extensive contributions to rehabilitating areas affected by earthquakes, establishing charitable institutions, medical rehabilitation centers, facilities for people with disabilities, and associations dedicated to women’s development, motherhood, and childhood care.
His Excellency also listed the numerous regional and international accolades bestowed upon Her Highness, including A special shield from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 1986, The Golden Fish Award from the Egyptian Girls Guidance Association in 1989, The “Humanitarian Personality of the Year” award was given in 1989 by the Rashid Center for the Disabled in Dubai, “Family Personality” from the International Family Organization in 1999, The Marie Curie Medal from UNESCO in 1999, A shield and certificate of appreciation from Kuwait’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in 1999, The Literacy Award from the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science (ALECSO) in 2002, The UNHCR’s Gold Badge, typically reserved for heads of state whose countries provide significant support to the UNHCR, recognizes her initiative to establish a special fund for refugee women with an initial donation of $500,000.
Farida Sharifuddin, President of the Women’s Association of the Moor Cultural Association, delivered a speech during the ceremony, praising Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her generous initiative, which she said fulfilled a long-held dream of the institution. She noted that Her Highness’s generosity is well-known and recognized worldwide for supporting charitable and humanitarian efforts.
Haji A.M. Marleen, President of the Moor Cultural Association, also spoke, highlighting the UAE’s prominent role in charitable and humanitarian efforts, with particular appreciation for Her Highness Sheikha Fatima’s support for the association’s projects in Sri Lanka.
