Senior business leader Hussein Cassim passes away

Hussein Cassim

Senior business leader Hussein Cassim passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 95.

His remains will leave residence, at No. 14, Sulaiman Avenue, Off Jawatte Road, Colombo 5 to the Jawatte Muslim Burial Grounds at 3.00 p.m. today (Monday 21 September 2020).

Among many achievements in and contribution to Sri Lanka includes attracting Singapore tycoon S.P.Tao in 1990 to build the World Trade Centre via Overseas Realty (Ceylon) Limited, the Board of which he has served since 1991. He was the Deputy Chairman of the Company until his demise. 

He was born on 9 September 1925 and was the eldest in the family of six hailing from Galle. 

Cassim was a multi-faceted personality. He was an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers, London, having qualified in the Inter-arts Examination of London, in 1950. 

He held the post of Secretary to the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1952 to 1956. He was appointed General Manager of Ceylon Shipping Lines in 1958 and held this post until 1963. He was the Chairman of HZ Cassim & Co Shipping Agents from 1963 to 1971 till he relocated to Singapore. 

From 1960 till of late he has held executive and non-executive directorates in Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Cassim was also a member of the Panel of Advisors of the United Nations Youth Federation of Sri Lanka from May 1999 to 2004. 

He was the first President of the Sri Lanka-Singapore Business Council, an affiliate of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.