M.N. Junaid no more

Mohamed Nabavi Junaid

Well-known top officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) Mohamed Nabavi Junaid passed away peacefully at his residence in Colombo in the early hours of Tuesday 17 August at the age of 78. He was buried at the Jawatte Jumma Masjid burial grounds the same day at a private funeral.

Nabavi Junaid had served 12 out of 47 years of his unbroken career as an SLAS officer as Secretary to several ministries, including the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Administrative Reforms, Ministry of Interior and Christian Affairs and Ministry of Shipping, Ports, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Muslim Affairs.

From 2005 to 2008, Junaid served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, during which period he succeeded in getting enhanced pay packages for Sri Lankans employed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Born in Dickwella on 18 December 1942, he had his education entirely in the Sinhala medium commencing his studies at St. Mary’s College, Hambantota. He had a better command of Sinhala than of his mother tongue Tamil.

He often would recall nostalgically the early period of service in Badulla, Moneragala, Wellawaya and Koslanda where he became known for encouraging sugar cultivation amongst the rural population, providing the better income. He took pride in initiating the South Asia Gateway Terminal Project in the Colombo Port when he was Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Ports. He leaves behind his wife Fawzia, daughter Rizla and three sons Ashtar, Arshad and Althaf.