Welcome to the website of The Ceylon Muslim Scholarship Fund

The Muslims of Sri Lanka suffered heavily during colonial rule under the Portuguese and Dutch for nearly three centuries from 1505. In education, they were in a state of regression. In 1796, the British replaced the Dutch, who were more tolerant, but the Muslims were far behind in education. The Muslims were conspicuously unrepresented in holding high positions in the administration and the professions.

In 1935, Marhoom Dr. A.M.A. Azeez, the first Muslim Civil Servant and eminent educationist, realised that many Muslim students were unable to obtain education at all levels due to poverty. He believed that improving the lot of Muslims in all spheres required prioritizing education.

Dr. Azeez founded the CMSF with the support of another eminent leader and educationist, Marhoom Dr. T.B. Jayah, who emphasized the importance of the CMSF for the upliftment of Muslims. The CMSF’s objective is to ensure that no capable and deserving Muslim scholar in any part of Sri Lanka is deprived of education due to lack of money.

The CMSF, established in 1945, has played a significant role in advancing Muslim education. It stands as a landmark in the history of Muslim education in Sri Lanka.

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