Rauff Hakeem facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hon. Rauff Hakeem MP
රවුෆ් හකීම් ரவூப் ஹக்கீம்
Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage
In office 12 January 2015 – 3 June 2019
President	Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Minister of Justice
In office 22 November 2010 – 28 December 2014
President	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	D. M. Jayaratne
Preceded by	Athauda Seneviratne
Succeeded by	Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe
Minister of Posts and Telecommunication
In office 28 January 2007 – 16 December 2007
President	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	D. M. Jayaratne
Minister of Ports Development and Shipping
In office December 2001 – April 2004
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Succeeded by	Mangala Samaraweera
Minister of Internal and International Trade Commerce, Muslim Religious Affairs and Shipping Development
In office 19 October 2000 – 20 June 2001
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
Succeeded by	Ronnie de Mel
Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
In office 25 August 1994 – 18 August 2000
Preceded by	Ariya B. Rekawa
In office 14 September 2000 – 10 October 2000
Succeeded by	Lalith Dissanayake
Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office 2000
Preceded by	M. H. M. Ashraff
Member of Parliament for Kandy District
Incumbent
Assumed office 2010
In office 2000–2004
Member of Parliament for Ampara District
In office 2004–2008
Succeeded by	A. M. M. Naushad
Member of Parliament for National List
In office 2008–2010
Preceded by	Basheer Segu Dawood
In office 1994–2000
Member of the Eastern Provincial Council for Trincomalee District
In office 2008–2008
Succeeded by	A. U. Razik Fareed
Personal details
Born	(1960-04-13) 13 April 1960 (age 64) Nawalapitiya, Ceylon
Political party	Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
Alma mater	Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka Law College
Profession	Attorney-at-law

Abdul Rauff Hibbathul Hakeem (born 13 April 1960) is a Sri Lankan politician and current member of parliament, representing the Kandy electorate since 2010. Hakeem is the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and a member of the United National Front for Good Governance.

Early life and education

Hakeem was born 13 April 1960 in Nawalapitiya in the Kandy District. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo and attended the Sri Lanka Law College, taking oaths as an attorney-at-law. He later gained a LL.M. degree from the University of Colombo.

Political career

Hakeem met M. H. M. Ashraff, founder and leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), whilst working at Faisz Musthapha's chambers.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress

Hakeem joined the SLMC in 1988. He served as general-secretary of the party from 1992 to 2000 and represented it at the All Party Conference between 1991 and 1993. Prior to the 1994 parliamentary election the SLMC entered into an electoral pact with main opposition People's Alliance (PA).

Parliament

After the election Hakeem was appointed as a PA National List MP in the Sri Lankan Parliament. Following the PA's victory the SLMC joined the new government. Ashraff was appointed Minister of Shipping, Ports and Rehabilitation and two other SLMC MPs became deputy ministers whilst Hakeem became Deputy Chairman of Committees.

By 2000 relations between the SLMC and PA had become strained. Earlier, in 1999, Ashraff had founded the National Unity Alliance (NUA) with the aim of creating a "united Sri Lanka by 2012". Ashraff was killed in a mysterious helicopter crash on 16 September 2000. Hakeem contested the 2000 parliamentary election as one of the NUA's candidates in Kandy District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament. He was appointed Minister of Internal and International Trade Commerce, Muslim Religious Affairs and Shipping Development after the election.

Leader of the SLMC

Following the death of Ashraff in September 2000 Hakeem became the SLMC's "thesiya thalaivar" (national leader) but there was a power struggle between Ashraff's widow Ferial Ashraff and Hakeem for control of the party. In June 2001 President Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed Hakeem from the cabinet. As a result, Hakeem and most SLMC MPs left the PA. However, Ferial Ashraff remained in the PA as leader of the NUA.

United National Front

In October 2001 the Hakeem led SLMC joined the United National Party dominated United National Front (UNF). Hakeem contested the 2001 parliamentary election as one of the UNF's candidates in Kandy District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament. The UNF defeated the PA at the election after which Hakeem was appointed Minister of Ports Development and Shipping in the UNF government.

Hakeem contested the 2004 parliamentary election as one of the SLMC's candidates in Ampara District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament. He however lost his cabinet position after the UNF was defeated by the newly formed United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

United People's Freedom Alliance

In January 2007 the SLMC joined the UPFA. Hakeem was rewarded by being appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunication. The SLMC left the UPFA in December 2007. Hakeem resigned from Parliament in April 2008 to contest the provincial council election. He contested the 2008 provincial council election as one of the UNF's candidates in Trincomalee District and was elected to the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC). After the UNF failed to win control of the EPC Hakeem resigned in July 2008 and was appointed as UNF National List MP.

United National Front

Hakeem contested the 2010 parliamentary election as one of the UNF's candidates in Kandy District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament.

United People's Freedom Alliance

In November 2010 the SLMC joined UPFA again. Hakeem was rewarded by being appointed Minister of Justice.

2015 presidential election

The SLMC left the UPFA in December 2014 to support common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential election. President Mahinda Rajapaksa dismissed Hakeem from the cabinet. After the election newly elected President Sirisena rewarded Hakeem by appointing him Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage.

United National Front for Good Governance

In July 2015 the SLMC joined with other anti-Rajapaksa parties to form the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) to contest the parliamentary election. Hakeem was one of the UNFGG's candidates in Kandy District at the 2015 parliamentary election. He was elected and re-entered Parliament. His cabinet portfolio was changed to Minister of City Planning and Water Supply after the election.

Personal life

Hakeem is married to Shanaz (Shahnaz), owner of an ice cream parlour in Colombo.

Electoral history