RIYADH: Prominent sportsman and Sri Lankan community leader Abdul Hameed Imthias Hameed, 52, died after a brief illness at the Saad Specialist Hospital in Alkhobar on Sunday.
Hameed was the founder president of the Sri Lankan Sport Club in Damman and had also served as president of Dammam Cricket Association. He has also held several positions in the Sri Lankan Expatriates Association (SLEA) in the Eastern Province and was its vice president in 2007. He had taken an active role in his community events and was largely responsible in amalgamating several Lankan bodies in the Eastern Province into one .
As an old boy of Zahira College, he had served his alma mater as its senior prefect and had played for college at hockey, soccer and rugger.
His close friend Ahmad Hashim told Arab News that it was not only a great loss for his family but also a greater loss for the community. “ He was an amiable person who was good to everyone including his friends and foes,” he said, pointing out that a Saudi neighbor of the deceased, Hussein, went out of his way to facilitate the quick clearance of the documents related to the funeral arrangements. He also took the opportunity to thank the officials of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh and friends and relatives who extended their cooperation during the illness of the deceased.
“Imthias Hameed was instrumental in organizing the Tsunami fund project 2004 in Eastern province and pioneered the revival of SLEA-EP after its collapse in 2002, has been doing a tremendous service to the Sri Lankan community in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and is known to everybody as a person who has a great enthusiasm for the betterment and well-being of the Sri Lankan expatriates for the past 30 years, “ a statement from SLEA said .
“Cricket was in his blood. He did everything possible to spread the game of cricket among his Sri Lankan community,” Mohamed Zaneefer said , recalling that Sri Lanka Sports Club popularly known as SLSC was his brainchild.” He was one of the founding members of this club and the livewire behind the existence and success of this club. It has been in existence for over 10 years now. This was a club open to all Sri Lankans be they topnotch executives or people who came to be employed as laborers. There was no discrimination on the basis of one’s standing and status and all were treated equally.”
“ He was elected to head the Dammam Cricket Association (DCA) and 2009 being its 25th year, he had grand plans to celebrate it. He had a vision to raise funds for the association through various activities so that the association will be financially stable and further improve the quality of tournaments organized in the Eastern Province, “ Mohammed Ifham lamented.
The deceased has been working for Dallah Trading Company for more than two decades. Hameed is survived by his wife Shaheerin, son Shazly and two daughters Shazna and Shaza. The funeral took place at the Thuqbah Burial Grounds in Dammam on Monday. For condolences, people can contact tel. 038679014 — Mobile: 0563292993 or email: [email protected].
