M. H. M. Ashraff

Mohammed Hussain Mohammed Ashraff (; 23 October 1948 – 16 September 2000) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician, government minister and founder of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

Early life and family Ashraff was born on 23 October 1948 in Sammanthurai in south-eastern Ceylon. He was the son of Mohammed Meera Lebbe Hussain, a village headman, and Matheena Ummah. Ashraff grew up in Kalmunai where his maternal family, the Kariappers, were very influential. He was educated at Wesley College, Kalmunai. After school he joined Ceylon Law College, passing his examination with first class honours.

Ashraff married Ferial. They had one son, Aman.

Career Law After qualifying Ashraff started practising criminal law in the Eastern Province in 1974. He joined the Attorney-General's Department as a state counsel in 1975 after a short while returned to practising law. He worked as a part-time journalist on the Dinapathi daily newspaper whilst studying at Ceylon Law College. Later he published a left-wing magazine called Samathuvam (Equality). Ashraff was appreciative of this.

The government's decision to resume diplomatic ties with Israel also caused problems. He was re-elected at the 1994 parliamentary election. Prior to the election the SLMC had entered into an electoral pact with main opposition People's Alliance (PA). Two other SLMC MPs became deputy ministers whilst Hakeem became Deputy Chairman of Committees. Ashraff resigned from the government on 22 August 2000, stating that he was severing all ties with the PA and that the SLMC would contest the 2000 parliamentary election on its own, and left for pilgrimage to Mecca but President Chandrika Kumaratunga refused to accept his resignation. On returning to Sri Lanka Ashraff settled his differences with the government and resumed his cabinet position.

Death

On the morning of 16 September 2000, at around 9.30am, Ashraff boarded a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-17 helicopter at the Police Grounds at Bambalapitiya. The flight to Ampara District was to have taken him over Kandy, Randenigala, Maha Oya and Iginiyagala.

The weather at the time of the crash was good. However, neither found any conclusive evidence for the crash's cause.

Electoral history + Electoral history of M. H. M. AshraffElectionConstituencyPartyVotesResult 1989 parliamentary Ampara District SLMC Elected 1994 parliamentary Ampara District SLMC Elected