Gift Foundation Celebrates the Academic Success of PhD Awardee Dr S. M. Thameem
The Gift Foundation (formerly Gift of Knowledge) is delighted to share that Dr Sainulabdeen M Thameem (PhD, MPhil, MHRMC800, BA Hons), a recipient of the Gift Foundation’s support, has successfully defended his PhD dissertation at the University of Birmingham, under the supervision of Dr Richard Todd (DPhil, MSt, BA Hons), Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Department of Theology and Religion.
His research, titled “Engaging with the Non-Muslim Other: The Portrayal of Sri Lanka in the Medieval Islam (9th – 15th Centuries)”, offers a significant contribution to inter-faith and historical studies.
Dr Thameem expressed his deep gratitude to Sheikha Selina Begum Ali, trustees and supporters of the Gift Foundation for their continued support, and offered prayers in memory of Sheikh Fahim (رحمه الله), whose vision continues to inspire future scholars.
Gift Foundation remains committed to nurturing academic excellence and empowering scholars dedicated to knowledge, compassion, and service.
Profile of the Dr Sainulabdeen M. Thameem
Senior Lecturer, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Dr Sainulabdeen M. Thameem is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His academic interests lie in interfaith engagement, Islamic history, and cultural interactions in the Indian Ocean region.
He obtained his BA (2008) and MPhil (2015) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and participated in the Master of Human Rights and Multiculturalism exchange programme at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) in 2017. Supported by the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) initiative of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, he pursued his PhD at the University of Birmingham, focusing on “Engaging with the Non-Muslim Other: The Portrayal of Sri Lanka in the Medieval Islam (9th–15th Centuries).”
Dr Thameem has presented papers at several international conferences, including at the University of Birmingham and the University of Peradeniya, exploring topics such as the historical portrayal of Ceylon, Arabic usage in Sri Lanka, and post-war interethnic coexistence.
He is a member of the Historians of Islamic Arts Association (HIAA) and the Sri Lanka National Association of Counsellors.