Prominent Lankan community member in Qatar dead

Imtiaz Zavahir, a prominent Sri Lankan community member and long-time resident of  Qatar, died in Doha recently. He was 54.Zavahir, who was fondly known as Imti among the community members, was buried at Abu Hamour. He had been ailing for some time.He is survived by his wife Fazeelath and daughters Farahath and Fareeha.Zavahir arrived in Qatar in the early eighties. He joined the travel trade, and was attached to the Ali Bin Ali group, working initially at Gulf Travel Agency and later at Ali Bin Ali Travels, when Air Lanka started their operations to Doha.He later joined Emirates as a senior sales executive. Subsequently, he joined Gulf Air in the same capacity.He was passionate about sports and engaged himself in various sports such as cricket, rugby, basketball and hockey, in association with the group Cavaliers, the members of which later formed the Lanka Lions in 1983. He was one of its founder members.  He was elected Lions president in 2003.“His passing away has created a void that Lanka Lions in particular and the Sri Lankans in general will find it difficult to fill,”  Lokitha Karavita, president, Lanka Lions, said.