125th anniversary of Orabi Pasha's arrival in Ceylon

Kandy Times

More about Sri Lanka than Egypt, but I thought that it might be of interest to some:

Orbi Pasha was a famous Egyptian nationalist and Army leader exiled to Ceylon from 1883 - 1901. He was born in 1842 to a peasant family. After studying at Al-Azhar, Orabi was conscripted to the Army and rose to be a remarkable officer. He was the leader of the National Revolt in Egypt. The discrimination in the Army and mismanagement of the Khedive led to the formation of the National Movement in 1881 under the leadership of Colonel Orabi. They compelled the Khedive to appoint a Revolutionary Government with Orabi as War Minister.

Orabi led a national revolt against the injustices of the Turkish ruler Fewfik, who called on the British to protect him. The Egyptians under Orabi fought gallantly but vainly against the British troops who entered Cairo and occupied Egypt for 70 years. Orabi was arrested and sentenced with six other officers to exile for life in Ceylon.

Orabi is remembered here as a great patriot who inspired the nationalists in Ceylon and influenced the Muslims to build the first modern Muslim school "Zahira College".