One of the leading charities in London, the Sri Lanka Janahanda Foundation held its ninth Annual General Meeting with the full participation of its executive members, and well wishers, at the Indian Cultural Centre, on Sunday 23rd February 2014. Apart from AGM the main purpose was to discuss the forth coming Sinhala and Hindu new year festival which is scheduled to be held on 12th April 2014 in Hounslow Civic Centre main hall.
Few changes were took place as far as office bearers were concern, other than that same office bearers were appointed with unanimous decisions of the members consent.
Mr Sri Lal Dias, the President, out lined the history of Janahanda and its achievements at the outset of the meeting and particularly about last year. He informed the members some additional features will be in the agenda with some Tamil dancing group also due to perform in this new year festival. He also mentioned some philanthropic acts perform by Janahanda in the past by way of distributing of spectacles and wheel chairs of the needy people in Sri Lanka. Also he mentions that plans under way to erect a pandol along with Bhakthi gee may be in the month of May or June, in this year in conjunction with Vesak or Poson poya day celebration.
Mr Neel Nanayakkara addressed the gathering and appreciated the services rendered by Janahanda while highlighting the satisfaction getting a person who cannot see the world when such a person gets a pair of spectacles. Vice President of Janahanda, Mr Shiran Almeida also addressed the gathering and praised the members the forming a chorus and Bakthi gee group for Vesak or Poson especially for important occasions. Their services could be taken even by the high commissioner office other that our own events specially for Poya days.
Mr Asiri Bandara, the media cultural secretary gave a valuable contribution by proposing to have a Bakthi gee group and explained that how it could be work out. “Organising an annual trip for Janahanda members and their family will benefit to improve the bond between the members” he added. Attended members were unanimously agreed the proposal and appreciated. Mr Mahinda Ushettige also gave a voluble contribution by correcting some ideas forwarded by members with his life experience and skills. Also his wife, Mrs Chandrika Ushettige, has promised to give a dancing group for the forth coming New Year festival.
Mrs Manoja Almaida also emphasised that the transparency of that Janahanda foundation at all the time especially we have been given some distribution by different parties it’s our responsibility show them the actual picture and transparency. Accordingly, the President Mr Sri Lal Dias, presented the accounts which involved in all the income and expense pertaining to the events and red in front of the members. After all the members satisfied with figures and the manner in which the disbursements done everybody seconded unanimously.
Patron Miss Surya Samaraweera, Addressing the gathering highly appraised the president efforts in the inception to the Janahanda foundation and the relationship with the Council members, mayor, and the parliament member Hon Seema Malhothra, Hounslow and Heston. She emphasised the difficulty of devoting more time by anybody due to the lifestyle of the country and economic situation of the country, but despite all the difficulties president has devoted his lots of time for the development of the foundation. Also appreciated the speech made by the Mr Neel the valuable contribution of spectacles and wheelchairs to the needy people in Sri Lanka. She also stressed the need for having full membership for the AGM where foundation takes lots of decisions for the forthcoming year.
Just after her speech Mr Kanesh Kanagathurai made a suggestion that the Janahanda must establish a fund by way of collecting membership fees in regular time basis.
Miss Surya Samaraweera, Mrs Nanda Dissanayake, Mr Sunil Perera, Mr Mahinda Ushettige, Mr Wijerathna Bandara and Mr Kamal Abeythilaka who remained as patrons will be working as patrons this year too. The President had arranged a reception at the end of the session for the participants and the meeting was adjourned with a promising note for the Sri Lankan community living in Hounslow and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Janahanda Foundation Committee Members for 2014
President – Mr Sri Lal Dias
Vice President – Mr Shiran Almeida
Secretary – Mr S. P. Vithana Arachchige
Assistant secretaries – Mr Nimesh Wickramasinghe and Mr Sudesh Fonseka
Treasurer – Mr Gamini Muthukumarana
Media and cultural secretary – Mr Asiri Bandara
Committee members – Mr Gamini Dissanayake, Mr Neelanga Bandara, Mr Krishan Wimalarathna, Mr Bandula De Silva, Mr Kumara Pathirana, Mr Kaneh Kanagathurai, Mr Dave Somasundaram, Mr Kannan Sangaralingam, Mr Nilantha Munasinghe, Mrs Manoja Almeida, Mrs Madu Marasinghe, Mrs Niru Hettiarachchi, Mrs Chandrika Perera, Mrs Srimali Perera, Mrs Dammika Dias, Mr Nilantha Kuruppu Arachchige, Mr Jagath Gamunu, Mr Asoka Silva, Mr Viraj Weladage, Mr Devapriya, Mr Neel Nanayakkara.
Written by
Saman Priyantha
Secretary – Janahanda Foundation
