The Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK (“APSL”) held its Autumn Event Road show “Northern Lights” on Saturday 22 November 2008 at the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield.
The proceedings got off to a prompt start with the President of APSL Dr Andrew Nayagam welcoming everybody including many who had travelled from London and Manchester . This was of course in addition to those who attended from the area. As is customary in most Sri Lankan events, the traditional oil lamp was lit by the President Dr Andrew Nayagam, the General Secretary Mr Mervyn Silva, Vice Presidents Prof I.M. Dharmadasa, Dr Marc Ranjith Dissanayake and Dr Keerthi Devendra together with the Chief Executive of First Wakefield Development Agency, Mr Mohan de Silva.
Professor Dharmadasa then introduced the first topic for discussion which was “Corruption” and the audience was split into three break out sessions. They were ‘Causes of Corruption’, ‘Effects of corruption’ and ‘how to minimise corruption’. Mr Rohan de Alwis and Dr Andrew Nayagam were the moderators of the Causes of corruption break out group with Dr Marc Dissanayake and Dr Anya Perera moderating on the ‘effects of corruption’ with Dr Keerthi Devendra and Mr Mohan de Silva taking the lead on ‘how to minimise corruption’. The break out groups participated freely and with a great degree of enthusiasm which resulted in an free and honest exchange of views. Thereafter the Conference was reconvened to the main auditorium and all three topics reported back and a full and frank discussion took place. The final results, as Prof. Dharmadasa informed the conference will be reported not just in English but also in Sinhala and Tamil. So watch the space...!
The General Secretary of the APSL, Mr Mervyn Silva then addressed the Conference, and made an impressive power point presentation on what APSL is about and why the members are committed to it and invited those participants who had not joined APSL to do so. Mr Silva impressed upon the Conference that the professionalism of Sri Lankans was reflected in the many companies, departments and agencies Sri Lankans were engaged in either as leaders or in influential positions of authority. APSL therefore stood to harness the experience and the goodwill of those experienced and leading members for the benefit of Sri Lankan as well as to those members who may wish to avail themselves of the advantages offered to them by it.
The Keynote Address was delivered by Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, the Chair of the UK body spearheading research and implementation of Nano-technology in Healthcare. Prof Homer-Vanniasinkam delivered her Address on “Nano Technology in healthcare: Clinician - Scientist’s perspective” The audience was so consumed by the very interesting aspects of nano-technology that soon after the Address Prof Homer-Vanniasinkam received a standing ovation followed by very many questions that took the Conference over the allocated 45 minutes for the Address.
Dr Marc Dissanayake delivered the Vote of Thanks and commented that each year the “out of London Event” was attracting greater numbers of non-London based Sri Lankans to APSL. He recorded with appreciation and gratitude the “behind the scenes” hard work of Mr Mervyn Silva, Prof Dharmadasa, Mr Mohan Siriwardena, Mr Chaminda Pathirage, and also recorded his appreciation of Mr Mohan de Silva, the Chief Executive of First Wakefield in sponsoring the Northern Lights Event. Dr Dissanayake also thanked the Keynote Speaker, Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam for the excellent and very interesting Address and proudly appreciated her as a distinguished Sri Lankan in the international world.
The second phase of the Northern Lights Event was the Social Networking followed by a Grand Dinner Dance at the same venue. The Buffet, rice and curry cooked in many styles was indeed grand and the diners after enjoying the meal very much, flowed onto the Dance Floor swiftly to be entertained by Chulani de Alwis and her Band until the clock struck 12 midnight. In between there was a raffle draw where many prizes were won by those lucky ticket holders. What a co-incidence it was when Prof Dharmadasa won the second prize, and before anyone from the audience was able to shout “foul” or “inside job”, he as always was magnanimous enough to return the prize so that someone else was able to win it. Many guests from London stayed over to enjoy the Tour of the Coal Mines on the Sunday.
A great and big THANK YOU to the Organisers, the Sponsors and above all to all those participated.
Report by Charles de Alwis