Charity Dinner Dance 2011 - Sri Lanka Ex-Service Persons Association in the UK

The success of national reconciliation and lasting peace requires the recognition of the plurality of societal interests, as well as the multiplicity of various intellectual, political, social, and cultural perspectives. The success of reconciliation requires the participation of all the various components of the community in the process. Sri Lanka Ex-Service Persons Association in the UK (SLESPA-UK) was formed keeping in mind that we are the first generation with the responsibility to rebuild post-war Sri Lanka, and during the 1^st year, the inaugural committee laid a strong foundation to facilitate reconciliation and build a lasting peace among Sri Lankans. In this context, SLESPA-UK identified two charities that require immediate attention; - to complete the hostel building for orphaned young girls at Ave Maria Girls Orphanage, Ramanathapuram, Kilinochchi, and to provide furniture for the Ex-Service’s Veterans home in Bolagala, Katana.

To support these two charities, SLESPA-UK held its 1^st fund raising dinner dance, on the 1^st of July 2011, at Baylis House Hotel, Slough, Berkshire, with participation of Ex-Service personnel, their families and friends from all over the UK. The evening started by observing 2 minutes silence to remember all those who had died during the 30 years of war in Sri Lanka.

The Chief Guest was the SLESPA UK Patron - Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK, Mr. P.M. Amza. The SLESPA-UK Vice Patron, Defence Advisor to the Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK, Major General Prasanna Silva was the honoured guest. The Guests were welcomed by the President SLESPA UK - Capt. (Rtd.) Mahen Abayasekera, and the Chairman of the Dance Committee, Wing Commander (Rtd.) Sanath Sahabandu. The discussion and presentation of pictures of the Orphanage and Veteran’s home were received with great empathy. Many offered their continuous help for the two projects. Speaking at the event, Mr. Hamza said that it was gratifying to see SLESPA-UK in the forefront of supporting Sri Lankans irrespective of ethnicity as they did whilst in active service, highlighting that SLESPA-UK not only bettered the lives of retired soldiers through their Charity projects, but most importantly supports to provide facilities to make a better future for the innocent young Tamil girls orphaned by the cruel war. The President of SLESPA-UK, Capt. (Rtd.) Mahen Abayasekera said “it remains an undisputed fact that every ex-service person in our association has played an important role in bringing the peace back to Sri Lanka, we feel that it is our bounden duty to support our mother Lanka by helping those severely affected from the brutal war”. He further requested all present to spread the news about SLESPA-UK Charity Projects and invite further support and encouragement for our worthy causes.

As darkness fell over, it became a sparkling evening of conversation, entertainment and dancing for all who gathered at Baylis House. SkyHigh Band took the party up a notch as their expertly woven tunes kept the guests on the dance floor. They only stopped to enjoy the sumptuous buffet dinner, that featured an abundance of colours, fragrances, flavours and textures of Sri Lankan gastronomy. Two weeks holiday in the Mediterranean Island of Majorca was the First of several Prizes that were offered in the Grand Raffle that followed. This wonderful evening was brought to a close at midnight with the rendition of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and Britain.

The members of SLESPA-UK send their grateful thanks and appreciation to all the wonderful people who helped to make this first event a great success, including Bank of Ceylon Ltd., Paradise Travel and Tours Ltd, S. Satha & Co. Solicitors, Palis Solicitors, Iskara UK Ltd, The Gardner UK Ltd., CodeGen, Pinewood & Genesis Tower Rest Homes, Sri Lanka Association of South East (UK), Tahitan Noni Juice, Todation, Sri Lanka Elegant Travel & Tours and Lanka Viththi for providing advertisements for the souvenir, Media partners - NewsLanka and Sesatha Web for their continuous support in sending our messages across to the Diaspora in the UK and abroad, Mrs. Niranjala Senevirathne volunteering to provide exotic floral decorations, Dr. Malika Perera and Dr. Sirinimal Fernando volunteering for photography, Mr. Ritesh Chawla and Mr. Shahzad of Baylis House for their immense support in organising the event, . Mr. Manjula Munasinghe and the Sky High band for their excellent entertainment, Sister Rita Anthonypillai of the Sisters of Charity, Ramanathapuram, Kilinochchi and Capt. (Rtd.) Patrick Jayasinghe, the President of Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen Association (SLEASA) in Sri Lanka, Rear Admiral (Rtd.) S.R. Samarasinghe and Lt. (Rtd.) Pemasiri Senevirathne, the President of the Management Committee and, the Resident Manager respectively, of the Ex-Service’s Veterans home in Bolagala Katana for their cordial support by arranging visits, giving us required information and photographs, and last , but not least, all those who attended the Dance and contributed towards the Charity fund.

For more information or donations please contact the Hon. Secretary Lt. (Rtd.) Suran Fernando on 07949584066, or email to info@slespauk.org. Web site: slespauk.org.

(SLESPA-UK Media Team)

Observing two minutes silence as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the war (below)

Sesatha web on Facebook. Join now