Kelaniya Grads get-together
Posted on January 29th, 2018
By A Special Correspondent
The University of Kelaniya Alumni Association Canada (UKAAC) celebrated its fifth anniversary in Brampton, Ontario, on January 13 with a get-together. More than 100 university graduates and their family members attended the function.
The proceedings began with the lighting the traditional oil lamp by President Dhanapala Gamage, Secretary Anura Kumara Munasinghe and Treasurer Keerthi Hettiachchige, Committee members Nihal Anthony, Rashanthi Hettiarachchi, Prasad Hewagama, Mahen Mudalige, Raveendra de Silva and Weerasiti Nanayakkara.
From left Secretary Anura Kumara Munasinghe, President Dhanapala Gamage and Treasurer Keerthi Hettiachchige)
Making the welcome speech President Dhanapala Gamage described the events of the past year and the development of the association. The most important event of the year was the organizing of the inter-alumni cricket tournament which the UKAAC hosted last year. The other important programme was the screening of the film Aadaraneeya Kathawak to generate funds for community events. The successful dansela the UKAAC held to coincide with the Vesak festival was a resounding success, he said.
The celebrations featured several local dance items by Sri Lankan girls trained by alumni committee members Rashanthi Hettiarachchi. A special feature of the UKAAC is many members are excellent singers and even an ordinary committee meeting ends with a singsong. Some members sang popular classical and pop numbers to entertain the guests at the get-together. Some children also sang with their parents.
In his Vote of Thanks Secretary Anura Kumara Munasinghe said the launching of the association website during this year’s get-together was special. In response to a suggestion by Weerasiri Nanayakkara to organize the annual get-together in the spring or summer to avoid bad weather, he said the committee would look into the matter.
The association is also paying special attention to the scholarship fund to help the deserving students, he said, urging the members to take a keen interest in the programme.