APSL

The First Annual APSL Convention

The first annual APSL (Association of Professional Sri Lankans in UK) convention was held on Saturday 21 November 2009, at the Portland Hotel-Birmingham. The event was ‘houseful’, exceeding the target audience and closing ticket sales two weeks before the event.

Since the formation of APSL in February 2004, it was decided that it should not only engage Sri Lankans in and around London, but actively seek the participation of those who live in the regions. As a result, events have been organised in different parts of the country. Previous events were held in Nottingham, Slough, Salford, Wakefield and the latest was held in Birmingham for the benefit of Sri Lankans living in the West Midlands. This year, APSL has embarked upon having an annual event in Sri Lanka in addition to its events in the United Kingdom. Therefore, a workshop was held in Sri Lanka this year (21 July 2009), at the BMICH in collaboration with the SLSEA (Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority) to finalise the solar energy strategy for Sri Lanka.  The final proposal was handed to H.E. the President of Sri Lanka to form the basis of the Policy in Sri Lanka.

View Shiranee's presentation

The events in the U.K. usually have two main parts. A formal educational workshop first, followed by an enjoyable social event including a delicious Sri Lankan dinner, music and dance till midnight. APSL events aim to achieve two common purposes.  The first is to get professionals from every sector to meet up, interact, learn from each others knowledge and experience and become better professionals.  The second aim is to contribute to Sri Lanka in order to build long term peace and prosperity. The events are becoming more popular and the APSL membership has been growing at an impressive rate.

View Mervyn's discussion outline

During the Birmingham Convention, presentations were made by the General Secretary, Eng. Ranjan Perera on "APSL and it's activities", Dr Athula Sumathipala on "How to walk the talk" in being a professional, Mrs Shiranee Joseph de Saram on "Working with special needs children", Prof I. M. Dharmadasa on "Solar Villages for social development and reduction of poverty" and Mr Mervyn Silva former General Secretary of APSL on "Road safety in Sri Lanka".  Many speakers, being humble and modest, were reluctant to ‘show case’ their work in Sri Lanka and their contribution in “silence and the determination” to improve the quality of life of people in Sri Lanka.  Their exposures on what projects they were involved enlightened and encouraged the audience to join forces with them to enhance this work.  Eng Ranjan Perera, General Secretary of APSL briefed the audience, after representing APSL in two meetings held in Colombo on 14th November in response to the open invitation by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka. Mr Mervyn Silva, introduced and moderated the session on "Road Safety in Sri Lanka" in order to prepare the second educational article of our "Through the professional eye" series. The participants became fully engaged in a very lively discussion with great interest and many ‘newcomers’ became members during the event in order to contribute to this onerous but honourable task.

View Dharme's presentation

The keynote speaker of the day was Dr. Bandara Panagamuwa, (“Pana” to many), a Consultant in Rehabilitative Medicine. He delivered an interesting and emotional speech on "Artificial limb project for the war injured in Sri Lanka".  He started his address by presenting the cost of war to the society and the work carried out to help conflict affected people from all three sides, namely, the Armed Forces, the Civilians affected by bomb blasts, and the LTTE combatants, mainly child soldiers recruited by fear and force by the LTTE.  Pana, as a well as being a trained medical surgeon, has served both in Sri Lanka and in the UK with exemplary and dedicated capability over a period of four decades in rehabilitative medicine.  He has devoted his own time, effort (and at the expense of his own earnings) to help conflict affected people by providing artificial limbs and improve their livelihood again. He has designed a "Pana-Ankle" which is not only cost effective, but demonstrates his computing, design and engineering skills, which if done by a Western multinational would involve many departments and result in a high cost product.  The Keynote Address was emotional but inspiring and the speaker showed qualities of a role model for the audience.