Sri Lankans bid farewell to outgoing SLCC chief

IN SOLIDARITY: George Bandula, 4th from left with the members of SLCC and their families.     Photos by Umer Nangiana

Community members host ceremony in the honour of George Bandula who is leaving Doha for good. By Umer NangianaAfter serving his community first as an active member and then as the head of Sri Lankan Co-ordinating Committee (SLCC) Qatar for years, outgoing president George Bandula received the final farewell from his former teammates and colleagues at a ceremony held recently. Bandula, who has been a Doha resident for more than 12 years, is heading to Dubai to take up a new job. He was accorded a farewell at the newly elected president of SLCC Tennison De Silva’s residence where dozens of SLCC members and their families gathered to bid goodbye.Dinner was served and the outgoing president was presented with shield and mementos in recognition of his services for the community. The hosts wished Bandula success in his future endeavours. A lot of music and dance followed. “I feel very sad frankly. I have been here for more than a decade and I have been involved in many community organisations for years. I have tried to do my level best for the community. Leaving all these lovely people makes me dejected,” a forlorn Bandula told Community.  “We have been working together for years to meet all the needs of the Sri Lankan community and we have always worked as a team,” he added. Bandula thanked all the community members for their continuous support and also for organising the “lovely farewell gathering and dinner” for him and his family. Bandula particularly thanked the Ambassador of Sri Lanka Jayantha Palipana for his continuous support and guidance to the association and the community organisations. “The members of the community organisations and SLCC in particular have never hesitated and have always been forthcoming whenever I have asked them for contribution towards our annual community events,” said Bandula. He expressed hope that they will render the same support to the new president of SLCC. Bandula had arrived in Qatar in 2003 and initially, he said, he had kept a low profile. He started with volunteering services without any formal association with any community organisations. On the motivation of Tennison and one former president of SLCC, he joined the association as assistant co-ordinator and finally got the position of president. “Personally I like to stay low-profile and let my work speak for me. We Sri Lankans believe in team work and I believe it has always been team work at SLCC. I will miss all my colleagues here and everyone I have come in contact with here,” said Bandula.The annual general meetings of Sri Lankan Co-ordinating Committee (SLCC) Qatar, Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund (SLCBF) Qatar and Sri Lankan Business Council (SLBC) Qatar held at the Embassy of Sri Lanka on Friday elected Tennison De Silva as new president of SLCC, the chief community organisation.Bandula, the outgoing president, addressed the meeting and he lauded the untiring efforts of the members for the successful conduct of the National Day celebrations and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations. He further said that SLCC plays a major role in community-related activities and it is the responsibility of all to take up the challenge and play a leading role in serving the community whenever the need arises. He also highlighted the importance of community participating in the Qatar National Day celebrations by showcasing their talents in culture and music. The outgoing chief coordinator Dhammika Jayasena conducted the election of office-bearers and committee members for 2015-16. SLCC Qatar President was Tennison De Silva, General Secretary Lenny Cramer, Treasurer Lakmal Ehalamalpe, Chief Coordinator Ranjith Gurusinghe, Vice President Sanath Kohowilage, Vice President (Welfare & Fund Raising) Pantalion Perera, Assistant General Secretary Dhammika Jayasena, Assistant Treasurer Roshan Balasooriya, Assistant Chief Coordinator Vidya Shanthikumar were elected.  Committee Members included Ajith Priyantha Lekamge, Nishantha Gamage, H M Thilakarathna besides area representatives W K Kithsiri (Industrial Area, Street 11), P K Priya Janaka Lal (Industrial Area, Street 38), Kalum Dissanayaka (Industrial Area, Street 24), Saman Wickrama Silva (Barwa Village), Sujith Prasanna (Sailiyah), M R M Fazal (Murah), P Ravindra Kumar (Mesaieed), Padmasiri Bandara (Wakra), Darshana Piyarathna (Al Khor), Anura Munasinghe (Najma), Tharanga Thisera (Al Sadd), Mohamed Abdul Latheef (Aziziya), D P Kularathna (Madina Khalifa), A H Kanchana (Dukhan) and Prasad Sanjeewa Ranatunga (Dukhan). Nimal Thudewattage was elected as president of Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund Qatar while General Secretary Anura Hettigoda, Treasurer Lalindra De Silva, Vice President A M  Liyanage, Assistant General Secretary Tissa Edirisinghe, Assistant Treasurer Sudath Lelwela, Immediate Past President Lalith Jayasekera were also elected. Similarly, Sri Lankan Business Council Qatar elected Mahesh Abhayapala as president, General Secretary W L Upali, Treasurer Subash Premananda, Vice president Nuwan Samarakoon, Assistant General Secretary W Mahendra, Assistant Treasurer Randheer Hapugodaarachchi and Immediate Past President Tennison De Silva.