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The
foundation for the formation of an organization of retired
members of the Staff of the Parliament of Sri Lanka was laid on
a day during the Budget Debate of year 200.? in the office of
then Deputy Director of Administration (Mr.Lascelle de Silva)
when he suggested to Mr.Dinesh Kirthinanda to give life to his
proposal
Soon after, they both requested Mr, C.W.Pannila, retired
Assistant Secretary General of Parliament to take the lead in
this exercise, to which he readily agreed. On his advice, views
of Mr.E.D.Gunasinghe retired Editor of Hansard was sought and he
not only endorsed the suggestion but also promptly started
organizing the activities.
On the sixth day of April 2003 the inaugural discussion aimed at
forming an association was held at the Golden Ball Room of the
hallowed precincts of the Mt Lavinia Hotel. This discussion was
attended by the following retired officers of the Parliament
Staff.
Mr.
E.D.Gunasinghe(Host), Mr.C.W.Pannila,
At this meeting two major decisions were made;
a) To
extend the membership to all categories of the staff
b) Not to use the word ‘retired’ in the name of the association.
The above group was later expanded to form a Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee was comprised of;
Mr. ED Gunasinghe- Chairperson
Mr. Dinesh Kirthinanda –Secretary
Mr. P.T.Wijayadasa - Treasurer
The Association of the former members of the Staff of Parliament
was formally inaugurated on the Second day of August 2003 at the
auditorium of the Library Services and Documentation Board at #
25, Independence Avenue Colombo 07.
The association was ceremonially launched on the Fifteenth day
of August 2003,under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker of
Parliament ,Joseph Michael Perera M.P. The meeting was attended
by the Leader of the opposition Hon.Mahinda Rajapaksha M.P. and
Hon A.H.M Azwer, Chief Government Whip, deputizing the Hon Prime
Minister. |
