Expats' society in Riyadh, a household name

Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

Sri Lankan Expatriates Society in Riyadh has become a household name among the members of the community by way of its outstanding services to Lankans living in the Kingdom as well as in the island, said W.S.M.S. Wijesundera, Charge d'Affaires of the Sri Lankan Embassy.

The diplomat was delivering the keynote address at the 16th Annual General Meeting of the SLES held Friday at the Embassy premises. "The society stands as a symbol of unity and amity among the members of the community in Riyadh," Wijesundera said, adding that it is the only organisation in the capital which functions under the umbrella of the mission.

A fourteen-member committee was unanimously elected under Sam Rasdeen presidency.

Rasdeen pledged to continue the good work of the society with the cooperation of the mission and its membership. Rasdeen said that the society had always extended financial assistance to distressed Sri Lankans who became victims due to various circumstances.

The society's Annual Report and the audited statement of accounts were submitted by the outgoing officials.

The following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year: Sam Rasdeen - president; Niron Dissanayaka and Francis Gunasekaran - vice presidents; Mohamed Afker - secretary; Manel Gamage - assistant secretary; Raju Sivakumar - treasurer; Mohamed Shiraz Jaufer - assistant treasurer and Committee Members: Lalith Dharmasiri, Lakshman Ranaweera, M/s Jeewa Almeida, Khadija Mohideen, Pratheeka Sivakumar, Rohaan Samath and Kalimuttu Ganeshmoorthy.