In the mid-year of 2007, a group of interested Ex-Servicemen namely Major General Andrew Rathnayaka, Colonel Hemal Mendis, Wing Commander Nalin Wickremasinghe assembled at a party at Major Mangala Rathnayaka’s residence in Takanini Auckland. Discussions were held over a beer to form an Association in New Zealand for the Ex-Servicemen of Sri Lanka. At that moment of time none of us were aware of any whereabouts of Ex-Servicemen living in Auckland except for a handful. Thereafter the idea died a natural death, but not permanently. The reason been that Major General Andrew Rathnayaka was on our tail with the pure intention of making his dream come true. Subsequently Colonel Hemal Mendis and Wing Commander Nalin Wickremasinghe decided to spread the word in looking out for Ex-Serviceman in Auckland. The efforts made in the search for Ex-Servicemen became successful and managed to get a head count sufficient enough to have a get together. On 11th November 2007 was the inaugural get together of the Ex-Servicemen’s families held at the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Remuera with a gathering of 84 heads including ladies and children. This gave rise to organise an Inaugural general meeting on 14th March 2008 at the St. Mary’s Church in Ellerslie with the following office bearers, which gave birth to Sri Lanka Returned Services Association New Zealand. The board of management comprise of President – Brigadier Percy Wijekoon, Vice President – Major General Andrew Rathnayaka, Secretary – Wing Commander Nalin Wickremasinghe, Assistant Secretary – Colonel Hemal Mendis, Treasurer – Lieutenant Easwara Nandasiri, Assistant Treasurer – Captain Sam Gamage, and Committee Members – Major Viraja Leelarathna, Chief Artficier Sanjeewa Waduge and Corporal Shyam Walpola.
The constitution of the Sri Lanka Returned Services Association was approved on the same day.
The first committee meeting was held at Wing Commander Nalin Wickremasinghe’s residence and the committee approval was granted for the membership form, Insignia and the letterhead. The association bank account was opened with the ASB Bank Mangare branch on 22nd April 2008.
The first fund raising activity was carried out by the members and their families at Contract Logistics warehouse in Mount Wellington, Auckland on 29th March 2009 and followed by a food fair 0n 4th July 2009 at the Panmure District School in Panmure, and thereafter every year either music shows or a dinner dances were organised at the Dorothy Winstone Centre and Ellerslie Convention Centre respectively as fund raisers.
Launched a venture named “Project Appreciation” on 5th June 2009 in order to look in to the needs of disabled soldiers and also to provide scholarships to their children. Organised scholarships for 12 children of deceased servicemen through Rana Viru Seva Adikariya and subsequently increased to 32 children through the respective Seva Vanitha Units of the three armed services. About 22 Sri Lankans in the community volunteered to become donors and to keep the candle burning of this meritorious project.
On 31st July 2009 the name of the association changed from Sri Lanka Returned Services association New Zealand to Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand.
On 17th September 2009 Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand was registered as an Incorporated society with the registrar of Incorporated Societies.
On 11th May 2010 Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand Inc was granted income tax exemptions from the Inland Revenue Department.
The constitution of the Sri Lanka Returned Services Association was approved on the same day.
The first committee meeting was held at Wing Commander Nalin Wickremasinghe’s residence and the committee approval was granted for the membership form, Insignia and the letterhead. The association bank account was opened with the ASB Bank Mangare branch on 22nd April 2008.
The first fund raising activity was carried out by the members and their families at Contract Logistics warehouse in Mount Wellington, Auckland on 29th March 2009 and followed by a food fair 0n 4th July 2009 at the Panmure District School in Panmure, and thereafter every year either music shows or a dinner dances were organised at the Dorothy Winstone Centre and Ellerslie Convention Centre respectively as fund raisers.
Launched a venture named “Project Appreciation” on 5th June 2009 in order to look in to the needs of disabled soldiers and also to provide scholarships to their children. Organised scholarships for 12 children of deceased servicemen through Rana Viru Seva Adikariya and subsequently increased to 32 children through the respective Seva Vanitha Units of the three armed services. About 22 Sri Lankans in the community volunteered to become donors and to keep the candle burning of this meritorious project.
On 31st July 2009 the name of the association changed from Sri Lanka Returned Services association New Zealand to Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand.
On 17th September 2009 Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand was registered as an Incorporated society with the registrar of Incorporated Societies.
On 11th May 2010 Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association New Zealand Inc was granted income tax exemptions from the Inland Revenue Department.