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← The Association Of Professional Sri Lankans In The UK (Apsl)

2025-03-31-accounts

Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK

Trustees Annual Report for year 2024-2025

Year 2024-25 was a productive period for APSL (Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK). This report provides a summary of the key activities carried out during the year.

Executive Committee Meetings

Three executive committee meetings were held during the past year via Microsoft Office Teams.

  1. The first executive committee meeting was held on Sunday 08[th] of December 2024. A review of APSL current project portfolio took place and committee focused on developing a Strategic plan to promote APSL to youngsters as part of succession planning.

  2. The second executive committee meeting was held on Tuesday 08[th] of April 2025. Internal governance and developing best practices took centre stage amongst discussions and updates from ongoing projects.

  3. The third executive committee meeting was held on Sunday 18[th] of May 2025. The progress of all existing projects reviewed, and new targets set for fundraising efforts and events. Office bearers for the year 2025-2026 was also discussed and agreed.

In addition to executive committee meetings, regular sub-committee meetings were held during the year.

Projects and Events

1. 20[th] Annual General Meeting

The 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Saturday 25 May 2024 at the Windsor/ Heathrow Marriott Hotel

Mr. Aruna Fernando, Minister (Consular), of the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom, joined the occasion. The AGM was also attended by the APSL Executive Committee, APSL members and representatives of other Sri Lankan associations. At the AGM, a new Executive Committee was elected for the year 2024-2025.

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In the absence of any other nominations in response to the AGM notice circulated prior to the meeting, the list of office bearers nominated by the outgoing committee was elected unopposed and served effectively throughout the year.

2. APSL Florence De Silva Memorial Trust Fund for children

APSL launched the APSL Florence De Silva memorial trust for children in 2019 to help children in Sri Lanka. Since it’s inception, APSL has spent 6 million rupees towards 22 projects in Sri Lanka.

During the past year, there were 2 projects completed successfully. Rs 1,619 300 (1.6 million) were funded including renovations of the roof of a library at Imbulpitiya Maha Vidyalaya in Matale, and funding a third chemotherapy cycle for Sithuli Damsandi, a 4-yearold diagnosed with Leukemia in collaboration with APSL Cancer Relief Fund.

Sum of £50,000 was invested in a Fixed deposit from the Late Florence De Silva’s legacy, for a further year in Redwood Bank as agreed by the committee and Accrued interest £2,210.34 will be utilised exclusively to benefit more children under scholarship Scheme.

During the past 5 years, funds were used to improve facilities and resources in schools, providing school essentials and providing medicine and equipment for paediatric units during medical emergency situations in various hospitals. At present a £1,000 budget allocation per quarter is in place in line with the proposed long-term allocations plan.

Our appreciation goes to Mrs Aruni De Alwis, the executor of the will of the late Florence Cecilia De Silva for her kind and thoughtful consideration to enhance the well-being of the less fortunate children in Sri Lanka

3. APSL Scholarship Scheme

Launched in 2014, the APSL Scholarship Scheme provides financial assistance to gifted schoolchildren from poor and disadvantaged families in Sri Lanka - especially for those from rural areas to gain access to a good education.

The APSL scholarship scheme provides Sri Lankans around the world, with a simple and effective channel for ‘giving something back’ to their motherland. Also, for our non-Sri Lankan friends and well-wishers, it offers an efficient and reliable vehicle for helping Sri Lanka and be part of this life changing initiative.

Scholarship Scheme celebrated its 10[th] Anniversary in June 2024 and Mr. Mervyn Siva who functioned as the first coordinator of the scholarship scheme stepped down. Mrs Gayani Senaratne was appointed as the new co-ordinator.

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Since it’s inauguration, scholarship programme has continued as a beacon of hope for these families. The Scholarship Scheme has grown during last 10 years increasing the total number of beneficiaries (aged between 9 to 18). Over the years the scholarship scheme has funded a total of 160 students, out of which 37 have completed and left the scheme so far. Therefore, currently APSL funds 123 students. who are spread across the island, with funds donated by sponsors - based in UK, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Australia. Some of the students obtained excellent GCE Advance level results in 2025.

Dr Suman Fernando a longstanding member of APSL sadly passed away during the year 2024-25. He was a renowned psychiatrist and academic and an esteemed member of British Psychological Society. Despite spending most of his life in the United Kingdom, he remained deeply connected to Sri Lanka, offering continuous support to various institutions. Through partnership between APSL Scholarship Scheme and People’s Rural Development Association (PRDA), he helped many disadvantaged school children in Puttalam District. APSL extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Frances and his daughter Siri.

4. APSL Cancer Relief Project

The APSL Cancer Relief Fund (CRF) was launched in September 2017. We formed our first partnership in 2019 with Kurunegala General Hospital, followed by Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and Anuradhapura Hospital in 2020, and most recently, with Kandy Hospital in 2025.

Over the past 7 years and 8 months, we have spent 9.52 million Sri Lankan rupees (as of the end of May 2025) through this scheme, supporting: Medication, Financial assistance, Facility renovations, and Awareness campaigns.

So far, we have provided:

Our newest partnership is with the Palliative Care Unit at Kandy Hospital, where 10 patients will begin receiving Rs. 3,000 each month, starting from 27th June 2025.

A special thank you goes to our main sponsors of the programme: Luminii Consulting , Mrs Lushani Kodithuwakku, Managing Director of Luminii Consulting, and Mr Lloyd

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Abeywickrama, Director of LA & EA Consultants Ltd, along with their team, for their continued and generous support towards the programme.

We also extend our gratitude to Mrs Aruni De Alwis, Executor of the APSL Florence De Silva Trust, for supporting our work with paediatric cancer patients in Sri Lanka.

We would like to thank all the medical and administrative staff involved in the programme in Sri Lanka, including the Wayamba Cancer Society , Cancer Society Batticaloa , Cancer Society Anuradhapura, and the Palliative Care Unit in Kandy, for their continued dedication and support.

We sincerely thank all our donors in the UK and overseas for their regular and one-off contributions, which make it possible for us to support these deserving patients across Sri Lanka.

5. Solar Village Projects

In December 2024, APSL completed the 3[rd] Solar Village which was established Mediyawa, Sri Lanka Previously APSL successfully completed Solar Villages in Nochchiya & Puthiya Nagar respectively.

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Mediyawa is a small, remote village situated in the Ambanpola AGA Division of Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, located between Maho and Galgamuwa off the Kurunegala Road. The village consists of approximately 119 houses and is home to around 410 families. Due to its remoteness, Mediyawa lacked organised community development structures and many households, as well as the village hall, were not connected to the national electricity grid. The local economy relies primarily on chena and paddy cultivation, with water for irrigation sourced from the Mediyawa Wewa.

The project was funded through an online raffle fundraiser, which raised approximately £1,100, supplemented by a generous donation from Mr. Gamini Jayasinghe and his family, along with additional support from APSL’s donors.

As part of this initiative, a 5kW solar panel system was installed on the roof of the village hall and connected to the national grid, providing the community with much-needed access to sustainable energy. In addition to the installation, APSL facilitated the formation of a village development committee and assisted the villagers in opening a community bank account to manage funds and maintain the system sustainably.

This project has not only provided clean energy but has also empowered the villagers to take charge of their own development, fostering leadership and financial accountability within the community. The Mediyawa Solar Village Project stands as a testament to APSL’s commitment to uplifting rural communities in Sri Lanka through sustainable and impactful initiatives.

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6. APSL We Sri Lanka 2024-25 ,

APSL’s WE SRI LANKA programme was launched to support reconciliation and strengthen bonds between the different communities within the Sri Lankan diaspora, as well as to support post-conflict re-building and relief work in Sri Lanka. The WE SRI LANKA Solar Village in Puthiya Nagar generates renewable energy to illuminate and electrify the Community Centre as well as to provide an alternative source of income for the villagers resettled there after the previous conflict. Savings from this income are now being utilised to build a kitchen for the Community Centre so nutritious meals can be provided to preschool children who receive education at these premises. More recently, the WE SRI LANKA TALKS Series was launched to build thought leadership and promote awareness about ESG themes such as Sustainability, Social Inclusivity and Governance.

Marking International Women’s Day 2025 and the 15th anniversary of the WE SRI LANKA programme, the Association of Professional Sri Lankans (APSL) UK in partnership with Sri Lankan Societies at UCL, Imperial College London, Queen Mary’s London, and Kingston, Brunel and Cardiff universities convened WE SRI LANKA 2025 . The event was held at the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London from 1-6pm on Saturday, 15[th] March 2025 under the theme “Unlocking Women’s Ingenuity for the Advancement and Wellbeing of Humanity.” Acting High Commissioner Mrs Manorie Mallikaratchy was the Chief Guest, and Mrs Hiruni Rajapakse, Minister Counsellor was the Guest of Honour at this occasion.

WE SRI LANKA 2025 featured very informative and interesting talks from:

A panel discussion on the theme “Ingenuity into Action: Leading the charge on women’s empowerment” was also held where several accomplished women from a wide range of professions such as architecture, business, consulting, economic policy, education, hospitality, information technology, medicine and responsible sourcing spoke about how they successfully navigated gender-based challenges to achieve both their career and family related aspirations.

A celebration of Sri Lankan culture through artistic performances of Kandyan and Bharatha Natyam dancing added beauty, colour and musical variety to the occasion. Nearly 80 people from the Sinhala and Tamil communities, both experienced professionals and younger generation British Sri Lankans, attended this highly informative and engaging event.

7. VOCATIONAL TRAINING ATHORITY (VTA) SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME 2024/2025

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During the year 2024-2025, APSL UK offered 14 scholarships to fourteen vocational training students for the following courses after discussions and agreement with the Vocational Training Authority in Sri Lanka and APSL UK. in February 2024.

The courses are as follows.

The students were selected from the following districts.

The Total Cost for 14 Scholarships = Rs. 157,000 and the scholarship programme was completed in September 2024.

Although the original plan was to offer scholarships only for one year, due to the very high demand for skilled trades in Sri Lanka, the Executive Committee has agreed to continue this programme for the year 2025, offering scholarships to 15 students .

Accordingly, APSL UK has written to the VTA regarding the above decision and the VTA has responded that due to changes in their administration system, the two parties are now required to enter into a MOU document. APSL has replied that subject to the conditions in the MOU document, APSL UK is willing to sign a MOU agreement to fulfil this programme.

Currently we are awaiting the proposed MOU document from the VTA in Colombo.

9. Other Activities

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APSL 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraising Dinner Dance

APSL proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary by organising a Fundraising Dinner Dance at the Windsor Marriott Hotel, Heathrow. The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, His Excellency Mr. Rohitha Bogolagama, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and, in his address, commended APSL for its dedicated service and invaluable contributions over the past two decades.

The evening featured various fundraising activities and provided an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the remarkable achievements of APSL and its members over the past 20 years. All funds raised from the event were allocated to support young adults through APSL’s Vocational Training Scholarship Programme, furthering the organisation’s commitment to empowering the next generation.

Bedford festival 2024

APSL collaborated with the High Commission of Sri Lanka for the 2[nd] consecutive occasion to enable the High Commission to host a Sri Lanka Stand featuring Ceylon tea and handcrafts at the Bedford River Festival on 20[th] & 21[st ] of July 2024. Bedford festival usually attracts over 250,000 visitors.

Community event to commemorate the 77[th] Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence

The President of APSL, Dr. Mohan Siriwardena was one of the four community leaders to speak at the reception organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka on 09th February 2025 in London to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence

The dedication and hard work by the respective project and event leaders, and the support given by the executive committee and members, was vital for the success of all the above projects and events.

Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK (APSL) 2024 -2025

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Summar 01 A r 2024 - 31 Mar 2025 y p

Description Currency
Rs.		 Exchange
rate		 Income
£		 Expense
£		 Surplus /
(Deficit)
£
Cancer Relief HSBC payments (10,590.00)
Cancer Relief BOCremaining balance 1,714,577 380 4,512.04
Cancer Relief Fundincome andExpenditure 7,577.73 (6,077.96) 1,499.77
ScholarshipEvent- Bolton 1,705.00 (2,998.51) (1,293.51)
Membership 105.00 105.00
General Expenses (2,422.74) (2,422.74)
Donations/interests 414.39 414.39
Scholarship Scheme 18,873.37 7
(18,917.00)		 (43.63)
EmergencyResponseFund 0.00 0.00 0.00
20th Anniversary- Dinner Dance 10,475.00 (9,201.14) 1,273.86
Walk4Lanka 0.00 0.00 0.00
20th AGM 180.00 (1,010.00) (830.00)
Florence de Silva Trust Fund for Children 489.34 (4,213.42) (3,724.08)
FDSRedwoodBank AccruedInterest 1,916.67
Solar Villages 111.87 (2,990.28) (2,878.41)
We SriLanka 660.00 (795.19) 9)
(135.19)
Sub total 42,508.37 7
(48,626.24)
Net Surplus/(Deficit) for the period (6,117.87)
Paypal Balance 31/3/2025_(Donations_
received for CRF, Solar Villages &
Scholarships projects)		 3,163.00
Net Surplus/(Deficit) for the period
01 April 2024- 31st March 2025		 (2,954.87)

Section A Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Independent Examiner's Report THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL SRI LANKANS IN THE UK (APSL 31st March 2025 Charity no (if any) 1145786 Responsibilities and basis of report Independent examiner's statement I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31/03/2025. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Institute of Financial Accountants(IFA). I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Roshan Abeyawickrama Relevant professional | Fellow Financial Accountant qualifications) or body Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) (if any): Address: 35 Roe Green Lane Hatfield Hertfordshire AL10 OSH Date: 05/12/2025 IER 1 Oct 2018