8 August 2020 01:21 am Views - 348
The 98th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Malay Association (SLAMAC)was held last month at the Padang, Colombo 02. Soekarno Tunku Ousmand was re-elected President for the second consecutive year.
SLMA, the premier Malay organisation in the country established in the year 1922, has continued to focus its efforts on enhancing the Sri Lankan Malay cultural values, serving the less-fortunate, documenting and archiving historical records of the Malay community, and building strong bonds of friendship among all Sri Lankans.
The institution organises annual cultural events like the popular Pesta Melayu and the Pasar Malam. The following members were elected to serve in the General Council for the period 2020-21:
Prominent respected elders of the community representing various Malay Associations spearheaded by Late Brig T B Sally, Late Alhaj Noor Amith and Late T. K. Sabar felt that more integration among them would raise awareness amongst the community to promote and protect their culture. Since these institutions were in isolation spread across the country integrating with each other would be advantageous to share and enhance their cultural practices.
The SLAMAC is non-political and the umbrella body of all Malay organisations in Sri Lanka
The then Indonesian Ambassador, His Excellency Sufri Yusuf facilitated the establishment of Sri Lanka Malay Confederation. Little over 200 members from 16 Malay organisations attended the inaugural meeting held at the Ambassador’s residence on 18 May 1984. Subsequently on 18th August 1984 the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation abbreviated “SLAMAC” in English. The Malay name being Konfederasi Rakjat Melayu Lankapuri abbreviated “KORAMEL” was established. Since then “Lankapuri” has been replaced as Sri Lanka and the Malay name is Konfederasi Rakjat Melayu Sri Lanka.
The SLAMAC is non-political and the umbrella body of all Malay organisations in Sri Lanka.
In 1985 a historic event particularly for the Sri Lankan Malays the 2nd World Malay Symposium “DuniyaMelayu 85” was held in Colombo. The meeting of the General Council of SLAMAC is held biennially and I was elected as the Secretary General for the period 2016 to 2018 and re-elected as Secretary General for the period 2018 to 2020 and the next General Council Meeting will be held on Sunday, 23rd August 2020. As Secretary General the way forward projection for SLAMAC identified two major events which are: To Get all the Malays together at One Forum in Unity & Brotherhood and the Malay Symposium.
Unfortunately, due to the Easter Sunday Catastrophe and the Covid-19 the symposium could not be carried out.
Some of the office bearers appointed were Sdri Mareena Azoor (Hony. Gen Secretary) and Sdri Diana Rahaman (Hony. Treasurer).
Those appointed as Vice Presidents were Al Haj Iqram Cuttilan, Sdr Thaj Lantra, Sdri Shanaz Bohoran, Sdri Malrene Lantra, Sdr Irfan Allang, Sdr Hussain Jayah, Sdr Tarik Booso, Sdr Rilwan Lantra, Sdr Ibnusha Ally and Hajiani Inaya Ahamat.
Those elected to the Committee were Sdri Hazeleen Cuttilan, Sdri Sabrina Jayah, Sdri Hashmareen Bangsajayah, Sdr Yaseen Samath, Sdri Shihani Jayah, Sdri Binthan Rahman, Sdri Shalima Samidon,
Sdri Marlene Dole, Sdr Akbar Samidon and Sdri Fazlin Borham.
(Press release by Rilwan Lantra Secretary General Sri Lanka Malay Confederation)