The 50th birth day of the SLLA was celebrated on a grand scale on the 28th August 2010 at the auditorium of the Industrial Technology Institute, Colombo, where the association was formed on 28 th August 1960 exactly 50 years ago. US Ambassador for Sri Lanka H.E. Ms Patricia Butenis cut the elegant Birth Day Cake together with Mr Upali Amarasiri, President, SLLA, Ms Vijitha De Silva and Mr Ariyadasa Weeraman the guests of honour amidst the applauses of the joyous participants.
In his welcome remarks the SLLA President, traced the history of the association and its achievements over the past half century. Ms Vijitha De Silva recounted the modest beginning of the SLLA and congratulated it for the successes over the years. Delivering the keynote address the US Ambassador referred to the crucial role played by information in empowering people. While acknowledging the importance of the modern ICT tools, the value of traditional books and reading was emphasized. It was an informative and thought provoking presentation which was well received by the audience.
‘SLLA Looking Forwards to the Next Decade’ was the theme of the technical session of the seminar. Ms Kamalika Pieris and Prof. Russell Bowden, senior LIS professionals, made presentations on the topics ‘SLLA at 50’ and ‘SLLA; Professional Role and Income Generation’ respectively. Prof. Jayasiri Lankage, Ms Swarna Jayatilleke, Ms. Dorathy Andradi and Dr Ruwan Gamage joined the lively dialogue which followed the presentations.
The complete speech made by Ambassedar Butenis can be found here.
More photographs of the event can be found here.
