Committee — SLWA Sri Lanka Women's Association UK
Leadership & Governance

Our Committee

The SLWA is guided by a dedicated team of women elected by the membership. They give their time voluntarily to carry forward a tradition of service begun in 1949.

Patron

His Excellency Nimal Senadheera

High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom

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President
Mrs Sue Clarke

Elected to lead the SLWA and its committees, the President chairs all meetings, represents the association at external events, and guides the organisation's activities throughout the year.

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Vice President
Mrs Ruvanie de Alwis Jayasinghe

The Vice President supports the President in all duties, chairs meetings in the President's absence, and takes a lead role in coordinating the association's events and outreach.

Secretary
Mrs Manel Fernando
Treasurer
Mrs Indra Dayaseelan
Membership Secretary
Mrs Nirma De Silva Wijeratne
Education Officer
Mrs Chitra Jayasooriya
Committee Member
Mrs Marina Thurairatnam
President of Honour
Dr Nalini Ekanayake
Vice President of Honour
Dr Seeta Siriwardena
Executive Committee

Our Members

KR
Mrs Kumari Ratnayake
Executive Member
MW
Mrs Minoli Weeraman
Executive Member
CJ
Mrs Calista Jayasinghe
Executive Member
RT
Mrs Ranee Thuraisingham
Executive Member
IW
Mrs Indira Wimalasena
Executive Member & Trustee
CF
Mrs Chitra Fernando
Executive Member
MS
Mrs Mona Swaris
Executive Member
FM
Mrs Fathima Mohammed
Executive Member
LG
Mrs Luckshanthi Goonawardena
Executive Member
NL
Mrs Natalie Layman
Executive Member
A Record of Service Since 1949

Past Presidents

From Lady Evelyn De Soysa who co-founded the association in 1949, to the current committee — every President has given her time voluntarily to serve the Sri Lankan community in the UK. This record honours their leadership.

1940s – 1950s
1949–51 Lady Evelyn De Soysa Co-Founder
1952–54 Laurel Casinader Co-Founder
1955 Lady Wijekoon
1956 Laurel Casinader
1957 L Gunaratnam Cook
1958–61 Laurel Casinader
1960s
1962–63 Amabel Gunasekera
1964 Gladys Samarasinghe
1965 Frances Don Acting
1966–67 Doris D'Silva
1968–69 Thelma De Mel
1970s
1970–71 Carmine De Livera
1972–73 Thelma De Mel
1974 Laurel Casinader 25th Anniversary
1976 Seeli Weeraperuma
1977–78 Peggy Jansz
1979–80 T Muttucumaraswamy
1980s
1981–82 Jayanti Wiljesekera
1983–84 Shireen Gunasekera
1984 T Muttucumaraswamy
1985 Gloria Indra Warren
1989–90 Sarojini Situnayake
1990s
1993 Grace Mackie
1996–98 Dr Seetha Siriwardena
1999 Frances Don 50th Anniversary
2000s
2000–01 Dr Esme Fernando
2002–03 Dr Nalini Ekanayake
2004–05 Dr Gitanjali Abeyasinghe
2006–07 Dr Kamali De Soysa
2008–09 Chitra Jayasooriya 60th Anniversary
2010s
2010–11 Dr Malini Wijesinghe
2012–13 Indira Wimalasena
2014–15 Calista Jayasinghe
2016–17 Kumari Ratnayake
2018–20 Natalie Layman
2020s
2020–22 Mrs Natalie Layman
2021–22 Ruvenie De Alwis Jayasinghe
2023–24 Sue Clarke
Get Involved

Join the SLWA

Membership is open to all Sri Lankan women in the UK and their friends. Your support helps fund education for women and girls in Sri Lanka.

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