Annual General Meeting 2025 of IEEE Student Branch of SLTC
August 11, 2025 · 3:30 AM - 6:00 AM @ SLTC Reasearch Building, Padukka, GF3 Hall
Description
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC was a prestigious and memorable event conducted on August 11, 2025, at the SLTC Padukka premises. The AGM stood as a celebration of the past year’s achievements, a formal transition of leadership, and a platform for inspiring the future vision of the branch. The event commenced with the arrival of distinguished guests and the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by esteemed figures, including Dr. Migara Karunaratne, Dean of the Faculty of Technology at SLTC and Chief Guest of the occasion; Mr. Manodya Nabadewewa, Chairperson of the IEEE Sri Lanka Section Student Activities Committee and Guest of Honor; Dr. Lasith Yasakethu, Branch Counselor; Mrs. Warunika Hippola, Academic Advisor; Dr. Sangeeth Rathnayake, Senior Student Counselor; along with other invited guests and representatives from student bodies. The ceremonial lighting symbolized the triumph of light over darkness and marked the auspicious beginning of the AGM. Following this, the audience was graced with a traditional Pooja Dance performance, presented by talented members of the SLTC Performing Arts Club. The performance added a cultural essence to the event, symbolizing blessings and prosperity for the year ahead. Next, a warm welcome speech was delivered by Mr. Maleesha Chandrasekara, Vice Chairperson of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC, officially welcoming the community and distinguished invitees. A video presentation was then played, showcasing the highlights of the past year’s activities conducted by the IEEE Student Branch, its technical society chapters, and the Women in Engineering (WIE) affinity group. This was followed by a comprehensive yearly recap by Ms. Kasundi Neelagolla, Secretary of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC, who reflected on the branch’s accomplishments, memorable events, and impactful initiatives of the past year. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Annual Financial Report was presented by Ms. Lavanya Cheshani, Treasurer of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC. Her detailed report highlighted how resources had been effectively managed to sustain activities and projects throughout the year. In his inspiring keynote address, the Chief Guest, Dr. Migara Karunaratne, lauded the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC for its exceptional work in fostering innovation, leadership, and professional growth among undergraduates. He emphasized the role of IEEE as a platform that bridges academia and industry while nurturing student leadership. Following his insightful address, a token of appreciation was presented to him by Mr. Dhananjaya Yatigammana, outgoing Chairperson of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC. The program then featured entertainment performances, including musical contributions from the Performing Arts Club and the Department of Music at SLTC, adding vibrancy and joy to the proceedings. The appointment of the new Student Advisory Committee for the year 2025/26 was carried out by Mrs. Warunika Hippola, Academic Advisor of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC. This was followed by the appointment of the Executive Committee Members and Sub-Committee Heads of the technical society chapters and the affinity group: · IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) Student Branch Chapter of SLTC, appointed by Chairperson Mr. Thilina Lakshan. · IEEE Computer Society (CS) Student Branch Chapter of SLTC, appointed by Chairperson Mr. Nishadha Thathsara. · IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Student Branch Affinity Group of SLTC, appointed by Chairperson Ms. Vayoni Gamage. · IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) Student Branch Chapter of SLTC, appointed by Chairperson Mr. Lakshitha Abeywickrama. Finally, the Executive Committee of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC for 2025/26 was officially appointed by the outgoing Chairperson Mr. Dhananjaya Yatigammana, marking the most significant moment of the evening. He also addressed the gathering, reflecting on his tenure and expressing his gratitude to his team for their support. The newly appointed Chairperson, Ms. Nethmi Lakshima Fernando, then delivered her first address, sharing her gratitude and vision for the future of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC. Further enriching the evening, the Guest of Honor, Mr. Manodya Nabadewewa, addressed the gathering, drawing on his personal journey as an SLTC alumnus and his leadership role at the national IEEE level. His words served as a strong motivation for students to take full advantage of the opportunities within IEEE. A token of appreciation was presented to him by the newly appointed Chairperson, Ms. Nethmi Fernando. Additional speeches were delivered by Mr. Lakshitha Abeywickrama, President of the SLTC Student Interactive Society, highlighting the value of collaboration between societies at SLTC. The event also included moments of recognition and appreciation, where Dr. Lasith Yasakethu and Mrs. Warunika Hippola were presented with tokens of appreciation for their continuous guidance and support. Certificates of appreciation were then awarded to the outgoing Student Advisory Committee and Round Table members for 2024/25, honoring their commitment and contributions. The appointment letters for the Round Table 2025/26 were subsequently handed over to the newly appointed Round Table members by the Chief Guest and Academic Advisor. The AGM was brought to a close with the vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Tharushi Nadunika, the newly appointed Secretary of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC. She extended her sincere gratitude to the distinguished guests, past executive committees, participants, and organizers whose contributions made the event a success. In conclusion, the Annual General Meeting 2025 of the IEEE Student Branch of SLTC was a resounding success. It was an event that celebrated achievements, showcased the spirit of volunteerism, and set the stage for a promising new year of leadership and innovation. With the formal transition of responsibilities and the unveiling of new visions, the AGM reinforced the strong foundations of the IEEE community at SLTC and promised continued growth and excellence in the years ahead.
Agenda
9:00 AM Initiation of the Event 9:10 AM Welcome Speech 9:15 AM Presentation of Last Year's Activity Video 9:20 AM Yearly Recap 9:25 AM Annual Financial Report 9:30 AM Chief Guest Speech by Prof. Chandrika Wijeratne The Vice Chancellor of SLTC 9:40 AM Refreshment Break and Entertainment Item 9:50 AM Appointment of the New Student Advisory Committee 10:00 AM Appointment of the Newly Elected Executive Committee 10:10 AM Speech by Outgoing SLTC IEEE SB Chairperson 10:20 AM Speech by Newly Appointed SLTC IEEE SB Chairperson 10:30 AM Address by Guest of Honour - Mr. Manodhya Nabadewewa Chairperson of the IEEE SLSAC 10:50 AM Speech by President of Student Interactive Society 11:00 AM Presentation of Certificates and Tokens of Appreciation 11:20 AM Vote of Thanks