Executive Meeting held at the Residence of Mr. Samarasinghe  on 15.01.2012

It is yet another feature of the” Holcim Family Concept.” It has been the practice of Holcim (Lanka) Executives’ Alumni Club Members, when ever and where ever possible, to meet, talk gossip, exchange pleasantries,  mingle with each other in a friendly Cricket  Match  or any other sports Activity, par take in a meal in a real family atmosphere etc. etc. This is the stepping Stone to develop understanding among each other and enhance fraternal co- existence.

This healthy practice was once again put into effect, at the residence of Samarasinghes at Araliya Drive, Hill Street, Dehiwala where they hosted the  Committee Meeting of our
Alumni Club on Sunday 15th January 2012.

The family, sacrificed one of their busy days on behalf of our members and allocated their beautiful and well kept residence at our disposal for our monthly meeting. The meeting was followed by a friendly get together and a sumptuous lunch.
 
A big thank for you Mr. Samaradinghe &  Mrs Indira Samarasinghe  for tolerating us for so long.

Felicitation to  the Chairman of HLL

Mr. Manilal Fernando, Chairman HLL has completed fifteen years continuously as Chairman. Hence HLL Excectives’ Alumni Club thought it fit to felicitate him on this unique  achievement.

President HLL Executives’ Alumni Club , Mr.Kolitha Gunaratna along with 15 other members, presented Mr. Manilal Fernando with a congratulatory plaque on 30th December 2011 at his office of HLL Head office

Chairman Mr. Manilal Fernando welcomed our members with a broad smile. As his wont to he was the life & sole of this meeting. He revealed to us the future development programes of HLL besides giving the progress so far made by the company. He emphasized the need to have a medical insurance scheme  for all members of the club  as old age is prone to various ailments. He further said that if HLL Executives’ Alumni Club informs him of its programme for the year in advance, he can make provisions in the HLL budget for whatever contributions he can make.

Members recalled with gratitude how Mr. Manilal Fernando responded  positively to their request for implementing very generous & attractive VRS, considering the  gratuity paid when SLCC was converted into a company as an advance and calculate gratuity base on the salary on actual retirement, and granting one month salary when calculating gratuity for the employees who have serve 20 years more.

Members thanked Mr. Manilal Fernando profusely for making their retirement life comfortable , due to above measures approved by him

It is no wonder when Mr. Fernando presides over a meeting or a party, time flies and this meeting which was originally thought  to be 15 minutes a duration went on to 90 minutes.

We wish Mr. Manilal Fernando good health & long life to serve this country through HLL.
"Holcim Kandurata Sangamaya"

In response to an invitation extended to us , by the “Holcim Kandurata Sangamaya” (Holcim Upcountry Club)  a delegation from our club consisting of Ms Wijayawardena , Nanayakkara , Jayawickrema , Widyaratna & our club president Kolitha Gunaratne participated at the annual get together of the “Holcim Kandurata Sangamaya” held on 31st December 2011, at Kandy Nugawela Hotel. Members of HKS warmly welcome our members and we spent an unforgettable  and wonderful time with our old colleges . Among participators Mr. Elkaduwa , the former Chief Chemist of Puttalam Cement Factory and nearly one hundred ex and current employees belong into different categories of former Sri Lanka Cement Corporation & present Holcim Lanka Lts were presentation.
  

The Time  is 11.17 am on 22 nd Dec 2011,
 

On this fateful day of  11.17 am of 22nd December 1999 , Holcim lost two of its most experienced, dedicated   and talented engineers under a very tragic circumstance. One was Mr Priyantha De Silva, Operations Manager and the other  was Mr W M Jinadasa, Engineering Manager. During December 1999 ,both of them were involved  in the  project to increase the kiln capacity , and was very keen in starting the upgraded kiln as scheduled.
Test runs had been arranged and they were hopefully waiting for the successful run , but it was not be as there was  no drop of burnt clinker into the cooler. Hence both Priyantha and Jinadasa went to inspect the point of the production process where burnt clinker drop on to the cooler. Alas ,hitherto burnt  tons of very hot clinker  which were trapped, suddenly  started dropping spilling and blocking the only way of exit. As a result , both of them died  due to suffocation and  severe burn injuries. This tragic event occurred exactly 12 years ago.

Holcim Executive Alumini club  decided to visit the families of Priyantha and Jinadasa, living in Galle and Kurunagala respectively. As a first step we visited Priyantaha’s residence at Galle on 04th December 2011. Sagarika , the wife of Priyantha ,in her appreciation of her late husband’s unwavering commitment,  revealed to us that  how Priyantha refused to  have his morning  cup of coffee given to him by her as it was hot and how he rushed to the plant on this fateful day.

May the sympathetic journey of both Priyantha and Jinadasa be happy one with no such tragic death until they attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Executive Meeting held at the Residence of Mr. Alwis on 04.12.2011

We are very pleased to mention  that we managed to have our Ex co meeting on 04.12.2011 at Galle so that members who live around the area also able to participate the meeting.    Almost all the members in the area and some retired employees of the Ruhunu Cement  also were present, It was a very enjoyable occasion and our members who joined the meeting were very happy for the warm welcome and the excellent arrangements for us.

President on behalf of the Executive Committee,  thanked Mr. Bernard Alwis and Mrs. Alwis for  the arrangements made for the meeting and the excellent lunch   provided to us.

Marriage  of  daughter of Mr & Mrs  H.W.Piyasena

Mr. & Mrs H.W.Piyasena, retirees of  Puttalam Cement factory, were the happiest parents on the occasion  their daughter Hemanthi  Prasangika Henagama married Channa Fernando on  01st December 2011 at Hilltop Hotel Kandy. HLL executives’ club wishes the newly wedded couple a  blissful & fruitful marriage

Graduation Ceremony of daughter of Mr & Mrs D.B.Premadasa

 HLL Executives’ Alumni Club is pleased to inform all our members that Miss Dilini Kumari Wickremasinghe , daughter of Mr. & Mrs. D.B.Premadasa, successfully completed B.A.(Hon) Business Management degree of the University of Glouestershire London. Mr. & Mrs. Premadasa attended the graduation ceremony held on London in 09th November 2011.Our congratualation to you Dilini on your achievement and wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.

 Annual  Trip  -2011

Day 01 (03/09/2011)

A good number of members and their family members participated  in this year’s annual trip.  A luxury bus carrying the participants left Colombo around 6.30 am and reached the first destination – St.Annes’s church at Thalawila. Thereafter our members and their families visited one of the most  venerated  catholic  churches in Sri Lanka - St Anne’s  church at Thalawila . All our  members paid their obeisance  to the shrine.

After having visited  St Anne’s church, we proceeded to Norochcholo power plant . At the power plant our members were able to watch 20 minutes demonstration  of power generation process  conducted  by the Engineers of the plant. They also  took us along  to 200 meters  long coal pier.

Lunch was taken at Norochcholo Navy Camp.

After having lunch we proceeded to the Naval base at Kalpitiya. According to the sailors of the base, this base was first established  by the Portuguese in 1521. Thereafter it was developed by the Dutch . Although now vanished , there had been an under sea tunnel from this base to the other islets scattered  in the vicinity of Kalpitiya naval base.

After visiting all scheduled places, our members  and their families made a bee line to the Guest House of Puttalam Cement factory (PCW) where  arrangements had been made  to  stay overnight  & annual trip get-together. 

Dinner party cum annual trip get together
This  dinner party cum annual get together  in which our members, their families and well wishers participated was held at the Officers’ Club of PCW and hosted by the Holcim (Lanka) Ltd. The club house had been turned into  a colorful venue for the purpose of hosting this dinner party. Our members and their family members freely mingled with the other invitees while singing and dancing to their heart content until late in the night.
We were touched by the energy and the commitment of Jayantha, Plant Manager and Thusara , HR Manager in successfully organizing every thing for our members’ comfort  through out their stay at PCW. This party would surely have brought back nostalgic memories to some of our members who had worked at PCW. Hence HLL Executive Alumni Association wishes to express heartfelt thanks to Holcim for hosting annual dinner party cum get together and  to Jayantha and Thusara for the excellent arrangements madeby them.

Day 02 (4/9/2011)
After having had our breakfast,  arranged at the  club house, we proceed to the PCW play ground where we had soft ball cricket  match between our members. Thereafter we proceeded to the factory canteen in which lunch had been ready.. After having partaken  our lunch around 3.00pm we started proceeding towards Colombo from where we started this memorable annual trip-2011

Exam Success

We have got a happy news about the daughter of Mr K.A.De.S Widyaratna being selected to follow Dental Surgery course at the University of Peradeniya. She is an old girl of Anula vidayalaya , Nugegoda. HLL Executive Alumni Association  congratulates her on this  achievement and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.

Gab Bara Minisa –Stage Play

“Gab Bara Minisa” , will be staged on 15th Oct 2011 at Lumbiny theater organized by the HLL alumni club . This year we accepted the maximum support from the members collecting advertisements and also sell the tickets. Mr. Manilal Fernando & Mrs  Fernando will be the Chief Guests

Decisions taken by Exco of our club

Exco meeting of our club was held on 31st July 2011 at Howang-Ho Restaurant and the following decisions were arrived at

1. Annual trip to Kalpitiya and Puttalam to be taken place on 03rd and 04th September 2011.
2. In aid of raising funds for our club, stage play “Gabbara Minisa” will go on board at Lumbini Hall on 15th Oct 2011.

Wedding Bells

Hasitha Gunarathna, Marketing Department of HLL and son of Kolitha Gunarathna, President HLL Executives’ Alumni Club and Iranthi Ulluwishewa, An Electronics Engineer of Metropolitan Lanka Ltd married on 11th July 2011 at Hotel Cinnamon Lake Side.

Mr Manilal Fernando, Chairman HLL signed as a witness and the couple was congratulated by Hon Minister Mr P Dayarathna.

HLL Executives’ Alumni Club wishes a blissful and fruitful marriage for Hasitha and Iranthi.

Funerals

Major Kamal Manathunga, beloved husband of Mrs Sugandika Muthumuni, passed away and his funeral took place, with full military honors at Arrawwala cemetery on 14th August 2011.

Belowed sister of Mr F.J.E. Fernanado, Exco member since inception of our club passed awayand the burial took place at St.Anthony’s Church at Kadalana Moratuwa on 17th April 2011

Loving Father Of Mr. Parakum Senanayaka  passed away and the funeral  took place at Katuwellegama.

Sister in Law of Mr. Kolitha Gunaratne, passed away and the funeral took place at Mt.Lavinia on 05th March 2011

Loving father of Mr.P.K.U. Indrasena , Hon Secretary of our club passed away and the funeral took place on 13th March 2011 at Chilaw

Beloved mother of Mr. P,Wijayawardena, Hon Treasury of our club passed away and the cremation took place at Awissawella on  14th February 2011

Loving mother of Mrs Rohini Udawatta, passed away and the funeral took palce ae Wadduwa on 08th January 2011.