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Past Events

Annual General Meeting 2022

The OGA held its 113th Annual General Meeting on 22nd October 2022, at the school main hall at 9.30 am. Light refreshments were served in the old hall from 8.30 am - 9.30 am and the meeting was called to order by OGA President, Roshanara Page.

In her speech, Roshanara addressed the 103 members, who were present, with the highlights for the year 2021-2022. Among the subjects, the following were considered as important -

  • Mrs. Lakmini Buddhadasa took over as the Administrative Secretary from Swun Fernando on 5th November 2021. A felicitation dinner was organised by the committee for Swun, and a token of appreciation presented, to thank her for over 7 years of service under many presidents.
  • The “Red Velvet” Newsletter was converted to a flip book magazine and brought on par with a modern-day magazine layout. The Christmas edition of the Red Velvet Magazine collected a sum of Rs. 393,000/- for this first issue, while the Avurudu edition raised a sum of Rs. 613,000/- through advertisements.
  • On 27th November 2021, a farewell tea was organised for our former Patroness, Mrs. Eesha Speldewinde at Table by Taru. Owing to Government restrictions, the gathering was limited to members of the executive committee of the OGA, OGA Trust and OGA Chapel Trust.
  • Christmas celebrations were held virtually in December 2021, and a video was compiled to bring in some festive cheer to our members. This included a traditional Christmas medley sung by former Vice Principal, Maheshini Perera and her 2 daughters from Melbourne, a modern carol by Ashanti De Alwis and a beautiful carol rendered in the Chapel by our OGA choir. Three OGA families also spoke of various Christmas traditions and memories while a Christmas message was shared by Tania Tranchell.
  • On 12th March 2022, the OGA commemorated our 122nd Founders Day with a Service of Thanksgiving and praise in the ‘Chapel of the Hope of the World’ on the theme ‘Hope the Anchor of the Soul’. Shirelli Hallock, Past President of the OGA delivered a thought provoking and encouraging message at the service.
  • In February, to coincide with Founders’ Day, the OGA initiated a ‘Membership Drive’ whereby new applicants were entitled to a discount of Rs. 2,500/- from their Membership Fee, for a period of one month. A total of 95 new applications were received through this drive enabling the OGA to earn Rs 487,500/-.
  • During the period from November 2021 – October 2022 the OGA was able to secure 216 new membership applications, collecting a revenue of Rs. 1,125,500/-.
  • On 6th August 2022, the OGA was able to host a Felicitation Brunch, in honour of Mrs. Deepika Dassenaike, the 9th Principal of Ladies’ College and Mrs. Ranmalee Balasooriya, the newly appointed Vice Principal. Three hundred and thirty three tickets were sold for the brunch and the OGA made a profit of Rs. 487,975/-.
  • At the Felicitation Brunch, the OGA together with the Hatton National Bank, the OGA launched an Affinity Credit Card. We are grateful to HNB for extending a generous sponsorship of Rs. 250,000/- in lieu of the launch.
  • All OGA members were urged to apply for the HNB Affinity Card, and as the slogan goes, “give back to the school”. A percentage is contributed to school each time the card is swiped. 131 members have applied for this card, since the launch.
  • At the same time as the brunch, a pop-up bazaar and vendor market was held. The event was open to the public and attracted over 35 vendors, who signed up to sell a varied spectrum of products. The OGA raised a sum of Rs. 187,000/- through the stall sales, but more importantly it provided a platform for vendors to show case their products and secure business amidst the unstable economic and political landscape in our country at the time.
  • To raise funds for the much-needed upgrades to our main hall built back in 1955 during the tenure of the past Principal, Mabel Simon, the OGA printed brick cards priced at Rs. 1,000/-, which were circulated amongst the students and the OGA. A sum of Rs. 3,939,000/- has been raised through the sale of brick cards to date.
  • The sale of brick cards would be an on-going project and we request all our members to contribute towards the much-needed upgrades to bring the main hall to the state of-the-art edifice required for this era. For those who wish to make larger donations, the ‘Main Hall Refurbishment Fund’ has been set up on the Donations Page of the OGA website.
  • August being International Hair Loss month, as part of the OGA’s first venture in the ‘LC OGA PULSE’ Series, the OGA embarked on an initiative with Lanka Hospitals on 16th August 2022, at which Consultant Dermatologist, Dr. Chalukya Gunasekera was interviewed on the topic of ‘Female Hair Loss’. The OGA is grateful to Dr. Chalukya for taking time off her busy schedule for this project and thank Lanka Hospitals for their generous sponsorship of Rs. 150,000/-.
  • ‘Ace the Race’ was scheduled to be held on 15th October 2022 at the Ladies’ College grounds. This multi sporting event was meant to include a Triathlon, Aquathlon and a fun fair. We had 981 athletes register for the Triathlon, 182 participants in the Aquathlon and 71 vendors signed up for the fair. With the torrential weather conditions, we were faced with prior to the scheduled date, for the safety of all participants and the commercial prospects of the vendors, the OGA took the decision to postpone the event to 3rd December 2022.
  • A sincere word of thanks was extended to the Trustees of the OGA Trust and the Chapel Trust for their dedicated service; especially Enoka, Dushyanthi, and Shrimathi of the OGA Chapel Trust, as they vacate their post this year.
  • The Board of Governors of the school submitted an application for the registration of the LC Crest as a trademark belonging to the governing body. Stemming from this, the OGA was advised to do the same. The OGA is in the process of lodging an application for the registration of the LC OGA mark, which would essentially be the school crest with the words Ladies’ College Old Girls’ Association below it. As such, all members are kindly requested to seek prior approval from the principal before using the Ladies’ College name or Crest.
  • A sum of Rs. 150,000/- was pledged towards the air fare of a student who was selected to represent the country at an International Squash Tournament. The committee also donated to school a sum of Rs. 25,000/- being the annual funding provided for the school prize giving. An additional sum of Rs. 1,000,000/- was provided in the accounts as a stat donation towards the school from the income generated in the financial year of 2021/22.

Mrs. Deepika Dassenaike updated the membership on the activities and accolades of the school and students, while highlighting donations made by the OGA that has significantly contributed towards advancing the school on many levels.

The AGM concluded with the Vote of Thanks given by Mrs. Nirusha Ranjitkumar Ratnatunga, former Secretary of the OGA.