The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL)in its 178^th year will be held on Saturday 25^th March, 2023 commencing at 10 a.m. at the premises of the RASSL, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07.

AGENDA

 Notice of the Meeting

1. Excuses
2. Condolences
3. Welcome address and other announcements by the President of the RASSL
4. Confirmation of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 27^th March 2022
5. Matters arising out of the Minutes
6. Annual Report of the Council for 2022/2023
7. Audited Statement of Accounts for 2022
8. Appointment of an Auditor
9. Resolutions
10. Election of Office Bearers and Council members for the period 2023/2025

• The AGM will be held at the premises of The Royal Asiatic Society and no online participation will be facilitated.
• Elections will be held for the following posts:
  1. Editor (one vacancy and 2 nominees)
  2. Assistant Editor (one vacancy and 2 nominees)
• Secretary External Affairs (one vacancy and 2 nominees)

• Following vacancies to be filled by the House (If the names proposed from the House are more than the number of vacancies, an election will be held)
  1. Council membership more than two years of membership of the RASSL (There are four (4) vacancies to be filled by election)
  2. Council membership less than two years of membership of the RASSL (There are four (4) vacancies to be filled by election)
• All nominees are required to be present at the AGM and if any nominee fails to be present his/her nomination will be considered invalid.
• In the case of Ordinary Members, please make sure that any arrears of subscriptions are paid up to and inclusive of 2023. Only members who are not in arrears will be entitled to be nominated, to propose, second and vote at the Annual General

LIST OF VALID NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023/2025 COUNCIL OF RASSL 

RESOLUTIONS

 Resolutions by the Council Resolution 1

The Royal Asiatic Society (RASSL) founded in 1845, has made a significant contribution of a lasting nature, to the preservation of Sri Lanka’s culture and heritage. It has produced scholarly research papers and its publications have drawn worldwide attention to the unique civilization of this island. RASSL has also been engaged in the founding of many separateinstitutions that act independently, servein vital areas and meet needs of the public. Unfortunately, there is not much in terms of a mutually beneficial relationship between the RASSL, which planted the seeds of these institutions by making initial contributions, and these institutions.

Therefore, with a view to correcting this situation we submit this Resolution to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) calling on the House:

1). To authorize the preparation of a program to build a constructive relationship between the RASSL and these institutions that were nurtured by the RASSL at the beginning. Such a program of action will be fruitful for the well – being of the society in general, as well as the RASSL and the said institutions.

Proposed by

Sgd., Muditha Karunamuni (L/768)

Seconded by

Sgd., Dr. Chandana Jayawardana (L/1069)

Resolutions by Individual members Resolution 2

The Royal Asiatic Society (RASSL) needs to increase its membership to accommodate a larger number of persons in defined categories, which should include members of the younger generation currently in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Therefore, we submit this Resolution to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) calling on the House:

1). To approve an amendment to the Constitution such as to enable RASSL branches to be established in Universities and Schools.

Proposed by

Sgd., Muditha Karunamuni (L/768)

Seconded by

Sgd., Dr. Chandana Jayawardana (L/1069)

Resolution 3

 The article number 27 (b) to be amended by adding the following clause to the article number 27 (b)

‘Nevertheless, if in the opinion of the Council, as set out in a motion that has been adopted indicating the need and accepted at a meeting of the Council, any Office Bearer of good standing, having completed the third term of office (six years), may be reelected, or appointed as an Office Bearer or as a Council member for another term’.

The proposed amended article number 27 (b)

 27 (b): All Office Bearers of the Society shall be elected to hold office for a period of two years from the date of election. They shall, however, remain in office until new Office Bearers are elected. A retiring Office Bearer shall be eligible for immediate re-election, at the ensuing second term-end election, either to the same office or to any other office, for the next term of two years. Even after the end of the second term of his/ her office, i.e., even after four years, they will be eligible to stand for election for the third term under the same provisions stated above. After the end of this third term of office (six years), they shall retire and not be eligible for re-election until the lapse of another term of office, i.e., after the completion of eight years from the first date of election. Nevertheless, if in the opinion of the Council, as set out in a motion that has been adopted indicating the need and accepted at a meeting of the Council, any Office Bearer of good standing, having completed the third term of office (six years), may be reelected, or appointed as an Office Bearer or as a Council member for another term.

Rationale

 The Council may need to retain resource persons, scholars, and their skills to enable the Council to complete its ongoing work, and in instances where new resource persons, scholars, and skills are not available or are inadequate, an option to retain existing resource persons, scholars, and their skills should be made available in the provisions of the Constitution and rules and regulations of the RASSL.

Proposed by: Sgd. Dr Malini Dias (L/626)

Seconded by: Sgd. Dr Mallika Karunaratne (L/1110)

Dr. Mallika Karunaratne                                         Ms. Sandalekha Lawanya Ranasingha Hony. Joint Secretaries

12/03/2023