Mahindians UAE group was established in 1998 as the alumni for Mahindians living in UAE under the patronage of Ajantha Premaratne. Since then the group continued its activities as an informal group and was formalized at the inaugural Annual General Meeting held on 14th of May 2015. The first executive committee was formed under the leadership of Anuradha Jayarathna, who as the president worked diligently to get the Mahindians UAE group off the ground.
Over the past several years Mahindians UAE organized multifarious projects which spanned over infrastructure development of Mahinda College, fundraising projects and community activities.
Since 1998 Mahindians UAE has invested in over LKR 5 Million worth of projects as a gratitude to Mahinda College. Leading from the front, the Executive Committee of Mahindians UAE in close collaboration with the college administration has been instrumental in the process of development of physical and human capital for the college. Donation of state of the art musical instruments to the College Western Band, annual contribution to the prize distribution ceremony and the gold sponsorship for college web team to live broadcast the ‘Lover’s Quarrel’ are few of the key projects that were conducted successfully by Mahindians UAE.
Community activities of our forum had the intention of bringing the alumni and their families together whilst ensuring a strong bond among the members of the association. A special focus was given create support groups for Mahindians who visit or enter UAE for the first time thereby bridging the community gap and assisted them in numerous ways to adopt to a new country and culture.
The year 2018 marked 20 years of existence of Mahindians UAE making it one of the oldest old boy’s associations in UAE. This remarkable milestone was commemorated with events being planned both within UAE and in Sri Lanka. Construction of the 20th Anniversary monumental statue of our founder, Sir Henry Steel Olcott at the college premises and a sing-a-long with Mahindians’ in UAE were some of the highlights of the events conducted parallel to the 20th Anniversary ceremony. In year 2022 “Old Mahindians Group of UAE” rebranded its organizational identity to “Mahindians UAE” using the two key words that drive the identity of Mahindians living in UAE.
The Mahindians UAE, currently has over 80 members and continues its rapid expansion as a community group. The executive committee continues to reach out to Mahindians living in UAE to join hands with our forum with the motives of supporting and glorifying Mahinda College, Galle and ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of the members and their families.
By Lasitha Nuwanjith