2013 – 9th Tsunami Memorial Reception

May I thank all those who attended with their friends and family and gave their generous support and everyone who organised the 9th Tsunami Memorial Reception on the 29th of November 2013.

It was a very good Charity Fundraising event that was attended by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis, Mr Guzman from the Philippines Embassy and more than 90 people.
Joshua Castellino, Professor of Law & Dean of the School of Law at Middlesex University, London, gave a fascinating talk on the Reconciliation Process with reference to South Africa and New Zealand. The discussion about the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 that created the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal was particularly interesting with its adherence to the principles of active protection, the tribal right to self-regulation, the right of redress for past breaches, and the duty to consult. The aim being to make good for damage done in a spirit of contriteness and figuring out the future together to ensure the ‘active protection’ of Maori language and culture. There was an informative discussion thereafter.
The auction of the painting of the Tsunami donated by the Artist Kirti de Kauwe was made most enjoyable by the Auctioneer Sailesh Mehta, Chair of the Society of Asian Lawyers. It was sold for £1350. Upali Jayatilaka the lucky recipient of the painting then very generously donated the painting to the Sri Lanka High Commission for posterity.

If in the same spirit of charity, we receive the pledges made to make donations and to buy tickets and indeed the bids made in the auction we will raise a £1625 profit for the Philippines disaster, law books in public libraries and to assist Legal Aid Centres in Sri Lanka.

It would be nice to raise some more.

Lalith de Kauwe.
Chair
Tsunami Committee
2 December 2013.