Radio Society of Sri Lanka

Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka which will be held on Sunday the 25^th of January 2015 at 10.00a.m. in the Balcony Hall of the Otters Aquatic Club 380/1Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo 7.

Members who wish to submit any resolutions should submit them to the Hony. Secretary seven days before the date of the AGM.

AGENDA FOR THE AGM

1.     Reading the Notice convening the AGM of the RSSL.
2.    Vote of condolence.
3.    Tabling of messages of excuse
4.    Reading and adoption of the minutes of the 62nd AGM.
5.    Matters arising out of the minutes
6.    Reading and adoption of the Annual Report of the administrative year 2013/2014
7.    Adoption of the Audited Financial Statement of Accounts for the year 2013/2014.
8.    Address by the outgoing President.
9.    Election of new office bearers for 2014/2015.
10.    Election of Auditor.
11.    Resolutions to be passed of resolutions of which 7 days notice has been given to the  Hony. Secretary.
12.    Address by the New President

By the order of the Council of Management

G. V. A. Goonetilleke
Hony. Secretary
Radio Society of Sri Lanka.

Today marks the 10^th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies that Asia has witnessed in its history. When the Tsunami struck, to be very honest, most of us hadn’t even heard of the word as we had never experienced one before. There was utter confusion when the tidal waves 10 metres high, hit the coastal areas of most of Sri Lanka, with it taking the entire communications system in the affected areas. Information was sketchy and confusion reigned supreme. The radio amateur community heard about it when a frantic call crackled through the VHF repeater from Galle by one of our members, to tell us that massive tidal waves had swept through Galle town and even washed off a section of the hospital in Mahaodara.

As the hours ticked by the full extent of this horrendous disaster was unfolding and the Prime Minister’s office was appealing to the country for any means possible to assist in the disaster. While people were rushing to collect food and clothing, the amateur radio community sprang into action informing the PM’s office that we could provide emergency communications. It was hard to contact the PM’s office as the phone lines were saturated and a messenger was sent to try to get in contact with the PM’s disaster centre. In the meantime, the Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL) got a team together to head for Tissamaharama as we had some logistical support there a few kilometres inland to set up a base camp. The plan was to assess the damage and requirements and flash back the information to Colombo to do whatever was possible.

As the team was about to leave at midnight a call came from the PM’s office to inquire whether we could really provide communications telling us that there was no electricity and it was hard to even assess the situation there. We assured that we could do our job. When asked what the Government could do to assist, we stated that we were well prepared, self-reliant and we needed only official sanction/blessing by the PM’s office for our operations. We were requested to go to Hambantota as the destruction was heavy and that they feared deaths as high as 8000. and for our disaster operations centre to set up at Temple Trees as part of the Prime Minister’s disaster operations centre.

Within 20 minutes of arriving at Hambantotala the RSSL team set up HF and VHF stations and a stream of desperate and heartbreaking messages started pouring into the disaster management Centre at Temple Trees. Meanwhile radio amateurs all over Sri Lanka were standing by assisting with relays of weak signals at times and transcribing and forwarding information to the relevant authorities.

In the meantime a request came from the Secretary to the PM to seek assistance for a mobile team to go along the devastated coast to assess damage and requirements and convey the information to the disaster operations centre. The Govt. was requested to provide transport and armed escort as the security situation was volatile. Within an hour two hams undertook the arduous journey taking two days to reach Matara often taking inland routes to reach coastal towns, backtracking and again going forward. They were met with broken bridges, ruined building and devastated survivors. The Yatiyantota VHF repeater helped a great deal in this mobile effort.

For three days the radio amateurs kept their network going before the police and military took over operations.

A full report is being compiled with credits and commendations. In the meantime the Radio Society remembers with pride and gratitude the heroic service by the radio amateur community in our country’s hour of need.

Disaster operations and the destruction that met the RSSL team

Communication centre at Prime Minister’s official residence (Temple trees),Asantha on mike,with Kusal and Dimuthu in background holding flashlight.

Communication centre at Prime Minister’s official residence (Temple trees). Kamal on mike with Kule and Wije, Victor in background

Setting up the communication station in Hambantota District Secretariat, Kusal with Dimuthu. Asantha’s 4WD in which we travelled to Hambantota in background.

Communication centre at Prime Minister’s official residence (Temple trees), Bharat on mike with Victor

Asantha holding the flashlight for illumination in night time operation at Hambantota

Destruction in Hambantota, photo taken by Asantha

The President and the Council of Management of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka –  wish all our members, world-wide friends, partner clubs and IARU Region III member organisations a Happy Christmas and the best Complements of the Season.

May the festive season give you the time to spend with families and friends and of course catch up with the Amateur Radio Bands.

The General Meeting for the Month of November 2014 will be held on Wednesday 26th Nov at 6 P.M.. The venue is the Balcony Hall of the Otter Aquatic Club  , 380 / 1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo 7.

MONTHLY MEETINGS .

Please note that unless otherwise notified, monthly General Meetings will be held at Otters Aquatic Club at 6.00 P.M. on the last Wednesday of the month. Please also monitor the RSSL net regularly on 145.625 MHz at 0900 P.M. for RSSL announcements. You are welcome to contact any Council member if you need to verify meeting dates. Membership and ID Card applications can be obtained at the meetings. Membership renewals are also accepted by the Treasurer at the monthly meetings.

Dear Members,

The October monthly meeting is all set for the 29^th Wednesday at 6 PM as is customary, last Wednesday of the month. Special feature will be a “Live” presentation by 4S7RM Rodney with help from Nadika and Samy who always assist with multimedia projectors and Internet connectivity. We will have Denver  4S7DA and Noel 4S7AVR, Nihal 4S7WN hopefully wx permitting, to respond and of course any others that we might come across.

As mentioned before in one of our messages, with Hamsphere one needn’t have a Ham Callsign or even  a transceiver to enjoy virtual ham radio. Come over and listen to Rodney explaining it, then go home and program your computer and get on the airwaves and contact other radio amateurs all over the world.

The regular Newsletter will follow with pictures and details of other activities. This is a short text note as some of you get your internet on your mobiles.

73 and CU at Otters today

Victor 4S7VK

Hony. Secretary RSSL.