Dubai, UAE – 17 May 2025:
The Sri Lankan Professionals Association in the United Arab Emirates (SLPA-UAE) reached a historic milestone by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SriLankan Airlines – DXB (SA) at a formal signing ceremony held at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel, during the 6th Annual General Meeting of SLPA-UAE.
The MOU was signed by Jagath Keerthisooriya, Outgoing Chairman of SLPA-UAE, and Jayantha Abesinghe, Regional Manager of SriLankan Airlines – DXB. This momentous occasion marks the first-ever collaboration between SriLankan Airlines and a professional association, setting a new benchmark in the airline’s engagement with the Sri Lankan diaspora.
This MOU initiates the process toward a formal agreement between SLPA-UAE and SriLankan Airlines, aimed at delivering exclusive travel benefits and attractive itinerary packages to the members of SLPA-UAE’s nine (9) member professional associations. In return, the airline seeks to strengthen its brand presence and customer base among Sri Lankan professionals living in the UAE. At its core, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting the economic growth of Sri Lanka through strategic diaspora engagement.
SLPA-UAE currently consists of the following nine professional member associations:
1. Institution of Incorporated Engineers Sri Lanka (IIESL – UAE)
2. Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka, UAE Chapter (IQSSL – UAE)
3. Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni – UAE (PIMA – UAE)
4. Sri Lankan Quantity Surveyors – UAE (SLQS-UAE)
5. Association of Quantity Surveyors, University of Moratuwa (QSUM-UAE)
6. Sri Lankan Hospitality Professionals Association (SLHP)
7. Sri Lankan IT Professionals Association (SLITPA)
8. Sri Lankan Bankers Association (SLBA)
9. Sri Lankan Planning Engineers (SLPE)
These associations represent a wide range of professional disciplines including engineering, quantity surveying, business management, marketing, hospitality, IT, banking, and planning.
SLPA-UAE extends its heartfelt appreciation to all nine member associations for their collective support, unity, and encouragement throughout this initiative. Their commitment and shared vision made it possible to progress this collaboration from initial discussions in September 2023 to the successful signing of the MOU
Special thanks are also due to Renil Nalawangsa (Executive Board Member – SLPA-UAE), Sudesh Sudar (Treasurer – SLPA-UAE), Ranil De Silva (Executive Board Member – SLPA-UAE), and Gayani Jayawardane (Manager – Sales, SA) for their continuous efforts and leadership in driving this partnership forward.
The implementation of the subsequent agreement and Member Benefit Program will be led by the newly appointed Executive Board under the leadership of Duminda Dissanayake, the incoming Chairman of SLPA-UAE.
About SLPA-UAE
Registered under business license 2309634 as Sri Lankan Professionals Association LLC FZ, SLPA-UAE serves as a collaborative platform uniting Sri Lankan professional associations across the UAE.
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