The name of this organisation shall be Sri-Lankan Psychiatrists' Association (UK); hereafter it will be referred to as the "Association".

The Association shall be a not-for-profit, non-political, educational, humanitarian, and charitable organization. The objective of this Association shall be to bring into one compact organization the eligible Psychiatrists of Sri Lankan origin in the United Kingdom. The aims and objectives shall be:

1 . To act as a forum for psychiatrists of Sri Lankan origin in the UK, promoting social closeness and cohesion.

2. To promote education and research in psychiatry in the UK with special reference to the mental health services for people of Sri Lankan origin.

3. To organise and promote education and research events in the UK and in Sri Lanka

4. To be an advocate for the needs of our association members in relation to the Royal College of Psychiatrists

5. To assist psychiatric trainees in Sri Lanka in obtaining post graduate training in the UK.

6. To promote and advance the delivery of mental health care in Sri Lanka.

7. To guard and foster the medical interests of member psychiatrists and to interact with similar associations who would preserve, protect and enhance the image- of the- medical profession and Sri Lankan Psychiatrists.

8. To participate in medical charitable activities in Sri Lanka.

Under the above entitled name, and for the objectives expressed, the Association shall have the power and authority to make rules and bylaws and to alter, amend and change the same and to do everything needful for its good maintenance, support and viability. It shall be and is empowered to hold, lease, receive, purchase and convey all manners of property, both real and personal, accept and receive donations, legacies and bequests; to borrow or lend money; to invest its funds as it so chooses; to own, publish, conduct, and circulate such literature as will further its expressed purposes; to name and appoint such managers and employees as its interests and convenience may require; and otherwise to do and perform all acts and things requisite and necessary to carry out the aims and objectives of this Association.

The purpose for which this Association is organized are exclusively educational, scientific, literary, and charitable. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this organisation shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organisation.

The membership of the Association shall be of the following categories:

The medical graduates of the Sri-Lankan origin subscribing to the objectives of the Association, currently practising or in training or retired in psychiatry, are eligible to become active members. The active members shall have all dues and assessments paid and shall be entitled to all of the privileges of the Association including the right to vote and hold office. Unless otherwise specified in the bylaws Honorary and Associate members shall be entitled to the privileges of the Association, but shall not vote or hold office.

Any members of Sri-Lankan origin subscribing to the objectives of the association and currently practising, in fields associated with psychiatry, who are not medical graduates, for example, psychologists and psychiatric nurses.

A. All active members shall pay full dues and full special assessments as determined by the executive committee and approved by the general body. The annual dues shall be determined by the executive committee and approved by the general body. The term of the annual dues shall be the calendar year. Any member whose dues are not paid by May 1 will be considered in arrears and will not be eligible to hold an office in the Association, but may vote as long as all dues and assessments are met prior to election.

The address of the Association shall be the location and physical address of the Secretary of the Association, and may change from time to time. The executive committee by a two-third vote may however determine the principal location of the Association offices.

This constitution may be amended by a two-third vote of the active members registered at any annual meeting of the Association, provided the required quorum is present. However each member of the Ass ciati in good standing must be officially informed of the proposed amendment at least thirty days prior to the meeting, and provided such amendment has been initiated by twenty five members in good standing and approved by a two third majority of the executive committee at two previous meetings and has been recorded as such.

No proposal for dissolution of the Association shall be considered unless recommended by a two-third majority of the Executive committee and after thirty days notice in writing has been given to each member in good standing. The Association shall not be dissolved if 5% or more of its members dissent. Upon the dissolution of the Association, the executive committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the Association, dispose of all assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such - - - -manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization as the Executive committee shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is located, exclusively for such purposes or such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

1. The Association shall hold at least one general meeting every year. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the Executive committee. Such general meetings shall be presided over by the President, or in his absence the Vice President. Written notice of the annual meeting shall be delivered to each member the Association at least thirty days in advance of the meeting.
2. Any mater affecting the welfare of the Association may properly come before the general body meeting provided such business has been specified in the notice
3. The time and place of the general meeting shall be determined by the Executive committee, which shall be responsible for the necessary arrangements.
4. The quorum for any general body meeting of the Association shall be the members present, provided at least ten percent of the voting members are present at the meeting; except in cases of a resolution to reject an action taken by the Executive committee when the presence of at least fifty percent of the voting membership will constitute the required quorum. A simple majority of those present will be required to adopt a resolution except in cases of overriding of an Executive committee action and when a referendum is being conducted. In those cases, a majority of two-thirds of those voting will be considered affirmative.
5. The Financial status of the Association shall be presented by the Treasurer to the general membership at each annual meeting.

A. An extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by:

1.. The Executive Committee OR

2. Petition to the Executive Committee by twenty members or one third of the membership, whichever shall be the less.

3. Such meetings to be arranged by the Executive Committee for a date not more that three weeks after delivery of the petition.

B. Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be despatched to all paid-up members at least two weeks in advance, accompanied by an    agenda which shall make clear the nature of the business to be transacted and no other business shall be transacted at that meeting.

C. Procedure and quorum for an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be in other respects the same as for an Annual General Meeting.

1 . President

2. Vice president

3. Secretary

4. Assistant secretary

5. Treasurer

6. Assistant treasurer

7. International Liaison psychiatrist

8. Patrons (to be nominated)

There shall be ten 10 Representatives, one from each of the following regions:

Each officer shall be elected annually as defined in the bylaws. All of the officers shall serve until their successors are elected and installed. A member shall be eligible for nomination to any office only if he / she has been an active member of the Association for at least three years prior to his / her nomination and are regular attendees at the annual meetings. Each officer shall maintain physical residence in the UK during his /her tenure. Vacancies for an un-expired term shall be filled as specified in the bylaws.

The Executive committee shall be the governing body of this association, and consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and the Regional Representatives, and (3) the most recent Past-President. The Executive committee shall control the management of the financial affairs and funds of the association. The executive committee shall fix the date and place of meetings. It shall create and authorize the appointment of standing and ad-hoc committees and maintain an up-to-date directory of members. The Executive committee shall be responsible for proposing next year's budget at the annual meeting and the safekeeping of all financial and pertinent records. It shall have total control of all funds and property of the association. The Executive committee shall meet at least twice between annual meetings at the call of the President. Special meeting may be called by the President or the written request of four members of the Executive committee.

1. A term of office of any officer ore elected member of the Executive Committee shall be two years.
2. Officers and Committee members may offer themselves for reelection, except that the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary may not remain more that two consecutive terms in the same office.
3. The term of office of the out-going chairperson will be two years.

The nominating committee shall seek nominations from the general membership sixty days before the annual meeting. After considering the nominations so received, the nominating committee will submit a slate of candidates for various offices of the Association to the Executive committee. To be eligible for nominations for an office a candidate must be an active member of the Association for at least three years prior to his/her nominations. There shall be at least one nominee for each position. For an office of the Association other candidates who receive at least ten nominations from those who have been active members for two consecutive years, shall be included on the ballot in addition to the nominee of the nominating committee. No member of the nominating committee will be eligible for any post on the ballot composed by the committee.

All active members shall have the right to vote. The election will be held at the annual meeting of the Association. The date and hour of the elections shall be designated on the official agenda of the annual meeting. A simple majority of the votes cast is necessary to elect. Each candidate shall be allowed to name one observer to attend the counting and tallying of ballots. A recount of the votes may be ordered by the President or by a majority vote of the general body, but only at time of election. The recount will be conducted in the same manner as the original count and tabulation.

Section 3: Terms of office

The newly elected officers shall be sworn-in at the annual meeting. The officers shall take office for two years from the time of the annual general meeting.

ARTICLE V: Vacancies

Section 1: Any office of the Association shall be declared vacant by the executive committee when an officer resign or leaves the UK for a period longer than four months without prearrangement with the executive committee or becomes disabled to carry out duties of the office for reasons of health or otherwise.

Section 2: Should the office of President becomes vacant, the Vice President shall succeed to the presidency for the unexpired term.

Section 3: Vacancy of the office of the Vice President will be filled in the following manner:

1. Should the office of the Vice President fall vacant within the first six months of this office, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election to be directed by the President.

2. If the duration of the vacancy is less than six months. the vacancy shall remain vacant. The nominating committee in this case will be chartered at the time of the scheduled election to seek nominations for both the President and the Vice President for the next term.

Section 4: The vacant office of the immediate Past-President shall remain vacant until the end of that term.

Section 5: Should the office of the Secretary or the Treasurer become vacant the Executive committee shall fill these spots by electing from amongst the members of the Executive committee.

Section 6: When a post of Vice President or Representative is declared vacant by the executive committee, the executive committee shall fill these spots from electing amongst the members of good standing of the Association at large.

The President shall be the general executive officer of the Association. The duties of the president shall include the following:

1 . To co-ordinate the activities of the society.

2. To preside at all the general meetings of the Association.

3. To preside at all meetings of the Executive committee -

4. To serve as chairman of the Executive committee and official spokesperson of the Association.

5. To appoint scientific and program chairman of various symposia and conferences conducted by the Association.

6. To appoint an editor of the Sri-Lankan Psychiatrist (UK)Newsletter/Joumal;

7. To appoint liaison or intermediary with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Indian Psychiatrist Association (UK) and Pakistan Psychiatrist Association (UK).

8. To deliver an annual address.

9. To perform such others duties that may be required of him by the Executive committee, or the general body.

10. To perform such other duties as may be required of him by law, custom, or other rules of the Association.

11. To hold the office of Immediate Past President at the conclusion of his term as President

The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in co-ordinating the activities of the Society and shall carry out the duties of the Chairperson in bar or

The duties of the Secretary shall include the following:

1. To serve as a recording officer of the Executive committee and the general body;

2. To supervise and maintain preparation of and a permanent record of all official minutes of the Association meetings;

3. To be the official custodian of all securities, and property deeds and titles owned by the Association;

4. To serve as a member of the Executive committee;

5. To supervise and maintain an up-to-date record/data of the members to include names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, year graduation, specially and affiliations, names of spouses and children.

6. To supervise all publications of the Association;

7. To supervise all arrangements for the holding of each meeting in the compliance with the constitution and bylaws and instructions of the Executive Executive committee;

8. To send out all official notices of meetings, committee appointments, special committee assignments, and elections to office;

9. To perform such other duties that may be required of him by the President, Executive committee, and general body.

The assistant secretary shall assist the secretary in the activities of the society and shall carry out the duties of the secretary in his absence.

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all the funds and he shall be accountable through the executive committee to the association. The duties of the treasurer shall include the following.

1. To conduct all financial affairs of the Association;

2. To select a bank or trust company to act as custodian and transfer for all monies and securities subject to approval by the Executive committee;

3. To collect all annual membership dues, assessments, donations, and such monies that may be due to the Association;

4. To draw, sign and send all the cheques

5. To make available for audit all records and transactions of the Association;

6. To serve as a member of the executive committee and to provide the committee with regular reports on the financial state of the society.

7. To present an annual report at the annual general meeting;

8. To receive and acknowledge the receipt of annual subscriptions and maintain a list of paid up members.

9. To perform such other duties that may be required of him by the President, Executive committee, and general body.

The duties of the Representatives shall include the following

1. To serve as members of the Executive committee

2. To enlist new members and encourage active participation of members of their regions.

3. To perform such other duties that may be required of them by the President, Executive committee and general body.

The duties of the Immediate Past President shall include the following:

1. To serve as a member of the Executive committee;

2. To enlist new members.

3. To perform such other duties that may be required of him by the President, Executive committee, and general body.

Section 7: Patrons

Member: The Executive committee will be composed of. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the most recent Past President and the regional representatives.

Organisation: The President of the Association will serve as the chairman of the Executive committee.

Meetings: The Executive committee shall hold at least two meetings annually, one of these meetings to be held within ninety days of the last day of the annual meeting. Special meetings of the Executive committee may be called at any time by the President or with the written petition of four members of the Executive committee. Written notice of the executive committee meetings must be given at least fifteen days prior to the meeting except in an emergency. A majority of the members of the Executive committee shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting.

Duties: The duties of the Executive committee shall include the following:

1. To perform all acts and transact all business for and on behalf of the Association.

2. To manage the funds and property of the Association and conduct the affairs, works, and activities of the Association except as may be otherwise provided for in these bylaws;

3. To authorise and appoint such committees as are necessary to carry out the work of the Association;

4. To fill in any vacancies in a committee not otherwise provided for in these

5. To fix the date and place of the annual and general body meetings and make all appropriate arrangements;

6. To supervise and oversee all the Association's proj ects

7. To adopt measures in support of its members with regards to medical research and practice and to uphold aims and objectives of the Association;

8. To perform such other duties as may be required by the general body or other rules of the Association.

Resolutions: Each resolution introduced in the executive committee shall be introduced by a member of the executive --committee. It may be referred by the President to the proper reference committee before the action is taken thereon.