The Maldivian Students Association (UK) began its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 30 December 2004 held at 9 Rosemont Avenue, North Finchley, London, with recitation from the Holy Quran and observance of a two-minute silence in remembrance of those whose lives were lost and those who were missing as a result of the onslaught of the Asian Tsunami which struck the whole of the Maldives on Sunday 26 December.

During the gathering, the winner of the Young Science Writers Competition, Hazrath Rasheed Hussain from Centre for Higher Secondary Education in Malé who won a trip to the UK, was awarded a shield, certificate and a cheque for 500 US dollars, which were given away by the Chief Guest, Honourable Mr Hassan Sobir, the Maldivian High Commissioner in UK.

Following that, the outgoing Chairperson, Ismail Mohamed presented the main activities carried out during the year, and the Treasurer, Nishwan Abbas summarised the association’s financial activity for the year.

An amendment was made to the Constitution to enable Associate Members to cast votes in the election of office bearers of the Central Committee, before the new CC was elected. The elected office bearers are as follows:

Chairperson Mr Fazeel Najeeb MPhil, Queen Mary, University of London
Vice-chairperson Ms Geela Ali MSc, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Secretary Ms Aminath Nadha BSc (Hons), University of Manchester
Treasurer Mr Abdulla Mohamed MEng, University of Manchester
Student Advisor Mr Nishwan Abbas MEng, University College London

The first Advisory Council was also elected during the meeting. It constitutes the outgoing Chairperson and three other members who were: Ms Aamaal Ali (Head), Dr Hassan Ugail and Mr Abdullah Shareef.

During the meeting discussions were held to identify ways of assisting the Tsunami relief effort in the Maldives. Members decided to donate Rf 60,000 immediately to the Government relief fund at Bank of Maldives. In addition, the members were actively engaged in manning the hotline at the High Commission of Maldives in London, to provide information and support the relief effort.

The meeting ended with the National Anthem which was followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared for the occasion.

Members of the association organised special prayers of supplication ‘Kashu Namaadhu’ in absentia, after the Friday prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre Mosque in North Finchley, for the numerous lives lost in the Maldives following the Tsunami, which was also attended by members of the High Commission.

The association is also actively engaged in the relief effort by collecting donations in kind, calling for monetary donations, publicising the relief effort at local communities, and organising fund raising activities.