Precondition, The control needs to have Id, if not the ajax clientside script can not handle it. Then see the following code.

Dim btn As LinkButton = CType(child, LinkButton)
AddHandler btn.Click, AddressOf ProcessFilter
''me.UpdatePanel1.Triggers.Add(as
'Dim trigger As UpdatePanelControlTrigger = New UpdatePanelControlTrigger
Dim trigger As AsyncPostBackTrigger = New AsyncPostBackTrigger()
trigger.ControlID = btn.UniqueID
trigger.EventName = "Click"
Me.UpdatePanel1.Triggers.Add(trigger)