{"id":144769,"date":"2024-11-11T12:44:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T12:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=144769"},"modified":"2024-11-11T12:45:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T12:45:48","slug":"sri-lanka-association-of-nsw-inc-president-kalinga-wijeyewardene-report-2023-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/sri-lanka-association-of-nsw-inc-president-kalinga-wijeyewardene-report-2023-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka Association of NSW Inc President Kalinga Wijeyewardene – Report 2023\/24"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sri Lanka Association of NSW Inc President Kalinga Wijeyewardene – Report 2023\/24<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Sri<\/p>\n

Ayubowan! Vannakam! Aslam Alaikum! Welcome!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2023 when I was elected by you as the President of the Sri Lanka Association, I stated in my inaugural address that I wish to reinvigorate the founding<\/span>
\nprinciples of our Association and to go back to our roots. The Association was founded<\/span>
\nin 1972 as a home for all those of Sri Lankan origin living in New South Wales. It was open to all, irrespective of ethnic origin or religious beliefs and affiliations. It was not limited to Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay communities or those following Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Christianity.<\/span><\/p>\n

In pursuing this vision, the Association under my leadership reached out to all communities and religious groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the first time in the history of our Association, we participated in an Iftar event during Ramadan organised by the Austra Lanka Muslim Association (ALMA) attended by over 400 Sri Lanka Muslims living in Sydney. We also participated in Vesak Bakthi Geeta programme of the Lankarama Buddhist Vihara. We participated in the Sinhala & Tamil New Year celebrations organised by the Sinhala Cultural Forum. We reached out to the Tamil and Hindu community and the Sri Lanka Catholic Association and the Sri Lanka Malay Association by supporting and participating in their events.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Independence Day Celebrations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The 76th Independence Day of Sri Lanka was celebrated by the Sri Lanka Association of<\/span>
\nNSW Inc (SLA) and the Sinhalese Cultural Forum (SCF) with the active participation of<\/span>
\nSinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, and Burgher communities on 4th February 2024 at the Roselea Community Centre, Sydney.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the absence of the Sri Lanka Consulate in Sydney, which was closed in 2022, the SLA<\/span>
\nand SCF took upon the task of celebrating Sri Lanka\u2019s National Day in an elegant and <\/span>grand event graced by a large gathering of Sri Lankans from all ethnicities and wellwishers and dignitaries from the wider Australian community.<\/span><\/p>\n

A highlight of the event was the blessings from the invited religious dignitaries from the<\/span>
\nfour major religions Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam practised in Sri Lanka for a prosperous and united Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Independence Day Messages of His Excellency President Ranil Wickremasinghe and the Hon Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene were read out in Sinhalese, Tamil, and English as well as the message of the Foreign Minister Hon Ali Sabry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the highlights was hoisting of the Sri Lankan flag inside the hall by the President<\/span>
\nof SLA and the President of SCF amidst the beating of Magul Bera, the childrens choir <\/span>singing the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Australia, and lighting of the traditional <\/span>lamp by dignitaries. Another highlight was to commemorate the friendship between India and Sri Lanka two tree saplings were presented by the Indian Support Centre President Subba Rao Varigonda to the Presidents of the SLA and SCF.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s diverse culture was showcased with several Sinhalese and Tamil music, <\/span>dance and song items entertaining the guests.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Morning refreshments with Kiribath and traditional Sri Lanka food was served for the guests and lunch with Hoppers and Rice and Curry was served after the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

Collaboration between Sri Lanka Association and Austra – Lanka Muslim Association <\/strong><\/span>during Ramadan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As part of my initiative to build bridges between the various Sri Lankan Communities in<\/span>
\nNSW, the SLA participated in an Iftar Event during the Holy Month of Ramadan organised by the Austra \u2013 Lanka Musim Association (ALMA).<\/span><\/p>\n

Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset following the breaking of the fast-following Maghrib <\/span>prayers. Iftar or the breaking of the fast, is one of the most significant points in the day <\/span>during Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Iftar event at the Granville Community Centre in Sydney was attended by over 300 Sri Lankan Muslim community members. The SLA Committee and their spouses <\/span>participated in the event and were warmly welcomed by Mohamed Rizme Cassim President of ALMA and the committee members of ALMA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both SLA President and ALMA President observed that this was an excellent opportunity to foster collaboration and mutual support between our organizations for the betterment of the Sri Lankan community in NSW and to understand and appreciate the culture and religious observances of the Sri Lanka Musim community.<\/span><\/p>\n

I thank SLA Vice President Jabeer Cader for taking the lead in organising the event on the decision taken by the SLA Committee to collaborate with ALMA.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a historic occasion as it was the first time that the SLA had participated in a significant religious observance of the Sri Lanka Musim Community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Participation at Sunfest Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sri Lankan traditional New Year, generally known as Aluth Avurudda in Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese and Tamil population of Sri Lanka. It is a major event celebrated by not only the Sinhalese and Tamil people but by most Sri Lankans.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sri Lanka Association participated in this years Sunfest Festival celebrating the Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations organised by the Sinhala Cultural Forum. It was<\/span>
\nattended by a large gathering and featured traditional food, games and cultural performances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing the gathering, I thanked the Sinhala Cultural Forum for organising the event<\/span>
\nin a grand manner. I said that it is very important for the younger generation of Sri Lankans born in Australia to engage with their roots by participating in the traditional customs, food, games and dances associated with the New Year festivities so that they appreciate and value our traditional culture. It is also important as they are the future leaders of our community and they will be entrusted to carry forward these traditions in the years to come. I commended the parents for bringing their children to this event so that they would live and feel the cultural heritage that is theirs.<\/span><\/p>\n

SLA Participation in Lankarama Temple Wesak Programme<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Wesak festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nibb\u0101na), and death (Parinirv\u0101na) of Gautama Buddha. It is a holy day in the Buddhist calendar and falls on the Full Moon day in May.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Sydney, Wesak is celebrated on a grand scale at the Lankarama Temple. This year<\/span>
\nseveral thousands of devotees gathered at the temple on Wesak Day. The Temple was<\/span>
\ndecorated with colourful lanterns and mini Pandals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sri Lanka Association and its members participated in the celebrations and religious<\/span>
\nobservances. In particular SLA participated in the Wesak Bakthi Geetha (Devotional songs) programme. A SLA choir of twelve including committee members sang the song \u201cMal Sugande Dham Sugande\u201d before a large gathering. The song was well received and<\/span>
\nthe audience commended the Choir.<\/span><\/p>\n

A special thanks to Thilk Ekanayake for encouraging our members to take part in this<\/span>
\nevent, organising several practice sessions and ensuring that the choir arrived on time for the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

HSC High Achievers Awards 2024 presented by Sri Lanka Association of NSW<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sri Lanka Association of New South Wales (SLA) held the Annual HSC High Achievers Award Ceremony at the Don Moore Community Centre in Sydney.<\/span><\/p>\n

The recognition, felicitation and honouring those HSC students of Sri Lankan origin by the SLA has been an annual feature and event in the calendar of the Sri Lankan Community of NSW for over 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each year students who have performed to an exceptional high standard at the High <\/span>School Certificate examination in that year and received an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 95 and above are recognised. The ATAR rank is used to offer<\/span>
\nundergraduate places by Universities in NSW.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pride of place was given to the high achieving students as it was their day to shine. They <\/span>were invited to light the traditional lamp following which I gave a speech underlying the fact that the cream of the Sri Lanka youth in NSW was gathered at the event to be honoured. I said that the Sri Lankan community was in good hands for the future with <\/span>these high achieving students taking the lead in the Sri Lanka community in time to come. I invited the students to join the SLA and take up the challenge of steering it for the benefit of the Sri Lankan community into the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

A keynote address was given by Professor Wije Ariyaratne Professor of Civil Engineering<\/span>
\nat the University of Sydney and Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering University of Technology Sydney. In his speech Prof Ariyaratne stated that entering a university marks the beginning of an exciting journey, one filled with opportunities, challenges, and countless moments that will shape the student\u2019s future. He also said to remember that university is not just about academics. It\u2019s a place where you will grow, explore your<\/span>
\npassions, and discover who you truly are.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other speakers were Jenny Mai representing CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management<\/span>
\nAccountants) who sponsored the event and Aubrey Joachim former President of CIMA<\/span><\/p>\n

The students who were recognised at the event were<\/span><\/p>\n