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Canberrans get taste of traditional Avurudu

by Panduka Senanayake

Canberrans were provided with a taste of the Sinhala and Tamil 'Avurudhu' when the Sinhala Cultural Organisation and the Australia-Sri Lanka Association for the first time joined hands to mark the event on April 13.

As customary, Sri Lankan expatriates from all walks of life dressed in their Sunday best but insulated against the autumn chill with scarves and jackets, gathered at the St. Judes Primary School in Canberra.

Celebrations began with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Major General Janaka Perera and Mrs. Perera and other invitees including Legislative Assembly Members Ms. Jackie Burke and Ms. Helen Cross, Mr. Chris Line, Detective Superintendent of Police and Ms. Robin Holder of the Domestic Violence Prevention Council.

As the day progressed the gathering of over 400 people partook of the traditional Sri Lankan 'Kiributh', 'Lunu Miris', 'Kevum', 'Kokis' and other sweetmeats. All the traditional games including 'kotta pora', 'Kana Muttiya', 'Hisa Thel Gema' were engaged in enthusiastically by the crowd.

Traditional Sinhala and Tamil dances showcased the culture of the island nation to the Australians. Devika Jayawardena was selected the 'Avurudhu Kumari'. The highlight of the day was the 'Wedihiti Wandana' event which showed that even in that far off land, the traditional values of Sri Lankans would be passed on.

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