Sri Lankans in Melbourne throng to celebrate Independence

Arthadeva

Melbourne: Over 1300 Melbourne Sri Lankans flocked to Kingston Hall at Moorabbin to participate in their National Day celebrations on Sunday, the 4th of February.

The event was sponsored by the Melbourne Sri Lankan Hony. Consul, Dr Rodney Arambewela, and executed by The Committee for Sri Lanka. This has been the fourteenth year in which National Day was organised this way.

Over the past few years, a selected City Council became the focus of the celebration. Kingston City Council, a prominent suburb in Melbourne's growth corridor, had been chosen this time with a special purpose-namely because Kingston acted as the host for the Sri Lankan athletes at the last Olympics.

Awards were given to four Sri Lankans who had done yeoman service to the community - Messrs Patrick Devapura, Dr.Chris Ferdinands, Chris Lawtone and Mr Jum Uduman. Posthumous awards were given to Messrs OMDV Perera, Eddie Gray, and Mrs Ramanie Liyanaaratchi.

The outstanding attraction of the evening was a multicultural performance in melody and dance on the theme "Living in Harmony". The events in this glamourous show were performed by different Lankan dance and cultural groups representing different ethnic groups in the Sri Lankan community.

The curtain opened on a scintillating drum-dialogue by Rangana and Asanka. Students of Vishver Rangayathanaya, of Nadanalaya School of Indian Classical Dance, Ama Siriwardena, Dilhani De Silva, and the Australian-Ceylon Fellowship took centre of stage.

A guest performance was given by Roxburg Park Homestead Dancers The evening of patriotic memories, song and dance ended with a community reception.