Lankan culture celebrated in Melbourne

The sixty-fifth anniversary of Independence was celebrated at the Grand in Melbourne. The event was initiated and hosted by Sri Lankan Consul for Victoria Bandu Dissanayake and Mihirie Dissanayake.

The hall was full of around 700 guests from the Sri Lankan expatriate community. They consisted of state and local government representatives, ex-service members and Police Association of Australia and community leaders.

Vice President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Christie Weeramantry, was also present along with Victorian parliamentarians Liz Beaty, Telmo Languiller, Jude Perera, Consul General designate Upul Pushpakumara, Monash Mayor Micaela Drieberg and Chandra Bamunusinghe.

Celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the national flag amidst the playing of the national anthem and the ceremonial drums followed by the chanting of Jaya Mangala Gatha and the lighting of the traditional oil lamp. Archana Athalage of Thala Asapuwa Dance Academy heralded the programme of cultural presentation with her lithesome solo dance routine featuring Dalu Mura drawn from the Kohomba Kangkariya of the Kandyan Dance repertoire.

It was an inviting graceful prelude to the introduction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Independence Day Message, read in Sinhala by Gamini Hemachandra, in Tamil by Dr Ram Nadendranathan and in English by Kingsley Ediriweera.It was also an occasion to acknowledge the Message from the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe. By now the tone was set for the rest of formalities and the hosts extended a warm and cordial welcome to the guests present. In the customary ways of Australian protocol, Bandu acknowledged the traditional owners of the land upon which they had gathered and paid respects to their elders, past and present.

He noted President Rajapaksa’s famous words: There are no second class citizens in this country. That was a poignant reminder to those bent on dissension and disunity to realise that we are one country, one nation founded on a different ethnic , linguistic and religious diversity and we are one people.

Indeed an ideal national identity which augurs well for us all to promote!

Liz Beaty and Telmo Languiller spoke of their many visits to Sri Lanka, their enduring impressions of the Island nation, her rich and ancient culture and their love for her people. They spoke of massive socio-economic transformation taking place in the country since the end of brutal terrorist war.

And in time, they were joined by Jude Perera, Cr. Micaela Drieberg, Pushpa Jayakody, Duraiswamy Thangarajah and Faizzal Izzedeen to speak about reconstruction, reconciliation, economic prosperity among others , and hopes and aspirations of our people for a united Sri Lanka, lasting peace, justice and cohesive harmony. The program of cultural presentation continued with the students of Rangana and Udumbara Dance Troupe, Ama Siriwardana Performing Dance Academy, Natyalayaa School of Indian Classical Dance, Vishver Rangayathanaya and Abhina Dance Academy presenting a contrasting blend and fusion of rhythmic routines: traditional and the modern, Raga and Thala resonating with beats of pulsating drums and orchestral music. It was really a fascinating display of beauty of the dance and the majestic elegance of our vibrant cultural heritage. A medley of patriotic songs followed by national anthems and refreshments provided a fitting finale to an evening of colourful celebrations claimed to be one of the finest ever seen in this part of the world.

It was truly an evening filled with feelings of goodwill, camaraderie and patriotic fervour planned and presented to a degree of impeccable military precision with a discerning touch of grandeur.