About SLAFA
Sri Lankan Australian Friendship Association is a non profit organisation incorporated in the Northern Territory.
It is a non-political, non-religious organisation working to meet its main objectives:
Enhance and Foster: relationships, understanding, goodwill and co-operation between Sri Lankans, Australians and other ethnic groups .
Promote co-ordinate and provide facilities for educational, cultural, social, welfare, sports and recreational activities
Give support to approved relief and rehabilitation organisations
Provide a means for consultation with the Government and other relevant institutes in all matters concerning the members and their families;
Our History
The SLAFA team was led by Leonard Wanaguru (President) and Priya Wijeratne (Vice President).
The team reinvigorated SLAFA, and generated a high level of community engagement. Most of the year, the team managed to offer community free entertainment with meals.
In 2012, a new constitution was developed by the late Mr Yogan Sathyanathan, who was an extremely devoted member of SLAFA.
The SLAFA team was led by Priya Wijeratne (President) and Nishantha Wijesinghe (Vice President).
The highlight of the year was the expansion of SLAFA, with doubling the membership. The team encouraged Sri Lankan families in Darwin to become involved in community activities. Team managed to raise funds through a harmony day food stall and other fundraisers. Some of these funds were donated to Sri Lanka to assist flood affected families.
Children and youth were encouraged to show their skills in community events and increased their participation in arts and drama activities.
It was an honor to serve as the president of the Sri Lanka Australia Friendship Association (SLAFA) during the 2014-2015 term. With a dedicated committee of just 9 members, we worked closely to bring the vibrancy of every traditional Sri Lankan event to our community. Celebrating key occasions like Christmas, Independence Day, and the Sri Lankan New Year, we proudly showcased our unique culture and national pride.
As the committee of 2014-15, we warmly invite all Sri Lankans to unite and contribute towards serving our community. It remains our utmost duty to uplift the morale of our community by highlighting the rich Sri Lankan culture, heritage, and traditions.
The SLAFA team was led by Priya Wijeratne (President) and the Kalum Priyadarshana (Vice
President).
The extremely hard working SLAFA team in 2015/2016 focused on delivering events highlighting arts and culture to the greater community, with resultant, increase in membership. For the first time in Darwin, we were fortunate enough to host leading artists/entertainers from Sri Lanka, namely: ‘Chuti Malli Podi Malli’ – a show performed by two Sri Lankan comedians, and ‘Siv Ranga Sandhyawa’ – a show performed by five Sri Lankan artists. These artists encouraged involvement of local artists and conducted an arts and drama youth workshop. A portion of funds raised, was donated to community welfare projects in Sri Lanka.
During my time as President of the Sri Lankan Friendship Association (2016-2017), we welcomed notable figures such as Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene, State Minister of Defence, and H.E. Somasundaram Skandakumar, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia. We celebrated our culture through events like the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and the Christmas Dinner Dance, and introduced benefits such as a 10% Medibank Insurance discount for our members. We also supported new Sri Lankan migrants settling in Darwin, enhancing our community’s cohesion and support.
In 2018/19, SLAFA, under President Nishantha Wijesinghe, spearheaded various cultural initiatives that enhanced the Sri Lankan community’s presence in Darwin. Key events included hosting Sri Lankan Navy officers during the Kakadu 2018 Naval exercise, the engaging “Friendship Night,” and the vibrant Year End Dinner, which together bolstered community unity and our social media footprint. SLAFA honored the late Dr. Gervin Samarawickrama at the Independence Day celebration, earning parliamentary recognition. The organization demonstrated resilience by leading remembrance events after the Easter Sunday tragedy, with commendable fundraising efforts. Cultural promotion continued with Harmony Day and the “Bhoomi” show, thanks to government support. Marking SLAFA’s 40th year, the New Year Celebration highlighted our enduring commitment to cultural preservation and community service, overcoming challenges including the resolution of the unregistered constitution issue through dedicated team efforts.
The Sri Lankan Australian Friendship Association (SLAFA) witnessed a transformative year during my tenure as the 40th President and 4th female president. I was blessed to have 5 talented females in this committee, the highest female representation SLAFA ever had in its history.
Our committee initiated various programs, highlighting remarkable achievements, and fostering
community engagement.
We kicked off the year with a blood donation drive to commemorate SLAFA’s 40th Anniversary, followed by a successful Gee Padura and Talent show, uncovering hidden talents within our community.
The pinnacle event was the 40th Anniversary Celebration, where despite financial challenges, we exceeded expectations by raising over $30K, a record-breaking achievement for SLAFA. We hosted this landmark event at the DoubleTree by Hilton, uniting over 400 participants for the first time in our history. The presence of past presidents and founding members added depth to the occasion, symbolising our association’s rich legacy and successful journey. The emotional resonance of the event was heightened by past presidents traveling from interstate to join us, embodying the unity and continuity of SLAFA’s leadership.
We continued our impactful work by celebrating our 72nd Independence Day in a novel way, witnessing kids, teenagers, and adults uniting to perform a single song for the first time, a truly remarkable moment.
However, our journey faced a significant challenge with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this adversity, SLAFA thrived by extending a helping hand in numerous ways. Our committee demonstrated resilience by adapting plans and redirecting efforts to support vulnerable groups such as international students and temporary visa holders. Through fundraising and advocacy, SLAFA secured government, NGO, and community support, raising over $200K to assist the Sri Lankan community. We seized every opportunity to assist those in need. These initiatives, while demanding significant coordination and resources, provided immediate assistance and reassurance to community members. Looking ahead, SLAFA aimed to establish a community hall and had successful preliminary round table discussions with government entities.
In conclusion, SLAFA’s 2019-2020 term was characterised by resilience, innovation, and community impact, driven by the dedication of our committee members and the unwavering support of our stakeholders.
As a proud executive member of the 2020-21 SLAFA management committee, I’m delighted to share our accomplishments in this New Year souvenir. Despite challenges, our balanced team of twelve hosted significant events, including our community’s first outdoor evening gathering, traditional celebrations, and initiatives like Youth Development Programs and Covid Awareness. We also made a lasting impact by raising funds for a COVID ward at Rathnapura Base Hospital, showcasing our commitment to community support during the pandemic. Thank you to all who supported us. To the new leaders, see challenges as opportunities to grow. Wishing everyone a joyful New Year and success to the current committee.
In the challenging 2021/22 term, the SLAFA team of 14 office bearers excelled in teamwork and resilience. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic and health crises, SLAFA raised over $100k, with around $50k from donations and sponsorships, enhancing our financial support for Sri Lanka. We allocated $52k to various humanitarian projects, including educational supplies, meals for low-income families, and hospital infrastructure improvements. Despite challenges, we successfully held our annual fundraisers, embodying a year of pride and achievement. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to our mission.
Led by Kajaliny Ranjith, the 2022/2023 SLAFA committee leveraged diverse skills and experiences to actively engage the wider Darwin community. This dynamic team successfully negotiated to host the annual Independence Day celebration at the NT Parliament House—a tradition that will continue in the coming years. A historic highlight was the raising of the Sri Lankan flag at the Parliament House for the first time, marking a significant moment for our community. Additionally, the committee brought a variety of entertainment to our members and represented Sri Lanka at the Harmony Soiree Day with a vibrant cultural stall, further showcasing our rich heritage.
I am fortunate to be the president of the Sri Lankan-Australian Friendship Association (SLAFA) in its 45th year of existence. This community organization is the product of our senior Sri Lankans, some of whom still live in Darwin to this day.
As per the SLAFA Constitution, our aim is to “enhance and foster relationship, understanding, goodwill, and cooperation between Sri Lankans, Australians, and other ethnic groups”. Since assuming office in August 2023, I have enjoyed every bit of work and have grown to consider the SLAFA committee as a second family. We engage in thorough discussions and debates on various ideas, all with the aim of maximising our positive influence on the community. I extend my gratitude to all the committee members who voluntarily devote time from their busy lives to make this a reality.
Our most popular events are the Dinner dances held during Christmas and the Sri Lankan New Year, each of which attract crowds exceeding 300 people. These events represent a platform for people to perform voluntarily, thereby shining a light on our multi-talented community of musicians, singers, dancers, actors and more. In the spirit of diversity and multiculturalism, anyone is more than welcome to participate or perform at our events.
Such events enable us to share the rich culture of Sri Lanka with our Australian friends. As a non-profit organisation, these events also represent a source of income for other projects we carry out. This includes aiding individuals less fortunate than us, whether they reside in Darwin or Sri Lanka. This is made possible by the generous donations from members and sponsors of our Souvenir Booklets. I greatly appreciate our donors and local advertisers for their contributions that have enabled us to continue operating for so many years.
Finally, I would like to address the NT Government and Commonwealth of Australia for being our biggest sponsor and financial backbone of the organisation.
First President Message - Mr. Sabaratnam Prathapan
I am privileged to write this brief note as the first president of Sri Lanka association when it was initiated over 40 years ago. When I came to Darwin there were less than ten families living in Darwin who identified as Sri Lankan.
One day Dr Ben Dayaratne invited about five people for drinks at a local club. Over there he disclosed the real intention of getting together. He wanted to form an Srilankan Association. I was muzzled in to be the president and one Mr Vanhouten, a police officer took on as secretary. At that time, we were not incorporated.
As the first task we visited all the families we know come from Sri Lanka and encouraged them to participate in the activities. That included Sinhalese, Tamils and Burghers.
We organised two functions. A BBQ and bingo night at Mr Vanhouten place and a dinner and dance at a Spanish restaurant at that time in Nightcliff. Both well attended and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the terrible riot of 1983 put a dent on the enthusiasm for the society. However, it lingered on and continued. After few years Prasad Seneviratne as the president incorporated the association.
During the last fifteen years many Sri Lankan have made Darwin their home. Most of them are young people. They have lots of talents within them. This has made SLAFA a vibrant association at present. I wish the association good luck for the future.
Find Our Members
Nirmala Godavitharana
President
Nadeera Udawatta
Secretary
Suminda Wanigasekara
Vice president
Rishani Abeysekara
Vice treasurer
Malika Manikpura
Committee member
Arul Selveretnem
Committee Member
Dimuthu Jayasekara
Committee Member
Asitha Wijayasiriwardhana
Committee Member
Senarath Weerasekara
Committee Member
Lakkhi Jayasooriya
Committee Member
Sanditha Wickramasinghe
Public Officer
Kavindu Gunasekara
Committee Member
Madusha Olupathage
Committee Member
Omaya Padmeperuma
Treasurer
Riveen Abeywickrama
Vice Secretary
Dr. Dayaratne, a Consultant Paediatrician
Dr. Dayaratne, a Consultant Paediatrician, has devoted over 40 years to serving the Darwin community. His contributions extend beyond his medical practice, notably through his pivotal role in founding the Sri Lanka Australia Friendship Association (SLAFA) in Darwin in 1980. Dr. Dayaratne has been a steadfast member of SLAFA, holding various committee positions throughout the years and helping to shape the direction and growth of our association.
In addition to his professional and community service, Dr. Dayaratne has been instrumental in mobilizing support for victims of natural disasters in Sri Lanka, working closely with the Darwin Sri Lankan community. His commitment to humanitarian causes and community development continues to inspire us all.
We are immensely grateful for Dr. Dayaratne’s enduring dedication and leadership.
