Sri Lanka Day 2023
Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – November 2023
Sri Lanka Day 2023, the mega food and multicultural festival organised by the Federation of Sri Lanka Organizations in Queensland (FSOQ) and its member organisations was held for the third successive year on Sunday 15 October at the Rocks Riverside Park with an unprecedent number of visitors. The event showcased and celebrated the cultural heritage and the culinary tastes of Sri Lanka with the wider multi-cultural community in Brisbane.
This year’s event featured 14 food stalls, one food truck, coffee and ice cream vans and 10 business stalls. In terms of demographics more Australians (nonSri Lankan) particularly young families attended. The kids’ section with jumping castle and face painting corner was always full of people. The distinguished line up of special guests included, Hon Leanne Linard, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon David Crisafulli, MP, Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Adrian Shrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Federal Senator Paul Scarr, Jess Pugh, State MP for Mt Ommaney, Brisbane City Councillors Angela Owen and Sarah Hutton, Anton and Bronwen Swan, Patron, FSOQ.
Extending a very warm welcome to invited guests and visitors, Dr Weerawardena, President, FSOQ said ‘with the support of our institutional partners and corporate sponsors the event has grown from strength to strength over the last three years’.
‘Today, Sri Lanka Day is considered a notable event in the multicultural events calendar in Queensland and a partner of the Brisbane’s vibrant city programme.
He acknowledged with gratitude, the funding support of institutional partners, the Department of Multicultural Affairs and the Brisbane City Council. He also acknowledged the support and continued guidance of Jess Pugh, State Member of Parliament for Mount Ommaney and city councillors, Angela Owen, Sarah Hutton, Charles Strunk. Dr Weerawardena thanked the new corporate sponsors who have joined this year; Centenary Memorial Gardens, Top Lenders and American College, bringing much needed funding support.
‘In the coming years we will continue to mobilise our community to engage with others who make the multicultural diversity of Queensland’ community.
Hon Leanne Linard, State Minister of Multi-cultural Affairs said, ‘Sri Lanka Day festival helps celebrate the multicultural diversity in Queensland educating the wider community of the benefits of the multiculturalism brings to our community.
Adrian Shrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane noted that ‘we are happy to see the Brisbane Sri Lankan community is growing and its community involvement is growing too. SriLankan professionals are making a notable contribution to building a better Brisbane and it is a fact that most of the engineers in Brisbane are Sri Lankans.’
Lord Mayor said that ‘every year he participates in a friendly cricket match held at the ANZAC Day commemoration at Brookfield where he sees Sri Lankan veterans marching in the parade signifying historical connection the armed forces of two countries had in fighting at Gallipoli.
Lord Mayor also acknowledged the 33 years of continued service of a truly Sri Lankan Hon Consul Anton Swan supported by his wife Bronwen.
Added feature this year was felicitating three community service champions who have delivered an exemplary service to community development, both in Sri Lanka and Australia. They are Bill Deutrom, Jayantha Pathikirikorale and Scott Walker. They received plaques of appreciation from the Lord Mayor. Anton Swan our former Hon Consul for Sri Lanka and the Patron of FSOQ, joined the Lord Mayor in presenting the plaques.
Federation of Sri Lankan Organisations Qld.
