SCATS MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATION HELD ON SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY 2026 AT BURNSIDE – Reported by : Leelananda Ihalagamage – Melbourne
The SCATS Australia (Sri Lankan Study Centre for the Advancement of Technology and Social Welfare) held its Multicultural Celebration to commemorate the Australia Day in the Burnside Community Centre at Lexington Drive, Burnside, with the participation of Indian, Vietnamese, Nepalese communities and 120 other invitees.
At the ceremony, the Chief Guest was Ms. Alice Jordan-Baird MP, Federal Member for Gorton and other guest speakers were : Mrs. S P P Saram, Consul General of Sri Lanka, Mr. Steve McGhie, Victorian MP for Melton, Cr Lara Cali, Mayor of Melton, Cr Kim Truong (representing the Mayor of Brimbank), Dr Medha Gunawardena Ph.D., Manager AMCS & Advisor/SCATS, Prof. Priyan Mendis, University of Melbourne/Snr. Advisor-SCATS, Prof. Tissa Wijeratne OAM, Chair/Global Health, Mr. Gamini Perera OAM, Founder President of SCATS, Mr. Kaleel Cader, President of SCATS Australia, Mrs. Kusuma Gunaratne, President of SCATS Seniors, Mr. Wasantha Perera, Senior Vice-President of SCATS.
This celebration included ten elegant colourful dance performances. Among them were Sri Lankan, Indian, Vietnamese and Nepalese dancing groups.
The SCATS has been in existence successfully for the past 36 years.
Photographs by : Mr. Mahesh Perera
