New Year Message By Anton Swan

Source:Brisbane 4EB Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – January 2022

It is with great pleasure that I send this New Year Message to Dæhæna readers.

This year has been difficult for the community with the COVID 19 Pandemic. With various measures that have been adopted, we have been fortunate in Queensland compared to our friends in the southern states and the rest of the world.

Sri Lanka like most nations has been affected badly.

But I am aware that the community in Queensland has rallied together to help our fellow Sri Lankans back home. The biggest project this year has been sending hospital beds through the Federation of Sri Lankan Organisations in Queensland (FSOQ) with the support of member associations and the community. Due to the shortage of shipping containers and problems around the world at various seaports, the shipping of beds has been affected. It is comforting to note that Scott Walker who has been a great supporter of Sri Lanka has provided us with space at his warehouse to accommodate the beds that we receive until the opportunity arises to ship them to Sri Lanka.

This year, while many community activities had to be curtailed due toCOVID lockdowns, the inaugural Sri Lanka Day held on 13 November, organised by FSOQ was a huge success judging by the response that was received. I would like to take this opportunity to give a heartfelt thank you to everybody who participated to make this special day a success and kept the Sri Lankan flag flying.
I have also been very busy with the consular work with the rise in demand due to extra documents to be attested and certified due to COVID. Now that the borders are starting to open, the inquiries about visas and restrictions for travellers to Sri Lanka have increased.

We hope and pray that 2022 will be a better year for all of us. Wishing you all: readers, well-wishers and the team that produces this wonderful newsletter, a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Anton Swan, OAM
Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Queensland