High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera Makes Historic First Visit to Sri Durga Devasthanam in Sydney for Deepavali
Photo: Colombo Gazette.
A Deepavali gathering at Sydney’s Sri Durga Devasthanam became a notable moment in community engagement on Sunday, 8 November 2026, when Yasoja Gunasekera, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, visited the temple to celebrate with members of the Sri Lankan community.
The visit marked the first official visit to Sri Durga Devasthanam by a Sri Lankan High Commissioner, according to reports by Colombo Gazette and Colombo Times. It brought together representatives of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission, the temple community and local community leaders for a programme centred on religious observance, cultural expression and service.
For Sri Lankan residents in Sydney and elsewhere in Australia, the occasion offered a meaningful point of connection between the High Commission and a place of worship that serves its local community. It also placed Deepavali’s themes of peace, prosperity and harmony at the centre of a gathering that combined ceremony with conversation.
A welcome at the temple
Upon her arrival, the High Commissioner was warmly received by R. Mahendran, President of Sri Durga Devasthanam, alongside members of the Temple Committee and devotees. The welcome set the tone for a visit that was both ceremonial and community-focused.
Gunasekera joined those gathered for special Deepavali pooja ceremonies. During the prayers, the community sought peace, prosperity and harmony: values that give the festival significance for many who observe it, while also providing a shared point of reflection for families and communities.
The visit was not limited to the religious programme. A Bharatanatyam performance formed part of the event, bringing classical dance into the celebration and highlighting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural traditions. The performance offered a cultural complement to the pooja, with the occasion bringing devotional practice and artistic expression together in one community setting.
Photo: Colombo Times.
A first official visit and a wider connection
The reported significance of the visit lies in its status as the first official visit to Sri Durga Devasthanam by a Sri Lankan High Commissioner. Such a milestone offers an opportunity to recognise how connections between diplomatic representatives and community institutions can be maintained through direct engagement, respectful participation and listening.
Places of worship often have an important role in the lives of communities beyond their religious observances. They can provide settings for cultural activity, community contact and service initiatives. During the visit, the High Commissioner was briefed on the humanitarian and community service work undertaken by Sri Durga Devasthanam. The reports do not detail individual programmes, but the briefing placed the temple’s wider contribution alongside its religious and cultural role.
A lunch reception later provided an opportunity for Gunasekera to interact with community leaders and representatives. Alongside the ceremonies, this informal time helped make the visit a chance for exchange between the High Commission and members of the Sydney community.
For Sri Lankan Australians, the value of such engagement can be practical as well as symbolic. Community institutions are often among the places where people maintain cultural connections, share information and build relationships across generations. A visit that includes religious observance, a cultural performance and discussion of community service recognises those different roles without reducing the temple to any one of them.
Deepavali’s message
In remarks reported by Colombo Gazette and Colombo Times, Gunasekera expressed appreciation for the invitation and the hospitality extended by the Sri Lankan community in Sydney. She also highlighted Deepavali’s significance in renewing a collective commitment to building a better, just and compassionate society.
That message gave the gathering a broader focus. While the occasion centred on a particular temple and community, the values named in the High Commissioner’s remarks (justice, compassion and shared responsibility) speak to the wider life of communities in Australia. They also connect the festival’s observance with the everyday work of supporting one another and contributing to society.
The event therefore carried both a local and a wider meaning: a celebration of Deepavali with devotees and community representatives, and a milestone in official engagement with Sri Lankan Australians in Sydney. Its programme was grounded in the temple setting, while the High Commissioner’s participation acknowledged the importance of community places and organisations in sustaining cultural and social connection.
AI-generated illustration; it is not a documentary image of the event.
A community milestone for Sydney and Australia
The first official visit by a Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Sri Durga Devasthanam is a distinct milestone for the temple and the community members who welcomed her. Its importance rests not only on the formal status of the visit, but also on the range of activities shared: Deepavali prayers, Bharatanatyam, an introduction to the temple’s humanitarian and community service initiatives, and time for conversation with community representatives.
For Sri Lankan readers in Sydney and across Australia, the occasion is a reminder of the many ways community connection is built: through worship, cultural expression, service and respectful engagement. The visit brought these elements together at a temple gathering, while recognising the contribution of the committee, devotees and community leaders who made the welcome possible.
The reports by Colombo Gazette and Colombo Times, crediting the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra, record a celebratory event with a clear milestone. As the community marked Deepavali, the gathering also opened a new chapter in the relationship between the High Commission and Sri Durga Devasthanam: one grounded in presence, participation and a shared interest in a more compassionate society.
Source: Colombo Gazette
Source: Colombo Times
This article was written based on the sources colombogazette.com and colombotimes.net/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
At eLanka, we respect the rights of creators. If we have used an image you own and you’d like it removed, please email us at info@elanka.com.au and we’ll handle it promptly.
Thanks.
eLanka team
eLanka Disclaimer
Content published on eLanka may be created by the eLanka team, submitted by contributors or third parties, reproduced or adapted from other sources with appropriate source acknowledgement, or provided as promotional/advertising material by our clients. While eLanka takes reasonable care in preparing and publishing content, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Views expressed are those of the respective authors or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of eLanka. Third-party contributors, content providers and advertisers are responsible for the accuracy of material they supply and for ensuring they hold the necessary rights and permissions for its publication. Advertising and promotional content should not be regarded as an endorsement by eLanka of any product, service or claim.
