RIDMA 2026 Brings Sri Lankan Culture Centre Stage on Staten Island
AI-generated illustration based on source reporting. Authentic event photographs were published in a 151-image gallery by the Staten Island Advance and are not reproduced here.
A celebration of culture and community
Sri Lankan culture took centre stage at RIDMA 2026, a community concert held on Saturday 17 October at the Williamson Theatre at the College of Staten Island in New York. Through traditional dance, music, piano performances and a skit, the programme brought together young performers and community groups to celebrate Sri Lankan heritage far from the island itself.
The event featured 24 performances, with children and young people among those who appeared. Participants came from Staten Island, New Jersey and Queens, making RIDMA a regional effort as well as a showcase of artistic talent. The Staten Island Advance documented the occasion in a gallery of 151 photographs, capturing the scale and variety of the cultural programme.
For Sri Lankan families living in the United States, occasions such as RIDMA offer more than an evening of entertainment. They create opportunities for younger generations to learn traditional arts, share them with their peers and experience the cultural practices that connect families across generations and geography.
AI-generated illustration; it does not depict a RIDMA performer or a documented scene from the event.
Young people learning and performing their heritage
Among the performers profiled by the Staten Island Advance was 12-year-old Dulanya Goonawardena, from East Brunswick, New Jersey. Born in the United States to Sri Lankan parents, she had been learning Sri Lankan dance since the age of three.
“I think it’s also really important to learn about our culture,” she said. “We could learn so much from it.”
Her experience reflects one of the concert’s central purposes: giving young people a practical connection to their heritage. Learning a dance, preparing for a performance and appearing before an audience can help traditions become part of everyday life, rather than something encountered only through family stories or occasional celebrations.
RIDMA’s programme also included singing, piano playing and a skit, bringing different forms of artistic expression together on one stage. The range of performances allowed children and young people to contribute in different ways, while giving the audience a varied introduction to Sri Lankan cultural expression.
Organisers also invited dance groups from Staten Island, Queens and New Jersey to take part. Stage manager Sanath Wijeratne described the collaborative spirit behind the event: “It’s teamwork because one person cannot do it alone.” The production gave local performers a shared platform and helped link families and groups across the wider New York area.
AI-generated illustration for cultural context; this is not a photograph of the RIDMA 2026 stage or performers.
A community gathering with a long-term purpose
RIDMA 2026 was organised to support the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Meditation Center of New York, also known as Mahamevnawa Asapuwa, and its plans for a new multipurpose facility in Port Richmond. The centre is seeking to raise US$1.5 million towards the project; that figure is a fundraising goal, not an amount reported as collected at the concert.
The centre began holding gatherings in rented community halls in 2015 and, according to its organisers, has since grown to serve more than 500 people. Its activities include meditation, religious instruction, a Dhamma School and youth programmes. A larger permanent home is intended to provide additional room for community life and learning.
The planned facility is expected to include a larger meditation hall, classrooms, dedicated areas for children and young people, community dining space, improved parking and greater accessibility. The need for additional space has become more evident during special events, when the existing premises cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to attend.
AI-generated concept illustration only; it does not depict the centre’s existing premises or proposed facility.
The fundraising purpose gave the concert an added dimension. Performers were not only presenting their skills; their participation formed part of a collective effort to support a centre intended to serve religious, cultural and youth needs. As Milani Pathiraja told the Staten Island Advance, the event offered children a chance to share their talents while helping preserve traditions for future generations and learn the importance of giving back.
A visible part of Staten Island’s cultural life
The concert also brought together members of the wider local community. Those in attendance included New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Sri Lankan Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jayantha Jayasuriya, and representatives from the office of Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon.
Scarcella-Spanton praised the contribution of the Sri Lankan and Buddhist communities to the borough’s diversity, describing them as part of “the Staten Island fabric”. Her comments pointed to a broader significance of cultural events: they allow communities to share their traditions publicly and build connections with neighbours, institutions and local leaders.
For children born and raised in the United States, participation can also help make cultural identity tangible. Rehearsals, costumes, music and performance offer a setting in which heritage is learned through practice and shared experience. For parents and teachers, the event provides a way to pass on knowledge while encouraging young people to take pride in what they have learned.
RIDMA 2026 therefore brought together several strands of community life: cultural education, youth participation, collaboration across neighbouring areas and practical support for a future facility. The concert’s 24 performances gave the programme its visible energy, while the fundraising goal connected the evening to a longer-term community ambition.
For Sri Lankans in Australia and around the world, the event offers a meaningful example of how cultural traditions continue to be taught and celebrated overseas. The work of sustaining heritage is often carried out through local classes, families, community organisations and events that bring generations together. In Staten Island, RIDMA placed that work on a public stage, while helping direct attention towards a centre intended to support the community’s future.
Readers can follow further Sri Lankan community stories and event updates through eLanka, a platform connecting Sri Lankans in Australia and around the world.
Source: https://www.lankanewspapers.com/2026/10/19/sri-lankan-culture-shines-bright-at-ridma-2026-celebration-on-staten-island
Source: https://www.silive.com/news/2026/10/sri-lankan-culture-takes-center-stage-at-ridma-2026-on-staten-island-151-photos.html
This article was written based on the sources https://www.lankanewspapers.com/2026/10/19/sri-lankan-culture-shines-bright-at-ridma-2026-celebration-on-staten-island and https://www.silive.com/news/2026/10/sri-lankan-culture-takes-center-stage-at-ridma-2026-on-staten-island-151-photos.html, 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.
