Vale Dr Siri – A remarkable human being – By Dr Palitha Ganewatta The Sri Lankan community in Australia, particularly in Sydney, is in shock and saddened to hear the untimely passing of Dr Siri Kannangara, a doctor par excellence and kind-hearted and remarkable gentleman, who dedicated his professional life to serve not only the community he belonged to but the wider Australian multicultural community. Being a medical specialist, Siri never refused to treat any Sri Lankan, who requested his service, despite his busy professional life. Once I asked him the reason for this unparalleled generosity and Siri’s response was, “My country educated me and made me a medical practitioner, so I must pay gratitude to it by rendering my service to Sri Lankans in Australia which I made my second home.”  In addition to his yeoman service, Siri has voluntarily trained young Sri Lankan doctors to serve in Sri ...

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VIDEO: Off Menu | Shaun Christie-David – By Patrick Ranasinghe image Source:-abc.net.au VIDEO: Off Menu | Shaun Christie-David He can’t cook, he’s not after money but Shaun Christie-David’s building a restaurant empire that’s changing lives one dish at a time. Shaun was always ashamed of what was in his lunchbox. Now it’s at the heart of his radical restaurant empire. Shaun Christie-David is a radical restaurateur who’s employing the “unemployable” and giving away thousands of free meals. Shaun Christie-David can still picture the bin where he used to ditch his dhal sandwiches, the furtive act of a teenage boy of migrant parents desperate to fit in. SHe loved dhal at home. The aromatic combination of lentils, tempered mustard seeds, spices and fried onions made by his Sri Lankan-born mother, or amma, Shiranie, was his favourite meal.But at school, he’d be teased about his weird-looking, pungent lunch, buffeted by taunts of, “Shit ...

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COUNTING AND CRACKING PREMIERES IN NEW YORK CITY   7 MAY 2024: Following a sold out premiere Sydney season in 2019, and 2022 UK tour, Belvoir’s smash- hit production, Counting and Cracking by S. Shakthidharan with Eamon Flack will make its US debut in New York at NYU Skirball Center from 6th to 22nd September, 2024. As one of Australia’s largest productions to premiere in New York City, Counting and Cracking will run in partnership with The Pubic Theater and NYU Skirball, a first for Belvoir. Featuring 19 performers from six different countries, speaking in five different languages, performing 50 characters, Counting and Cracking follows the journey of a Sri Lankan-Australian family over four generations, spanning from 1956 to 2004. “Taking Counting and Cracking to the New York is something of a cultural moment.” Said Eamon Flack, Belvoir artistic director, and director and associate writer of Counting and Cracking. “Of ...

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The Brad and Kiara Show Podcast – 2024-1-20 Source : omny.fm A lifestyle radio show that connects with your community and focuses on topics that you can relate to, a little bit of this and a little bit of that with a real Sri Lankan touch – Anything and everything goes on The Brad & Kiara Show – Tune in Saturday Mornings 7-8 right here on Triple H 100.1 FM  ...

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Goodbye Desmond Brohier, A True Family Man And Friend For Life – By Lawrence Machado Some friendships last for lifetime and so it was with Desmond Brohier, a one-in-a-million friend. My heart is breaking as I pen these lines to farewell him from this world. I know he is not in pain anymore and he died in his sleep in his own bed, which is a blessing. Yet, the ache is there. It will be much more for his grieving son Shannon, Mum, siblings Jerome and Elorine, and their families. But I am consoled we never lost touch despite being oceans apart and you are at peace now. All your cousins, uncles, aunties, relations, in-laws and many friends around the world are united in our grief at losing an amazing companion who was there for us at all times. Desmond, my wife Roshan and I have been very close and ...

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Pada Yatra 2015 – By Stefan D’silva Recently a friend of mine from Sydney visited Kumana NP and the topic of the annual pilgrimage arose.  That prompted me to revisit these images that have never been released before. The pilgrimage is quite a spectacle of devotion and faith and people walk for many days- they sleep in the jungle and plod on to Kataragama to fulfill their vows. The age of so many defies many a stereotypical narrative on the health of the aged. Some commence the walk in Jaffna – many join the walk from Panama and other locations along the East Coast. Either way it is a formidable journey, carrying dry rations, coconut scrapers and kids. As far as I know it happens every August. I have minimized the text  and kept it to one sentence per page  – as they say “a picture is worth a thousand ...

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PSI McGrath Pink Parade – 3rd January 2024 – 7.30 AM ( Sydney Event ) Join the  Pink Parade ARE YOU ATTENDING DAY 1 OF THE NRNIA INSURANCE PINK TEST 2024? Join us for the Pink Parade to walk, dance or march to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the McGrath Foundation and to honor those impacted by breast cancer. PARADE DETAILS Date/time : 3 January 2024 meet at 7.30AM, parade starts at 8 AM Start location : Gate 1, Allianz Stadium (meeting at the top of the Allianz Stadium stairs) Parade  path : The parade will descend the Allianz stairs in a sea of pink onto Driver Ave. The party will continue for 400m to Gate A of the Sydney Cricket Ground. Dress : Please wear your pinkest pink! Pink clothes, hats, jackets, flags, we want you to bring the pink party! At the conclusion of the parade there ...

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The XVth Anniversary Celebrations of the Thomian Carol Service, heralds the Advent Season in Sydney Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel reminds us of the “true meaning of Christmas” The Christmas mood was that of “expectation” as the guests gathered for this much anticipated festival of “Nine Lessons and Carols” presented by the S.Thomas’ College Old Boys’ Association of NSW/ACT. The congregation, comprised of alumni and community members, gathered with eager enthusiasm. The Thomian Carol Service is not a mere performance but an interactive expression of joy and celebration. The energy and warmth radiating from the audience contributed to the communal spirit of the event, turning it into a shared celebration of the Christmas season. In the magical tapestry of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols organized by the Alumni association, each element played a crucial role in creating an unforgettable Christmas experience. The success of the Festival of Nine ...

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Holy Family Convent, Colombo PPA Sydney Inc Dinner Dance – Photos thanks to RoyGrafix Holy Family Convent, Colombo PPA Sydney Inc held their inaugural Dinner Dance @ Epping Club last night in style. RoyGrafix has captured the moments brilliantly. For More Photos ,please visit eLanka Facebook page – Click here ...

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Khawaja & Sangha – who’s next for Sydney Thunders? Sydney Thunders’ in search of potential talent from South Asian communities. The HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup returns with a golden opportunity for South Asian cricketers living in Australia to showcase their talent in Thunders Nation Cup commencing from 12 November. It is the same event where Tanveer Sangha represented India and now he is named in the Men’s T20I squad for India tour. The right arm leg spinner Tanveer Sangha represented India in the Thunders Nations Cup. The HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup is the largest community initiative where teams representing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pacific Nations, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all taking part. The final of the tournament will play as a curtain raiser to the KFC BBL|13 Sydney Thunder versus Perth Scorchers match on January 8. Andrew Gilchrist, Head of Sydney Thunder: “We’re incredibly proud of this initiative, and to ...

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