In the wake of the recent flood disaster in Sri Lanka, communities across the world felt the pain of those affected back home. In South Australia, SLMASA acted swiftly, turning concern into action. What was originally planned as the SLMASA Summer Smash was quickly repurposed and reorganised into a fundraising initiative to support flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka. This rapid response reflected SLMASA’s core values, compassion, unity, and service.
Following the success of this initial charity effort, SLMASA was approached by the ‘Rebuild SL Foundation’ to take part in a much larger multi-community fundraising food festival that was named as ‘HelpSL’.
The Rebuild SL Foundation South Australia promotes member well-being, enhances inter-communal harmony, and supports Sri Lanka’s rebuilding efforts. Through wellness programs, cultural initiatives, and advocacy, the foundation brings communities together, driven by inclusivity and collaboration. This event was a true reflection of that mission.
In total, 14 different Sri Lankan organisations came together to make this event possible. These included, Sri Lankan community organisations, Professional associations, School Old Boys’ Associations (OBAs), Children’s and youth organisations, Cultural and social groups. It was heartening to see Sri Lankans from all walks of life unite for one shared cause helping those affected by floods back home.
Over the years, SLMASA has built a strong reputation for running highly successful biriyani stalls. As Sri Lankan Muslims, biriyani is something we are proudly known for, a dish that brings people together. Accepting the request to run a biriyani stall was easy in spirit, but we knew it would only be possible with strong community support and sponsors.
SLMASA reached out to the community seeking sponsorship for biriyani packs so we could participate meaningfully in the event. Alhamdulillah, through generous contributions from 29 members, we were able to secure sponsorship for 100 biriyani packs. We then collaborated with Barakah Caterers, a trusted caterer from within our own community, to prepare the biriyani packs.
Behind the scenes, SLMASA representatives includding Fayaadh Hamid also attended weekly planning meetings with the wider group of participating organisations. This involved many hours of coordination, planning, and weekends dedicated to ensuring the event’s success, all for a greater cause. Originally planned at the Hectorville Cricket Club Grounds, the event was later relocated to Collins Reserve. The organisers ran an extensive marketing and advertising campaign to reach Sri Lankans across South Australia.
As part of this campaign, CeyFlix TV, the official media partner, conducted TV interviews with participating organisations. Our President Aakyl Haniffa took part in one such interview, representing SLMASA. This provided a valuable opportunity to increase the visibility of SLMASA and highlight its contribution to multicultural and community-driven initiatives.
On the day of the event, SLMASA was proudly represented by, Shanawaz Ali(Vice President), Rizwan Nazeemdeen (Secretary), Mufthi Thanzeel (Team Member), Nairooz Nilafdeen (Volunteer). Sales officially commenced at 11:30 AM, and the response was overwhelming. The demand for our biriyani was immense as all 100 packs were sold, along with water bottles, within just two hours. In the middle of all the busy sales, we managed to squeeze in an interview with CeyFLix TV. The feedback from attendees and organisers was extremely positive, with many wishing we had prepared even more packs due to the popularity of the stall. By around 1:30 PM, we concluded sales and handed over all tokens to the organisers.
Through this collective effort that raised a total of $38,393.90, SLMASA raised $1,627 towards this flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka. Even a donation that may have felt small, such as sponsoring just one biriyani pack, it definelty contributed to a much larger outcome. When we come together as a community, small acts combine to create a powerful impact.
Team SLMASA is always ready to serve the community and support meaningful causes. However, initiatives like this are only possible with the support, motivation, and generosity of the wider community. This event once again demonstrated what the compassionate and patriotic members of SLMASA can achieve when we stand united. Together, we proved that community spirit, collaboration, and sincerity can truly make a difference.
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