The Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara organises the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations every year and, this time, kindly invited SLMASA to join the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, 12 April 2026. The event was held at Norwood International High School.
It was an early start at 8:30 AM. Representing SLMASA, Vice President Ibrahim Saleem and Aakyl Haniffa attended the function. Guests were warmly welcomed, including former Honorary Consul Dr. Charitha Perera, current Honorary Consul Dimuthu Samaranayake, President of the Filipino Ethnic School of South Australia and former Chairperson of the Ethnic School Association of South Australia Irene Candelaria Rowe, and MP Megan Spencer.
The event began with a welcome address by the President of the Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Dasuntha Liyanage, followed by a speech from Venerable Shasthrapathi Udagabbala Sumedha Thero. A special moment of the ceremony recognised the service of Dr. Charitha Perera as Honorary Consul for more than a decade. His contribution was highly appreciated, and a memento was presented in recognition of his service.
Following this, a number of performances were presented by children from the Buddhist Sunday schools across various age groups. The program included traditional dances, short plays, and cultural performances showcasing Sri Lankan heritage.
While the performances were ongoing, VIP guests were escorted to a special room for breakfast. The table was filled with authentic Sri Lankan Avurudu sweets and delicacies, providing a great opportunity to network, connect, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Guests then continued to watch the remaining performances, with the event concluding with an extravagant Kandyan dance item that was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.
As the indoor program wrapped up around 11:30 AM, the outdoor celebrations began with Avurudu Kreeda (traditional games) and food stalls, drawing a large crowd. Despite the cold weather, attendees remained energetic participating in games and enjoying food from the stalls.
It was a lovely day filled with colour, smiles, and happiness, truly capturing the spirit of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Media coverage for the event was by CeyFlixTV and telecasted Live.
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