SLMASA Commemorates Eid Al-Adha with a Joyous Community Celebration

The Sri Lankan Muslim Association of South Australia (SLMASA) held a vibrant and memorable Eid Al-Adha celebration on the 14th of June at the Fullarton Park Community Centre. More than 150 community members attended the event, making it a lively and colourful evening.

The program featured a dynamic lineup of activities, beginning with a heartfelt welcome by SLMASA Vice President Shanawaz Ali, who extended warm Eid Al-Adha greetings to all guests.

One of the key highlights of the evening was the recognition and appreciation of Dr. Charitha Perera, the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka, for his decade of dedicated service to the community. Mr. Nazli Farook, a respected senior member and founding President of SLMASA, spoke in honour of Dr. Charitha. In his speech, Mr. Farook commended Dr. Charitha’s tireless commitment to uplifting the Sri Lankan community in Adelaide and acknowledged the invaluable support of Dr. Charitha’s wife, Dr. Mihiri, who was also in attendance. Dr. Charitha expressed his gratitude to the community for their recognition and hospitality and emphasised the importance of a united community that supports and uplifts one another. A token of appreciation was then presented to Dr. Charitha by President Aakyl Haniffa and Mr. Nazli Farook as a gesture of thanks for his exceptional service.

Adding to the evening’s significance was the official launch of the SLMASA website, a long-awaited milestone for the association. Designed and built by Ricky Nazeemdeen, SLMASA Secretary and Aakyl Haniffa, the website launch marked a new chapter for community engagement. To commemorate the moment, long-serving community members Mr. T.M. Jamion and Mr. Farzan Aboosaheed, who have been pillars of strength for SLMASA, were invited to launch the website. President Aakyl Haniffa then introduced the features of the platform and encouraged members to explore and engage with it actively.

Following the formalities, guests enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring aromatic mandhi rice, sweet baklava, and beautifully handcrafted cupcakes prepared by Sister Nazha Nasmi.

The evening’s festivities continued with engaging activities for children, beginning with an art and craft session led by Sister Farah Ibrahim. Face painting and henna art were two fundraising activities that brought smiles to many faces. Sister Sabeeha Ibrahim impressed the children with her creative face painting, featuring everything from butterflies and bunnies to Spiderman. Meanwhile, sisters Nazha Nazmi, Salma Imthaz Ali and Zainab Ihsan adorned the ladies’ hands with elegant henna designs.

The games segment brought out the community spirit in full force, with activities including Kahoot quizzes for both kids and adults, a 304-card game and telephone charades for the men, and human bingo for the ladies. Prizes were awarded to the winners, creating an atmosphere of fun and friendly competition.

Kahoot quizzes for kids

304-card game session

Pass the action game session

A special “Newcomers Introduction Session” was led by Shanawaz Ali, helping new members of the community connect, interact, and feel warmly welcomed into the SLMASA family.

The celebration concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from President Aakyl Haniffa, who expressed his deep appreciation to all attendees and encouraged continued involvement in future SLMASA initiatives.

Guests praised the seamless coordination of activities, the delightful food selection, and commended the organizing committee for hosting such a vibrant and engaging community event.