On December 4th, 2019, history was made within the magnificent Los Angeles City Council Chambers amidst a gathering of distinguished leaders. The Los Angeles community came together to celebrate Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, the Chairman of the Board of the Sri Lanka Foundation International, for his invaluable philanthropic services rendered to this beautiful city. In honor of Dr. Jayasinghe’s dedication, the City of Los Angeles declared this day Sri Lanka Day. The resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Los Angeles stated the following: – Los Angeles is home to the second-largest population of Sri Lankans in the United States. – Members of the Sri Lankan community from the island nation, also known as “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” represent a vibrant and integral part of Los Angeles. – Sri Lanka Day to recognize the tremendous impact of the Sri Lankans’ presence in the City of Los Angeles.
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2024 marks the 18th annual Sri Lanka Day celebrations in the United States. This year, on August 17th, Sri Lanka Day will be showcased virtually to a worldwide audience. Over the last few years, attendance has grown significantly from all over the world. This unique cultural festival is a vibrant online showcase of Sri Lanka’s historical heritage and culture. From music and dance to theater, ethnic food, retail products, and more, the festival offers a diverse range of activities. Each of these activities communicates values, narratives, and beliefs that sustain the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan cultural practices in the USA. The main segment of the global celebrations offers a unique experience. While being entertained by breathtaking cultural performances worldwide, you can relax in the comfort of your living room. And if that’s not enough, a dazzling fashion show will be brought to your living room, showcasing fashions never before
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The upcoming Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation (CDF) Annual Gala Fundraiser will be held in Sydney, Australia, on August 10th, 2024, at the 5-star venue, Epping Grand in The Epping Club in NSW. This black-tie gala is one of the key events in the Sydney Sri Lankan event calendar. Sydney is a place where high-profile Sri Lankan expatriate professionals live, and this annual event makes a major contribution to sustaining Sri Lanka’s first and only non-emergency ambulance service, which is run by the CDF Charity. The Founder and Chairman of CDF, Binara Dharmawardana, spoke with SLF. He mentioned that the 2023 event raised over $70,000, demonstrating the significant impact this gala has on supporting underprivileged individuals battling cancer in Sri Lanka. As the first event of the new financial year, scheduled for August 10th, 2024, in Sydney, it sets the stage for a series of upcoming events in London, Melbourne, Brisbane, and
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Professor A.G Unil Perera, a Life Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), Society of Photo-Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) is a Regent’s Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University (GSU). In 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sri Lanka Foundation International for his research focus on developing novel multi-band, bias, and polarization selection photon detectors covering a wide range from Ultraviolet to Far Infrared (Terahertz). In 2014 Professor Unil was appointed Regents Professor of Physics and reappointed after 3 years and made a Permanent Regents Professor of Physics. In 2021, he was awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Photonics Society Distinguished Lecturer Award renewed for the second year until 2022.More than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles out of 200+ and 10 (out of 14) US and other International Patents
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On Sunday, January 28, 2024, the Sri Lanka Foundation auditorium buzzed with anticipation and excitement as participants gathered for the “Awaken Your Inner Warrior” workshop. Hosted by the Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts, this event promised a journey into self-discovery, anti-aging techniques, stress release, mindfulness, and breathing exercises, led by the esteemed spiritual instructor Nadil Silva. Nadil Silva, a Sri Lankan native currently residing in Sweden, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the workshop. With a BSc from the University of Peradeniya and an MSc from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Nadil’s academic background is as impressive as his practical expertise. He is actively engaged in martial arts and a respected figure in cultural mediation, combining these disciplines to offer a unique and holistic approach to spiritual instruction. The workshop began with a warm welcome from Achala Weerasinghe, the Operational Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation
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In 2016, the Sri Lanka Foundation awarded Professor Janaka Ruwanpura a Lifetime Achievement Award for his academic achievements. Professor Ruwanpura successfully completed two five-year terms as Vice-Provost International and three years of an added Associate Vice-President Research (International) position at the University of Calgary (UCalgary). He has been the longest-serving and most impactful senior International Officers of UCalgary for 11 years and 2 months. He is now on a two-year administrative leave as of April 2024 as an earned benefit of serving as a senior leadership team member at the University of Calgary, Canada. Professor Ruwanpura stated that since being appointed Vice-Provost International (VPI) in 2013, UCalgary has been on a transformative growth trajectory in global engagement. His leadership brought new and innovative programs and projects in academic, student mobility, and research dimensions. External recognition for UCalgary’s internationalization efforts under his leadership includes six excellence and innovation awards since 2016,
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The President of Nalanda College Old Boys Association (NCOBAA) of America, Janaka Perera, spoke with SLF. He said the organization was established in the 1980s by a group of old boys from Nalanda College residing in California. Though it was a small initiative at the beginning, the general membership of our association grew steadily over the years. In 2017, NCOBAA was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are proud to present NCOBAA as an organization that has brought various meaningful social events to the Sri Lankan community, not only in the Los Angeles area but also to those in several major cities in the USA. Since its inception, in line with the organization’s mission and vision, they have supported their college financially and through other means. In addition to several completed projects, an ongoing scholarship program helps several students deserving the financial need. NCOBAA’s vision is to provide guidance,
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We had the pleasure of speaking with Niroshan Kahawatte, the current President of the Sri Lanka America Association of Southern California (SLAASC). Established in 1973, the SLAASC aims to unite and serve the burgeoning Sri Lankan community in Southern California. Niroshan Kahawatte was sworn in as the 50th President on April 30th, 2023, amidst an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 attendees. In his inaugural address, Niroshan articulated a clear vision for the Association under his leadership. He voiced his intention to foster unity within the Sri Lankan American community by unifying smaller groups and creating more inclusive, grand-scale events celebrating Sri Lankan culture. Former news anchor at Rupavahini TV in Sri Lanka, Director and Producer of BBC, and currently a successful entrepreneur in Los Angeles, Niroshan comes with many years of knowledge and experience in the production and entertainment field. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies
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SLF had the privilege of speaking with Suriya Perera, the Founder, President, and CEO of the America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society, Los Angeles (ASPAS). The ASPAS just completed its fourth annual photography exhibition, “The Beauty of Sri Lanka.” Suriya said one of his proudest achievements was showcasing his photography at the UCLA Grand Salon in Kerckhoff Hall on the 20th and 21st of April, with the assistance of the Consulate General, Dr Lalith Chandradasa. The exhibition continued its voyage to Sri Lanka’s permanent representative office to the United Nations in New York on April 25th and 26th, which was organized by Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Deputy Permanent Representative Sugeeshwara Gunarathna, who played an important role to landmark this exhibition. The presence of United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis as the chief guest emphasized the event’s international significance. Suriya proudly shared that nearly a
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The Dream Boys Concert was a dream come true for T & S Productions USA. On April 20th, 2024, The Dream Boys mesmerized the audience with their incredible talent. The group, which includes Shihan Mihiranga and Sanka Dineth, was joined by the phenomenal Daddy Band. This event marked the debut of the incredible singer Sanka Dineth and the Daddy Band in the USA. We interviewed Thusitha De Silva about the production of the event by T & S Productions USA. He told us that this was their 38th production in Los Angeles and that it was truly an unforgettable experience, with three unique generations of music coming together. Thusitha said, “I am very grateful to be a part of this incredible group. I want to thank the production team, everyone who helped with publicity and ticket sales, and also the food service team.” He extended his deepest gratitude to his
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