Sri Lanka Foundation held the opening ceremony of their Performing Arts Center on July 12, 2015. Dancers from around Los Angeles gathered together with their parents to celebrate this day with a special Sarasvathi Pooja. Manager of Cultural Affairs, Achala Weerasinghe was the master of ceremonies and Chief Operating Officer Shirani Stanislaus welcomed everyone to Sri Lanka Foundation Performing Arts Center. “It has been Dr. Jay’s and my dream to create place where the next generation of Sri Lankan Americans and Americans can learn Sri Lankan culture, and today it came true” she said in a heartfelt speech.

Sri Lanka Foundation instructor Lal Thilakaratne described the importance of culture and knowledge and took everyone through the history of Sri Lankan art. Instructor Chathuri Wickramarachchi described the importance of Visual Arts in daily life and how she will be educating our young people. After the introductions a beautiful Buddha pooja & Sarasvathi pooja to obtain blessings for the dance school and dancers. Then the students worshiped their teachers, elders and parents to obtain their blessings too.