For his excellence in Exceptional Philanthropic Services for the betterment of the Sri Lankan community.

Maximus Priyalal Kurera is Awarded the President’s Award for his invaluable contribution to donating his time, money, experience, skills, and talent to create a better world, as he genuinely believes in the value of human life.

Maximus Priyalal and his family conquered the American Spirit at 28 when they set foot on this land of Opportunity in 1980. Priyalal, albeit, did not lose the Sri Lankan “Touch” and “Sense” as he was closely involved with all heritage “Islanders” and their activities like a duck to water.

The Sri Lankan Community in the early 90s was yearning for cultural entertainment to be called their own. Priyalal, with his close associates and cultural maestro Ananda Markalanda brought in the first batch of Lankan Singers and Dancers in collaboration with the Sri Lanka America Association to plant the seed of Lankan culture in Southern California. The Serendib style culture was showcased in real-time with some outstanding Choreography as seen in the domain of classical arts in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Foundation brainstormed and wanted a different dimension to the “Sri Lanka Day Pageant”(Parade) at the World Famous Rose Parade route in Pasadena with decorated floats depicting the culture of island paradise. The only gladiator, who could conquer the enormous task with pinpoint logistics, was none other than Maximus Priyalal Kurera. He marshaled his troops, visited Temples, and motivated other organizations to give that spectacular value addition with some riot of color and decorative floats depicting the culture and the beauty of Sri Lanka to the great amazement of the spectators, whose spontaneous reaction was “Wow.”

Another project he fully committed to was the “Ranaviru Housing for Soldiers,” spearheaded by Dr Mohan Kumararatne. Priyalal was the Chief Tax Collector, meeting and convincing the community to dig deep into their pockets to help the soldiers who were, at that time, fighting for Lanka’s sovereignty in the jungles of Wanni. As a result, a thumping $256,000 was collected, and the housing project was opened in Anuradhapura.

When it came to a stalwart of the community in dire straits (suffering from Cancer and his family helplessly looking for some consolation), Maximus Priyalal took up the challenge. He organized a fundraising dinner at his palatial home in Walnut. He was instrumental in handing over the $25,000 collection to the President of Thomian Alumni of Los Angeles, to be handed over to the recipient.

A Christian by birth, Priyalal Kurera was one of the leading donors in designing, obtaining all approvals from the city council, and using his workforce in constructing the La Puente Buddhist temple in California. One of the last wishes of Late Ven Sumanatissa Thero, was to obtain almost impossible “Non Profit Status” of the premises to extend the car park donated by Dr Walter Jayasinghe. Priyalal was influential single handedly, to obtain it from the city council which will save the temple, substantial amount in property tax.

His latest project is to get the “System Change” in the land of birth and lead a “Committee of Seven” to bring some sanity to the highly corrupt political setup by bringing in educated and honest politicians to the Sri Lankan Parliament.

Sri Lanka Foundation would like to Thank and Acknowledge Priyalal Kurera for applying collaboration and influence, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurship, effective communication, and assessing and analyzing information to take the lead in all endeavors he has executed.