The Sinhalese Cultural Centre’s fundraising dinner and get-together Jana Sevana 2018 social event organised to enhance community awareness and to gather social support was held on 24 March 2018, at the Roselea Community Centre, Carlingford. The event was from 6.30pm to 11.00pm in the form of a fundraising dinner enchanted with music and cultural performances.
The function hall was filled with over 300 distinguished guests who arrived bringing with them the spirit of resolution to see their own place in Sydney, the Sinhalese Cultural Centre. The crowd characterized all facets of the Sri Lankan Sinhalese community also representing many community organisations operating in Sydney, united under one roof with one common aim.

Oue Chief Guest was Ms Pramuditha Manusinghe, Consul of Sri Lanka in Sydney. Our guest of honour was Mayor of Hornsby Council, The Honourable Cr. Philip Ruddock. The event was inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp.

The Chairman of the Sinhalese Cultural Centre Mr. Nihal Fernando delivered the welcome speech explaining the current progress of the Cultural Centre, and the way forward, complimented by Mrs. Chandrani Buddhipala, the President of the Sinhalese Cultural Forum, enlightening the crowd on the need of the Cultural Centre, and its wide ranging and long lasting benefits to all communities of the Australian society. The Mayor of Hornsby, The Honourable Cr. Philip Ruddock addressed the gathering and expressed the value of multi-culturalism and thanked the Sinhalese Cultural Centre initiative.

During the event, the Sinhalese Cultual Centre launched the JanaShakthi program which enables the community members to contribute to portions of land planned to be purchased. Many guests expressed their support for this program.

Mr. Asela Jayanath was the Master of Ceremony steering the whole event through his well known skills. The stage was brought alive by beautiful Sri Lankan traditional dance by Mr. Dinesh Perera, Sankha Ridma Dance Ensemble. The popular Sydney singers Prasadika Wickramaarachchi, Ari Sitinamaluwa, Dinali Samaraweera, Pasan Dayasena, Thisal Padukkavidhana and Reggie Dissanayake showcased their singing skills entertaining the guests with their live performances. Guests were made to feel even luckier with abundant rewards drawn through raffle, lucky door and lucky draw prizes.

The well-praised three course dinner was followed by the self-entertainment of the thrilled gathering, in dancing to the fast rhythm Sri Lankan music by Event 360.

The Sinhalese Cultural Centre is whole-heartedly grateful to many volunteers, artists, sponsors and the well-wishers along with the participants who contributed to the over-whelming success of this event. Without them this would not have been come alive the way it transpired.

Photo memories of the event will be published soon.