Flavours of Sri Lanka – Food Fair

November 29, 2012

The Sri Lanka High Commission organized a Food Fair in conjunction with the Canberra Sri Lankan Community Associations to raise funds for flood victims in the Eastern provinces particularly in Batticaloa and Ampara districts of Sri Lanka. Ms. Sashikala Premawardhane, Acting High Commissioner held several rounds of meetings with the Associations and the Food Fair was held on Sunday 03rd April 2011 from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at the High Commission premises. (Copy of the flyer is attached). Wide publicity was given and more than 1000 foreign nationals including Australians, diplomats and Sri Lankans took part at the Fair.

The following Associations participated at the Food Fair :

1. Australia – Sri Lanka Association (ASLA)
2. Australia – Sri Lanka Buddhist Association
3. Lanka Lions
4. Sri Lanka Dhamma Vihara
5. Sri Lanka High Commission
6. Sri Lanka Badminton Association
7. Face Painting – Ms. Natasha Perera & Ms. Amaya De Silva
8. A Tea stall and Information desk run by the High Commission

Rice & curry, hoppers, Kottu, short eats, and Sri Lankan sweets were sale. The Staff of the High Commission ran the rice & curry stall which gained the highest income of A $ 3,364/=.

The High Commission also arranged for the sale of pure Ceylon Tea at the event. The sale of tea paved the way to promote Sri Lanka Tea among Australian consumers. The Tea sale counter was opened for public to purchase tea which had a tremendous demand.

The High Commission also arranged a Raffle draw the first prize being a return air ticket Kuala Lumpur/Colombo/Kuala Lumpur donated by the Country Manager of Sri Lankan Airlines in Melbourne. The income from the Raffle draw was A$ 2620/=.

The Staff of the High Commission with the assistance of the Sri Lanka community Associations were able to generate A $ 12,038/= for the benefit of those affected by floods in the Ampara and Batticalow districts of Sri Lanka in the early part 2011.