A fundraising dinner event to support Sri Lanka’s dire economic crisis, held in Pukekohe on Saturday, May 21, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of members of ethnic communities.
The fundraiser event “Pukekohe Sri Lankan Evening” was jointly organised by Arasan New Zealand Trust with HD property group and Pukekohe Sri Lankan Community to aid the ongoing Sri Lankan economic crisis.
The evening was adorned with numerous cultural performances by children and young artists portraying beautiful Sri Lankan culture and traditions and included several activities, including traditional Sri Lankan games, face painting, best traditional dress competition and awards, Kothu station and Hopper station.
Among several community leaders, the key dignitary attending the event was Labour MP Vanushi Walters, who highlighted her Sri Lankan – Tamil-connection with the beautiful island nation and wished for a quick turnaround in the economic crisis as it was affecting the wider families and networks of Sri Lankan people all around the world including in New Zealand.
The event will see all the proceeds being donated to the cause.
Speaking with the Indian Weekender, Dr Luxmanan (Lux) Selvanesan of Dunedin, a key organiser of the event and founder of Arasan NZ Trust, said, “All the proceeds of the event will be donated to the cause of supporting the ailing Sri Lankan economy.”
“We all have a role to play in supporting back Sri-Lankan community back home in this grave hour of crisis as the economic crisis is creating further social turmoil.”
It is mainly focused on playing their role in supporting the Sri Lankan community back home in Sri Lanka and intends to play its role in contributing to support the community as the crisis deepens in Sri Lanka with a social turmoil due to economic crisis.
The evening will be a cultural evening with several activities on the cards that will portray the Sri Lankan culture and traditions, with the doors wide open to people from all communities.
The activities include traditional Sri Lankan games, face painting, best traditional dress competition and awards, Kothu station and Hopper station.
The audience at the event not only enjoyed an array of Sri Lankan cultural performances but was also served traditional Sri Lankan finger foods.
Thanking everyone for their support towards the event, Secretary Arasan NZ Trust Kishor Kumar said, “Events such as these are not possible without the support from our wider communities.”
“Arasan NZ Trust wishes to thank our partner, Sharmella Ponnambalam from HD properties, for her enthusiasm and assistance in making this a possibility. “We would also like to thank all our volunteers from the Arasan team and the Pukekohe Sri Lankan community without whom an event of this magnitude will be impossible.”
Arasan NZ Trust was founded by Dr Luxmanan (Lux) Selvanesan of Dunedin and Kishor Kumar of Auckland as a non-profit organisation that aims to highlight the diversity and connect ethnic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand through initiatives that encapsulate health, wellbeing, culture, and social inclusion and cohesion.