Sri Lanka Canada Friendship Association of Edmonton
A Community Organization Serving Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Sri Lanka Canada Friendship Association of Edmonton
A Community Organization Serving Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The Sri Lanka Canada Friendship Association of Edmonton (SLCFA) is an organization that warmly welcomes and values all Canadians, regardless of their origin. Our primary goal is to create and strengthen relationships between Canadians of Sri Lankan Origin and other Canadians. We invite you to enjoy our newsletter, discover the beauty of Sri Lanka and its people, and consider joining our association and participating in our activities!
Fall is upon us all in Edmonton, and we are happy to have enjoyed many events in the Festival City. The association's summer events were sparse because of other activities and festivals like K-Days. The colours of fall are beautiful. Winter will come as hockey. Schools have started with new children enjoying birthdays, making friends, and starting tests. We were to start the association’s dance classes, which began on Sundays, and we would love to introduce our new teacher, Darsha Tharangani Gunasekara.
SLCFA,
The Sri Lanka Canada Friendship Association of Edmonton is excited to learn about our association and your participation in our activities. The SLCFA is an organization whose primary goal is to create and strengthen relationships between Canadians of Sri Lankan Origin and other Canadians. The Association's essential purpose is to help preserve Sri Lankan culture and traditions and enhance our youth’s adventures and activities in Canada!
I am very proud to show our Executive Committee elected at the AGM meeting on Wednesday, April 12th:
| Position | Name |
| President | Mano Senaratne |
| Vice President | Pandula Wickramarachchi |
| Secretary | Priyantha Silva |
| Treasurer | Lakshaman Samarasinghe |
| Director of Culture Activities | Shyama Fernando |
| Director of Membership and Welfare | Maya Silva |
| Director of Projects and Fund Raising | Chris Senaratne |
| Director of Publicity and Communications | Lasith Witharana |
| Director of Social and Recreational Activities | Shehan (Sean) Devapura |
| Past President | Susantha Tennakoonwela |
SLCFA Members,
Welcome to the March issue of Lanka Link. This is the first issue of our SLCFA newsletter for the year 2021. March is an interesting month here in Alberta, as it heralds the official beginning of Spring. Yet the frosty bite that is still in the air, is a sharp reminder that winter is not quite done with us. Slowly but surely, the daylight hours are getting longer and longer. I am sure that all of us are waiting to get outside to enjoy the outdoors. So be it may, spring brings new hope to all of us. Let us wait patiently as nature awakens from its deep slumber, as it is the season for rebirth and rejuvenation.
Finally, the first dose of the much-awaited vaccine rollout has now commenced. If you have not already received it, please get it when it is your turn. After many months of isolation, working from home, not being able to hang out with friends and family, the social animal in us is rearing to get back to normalcy. At least to partial normalcy, as wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing will be the recommendations of the Canadian Health Advisory.
Welcome to the December issue of Lanka Link. This is the final issue of our SLCFA newsletter for the year 2020 and wow, what a year it has been. There is no denying that it has had its share of ups and downs, uncertainties, and challenges. But now, it is time to discard our shackles and delve into fostering the spirit of joy, kindness, compassion, and togetherness that is the epitome of this season. Well, at least to the extent of the limitations enforced by the current pandemic regulations.
The cloak of pristine white snow, holiday decorations and glittering lights have rendered upon our city, Edmonton, a magical transformation that has transported us away from the ills that have affected us, most of this year. But now it is time to celebrate. There is hope in the horizon, in the form of a vaccination. What we need to do is survive for a few more months, until the vaccination program is successfully implemented. So, keep on wearing masks, wash hands and maintain social distancing. And one more thing, desist from social gatherings. In short, abide by the recommendations of the Canadian Health Advisory.
Thousands of miles away. Sri Lanka is reopening to tourists after nine months of travel bans, imposed under COVID-19. For now, it is a pilot project with plenty of restrictions, but hopefully, the situation can soon attain some normality.
This year, we at SLCFA, have had to forego some annual activities that have been popular amongst our members, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Some of these are, First Friday Night, Seniors’ Day, Movie Night, Edmonton / Calgary Sports Encounter, and the Year-End Gala. Our planned participation in the Edmonton Heritage Days also failed, due to constraints to the normal format. Nevertheless, thanks to all the hosts and volunteers for their dedication.