The annual event marks the start of Sinhala and Tamil new year, and NESLA brought many traditional new year games to HP Barr Reserve in Wangaratta to test strength and strategy.
Benalla Migrants Association vice-president Aswini Cherukupalli excelled at the tea bun eating competition.
This game required participants to run across the oval, eat a bun suspended from string without touching it with their hands, and return to the starting line to talk to the referee with a clear mouth.
New Benalla resident Imesh Rathnayaka won the men’s sack race, jumping ahead of a field of competitors who struggled to keep up.
Susanka Gamage came away a winner from the men’s lime and spoon race, gracefully maintaining his poise as he sprinted ahead of the competition to collect his prize.
Benalla girl Nangi Gunaratne took out two first prizes for correctly dotting the elephant’s eye while blindfolded in the kids’ competition and also for winning the gold chocolate coin hunt.
Rural City of Benalla councillor Puna Gunaratne took on compere duties in English and Sinhala languages, while Benalla’s Rumesh Navaratnam, the treasurer of BMA, emceed in Tamil language throughout the event.
Benalla’s contingent supported a group of eight kids to prepare and perform a Sri Lankan dance to celebrate the start of the new year.
Esme, Ruqayyah, Akshaya and Hari from Benalla worked with Hasali, Athena, Riana and Dimitri to put together a dance routine that was a memorable opening for the day.
The event was organised by NESLA volunteers with funding support from Victorian Multicultural Commission, Dr Ravindra Abeywardana and Hiran Wickramarachchi of Crystal Cleaning.
Attendees were offered a delicious morning tea with traditional Sri Lankan delicacies and served traditional Sri Lankan lunch.
NESLA president Sameera Fernando said the organisation was established to support Sri Lankans across north-east Victoria to connect and make friendships.
The organisation conducts events that are open to the broader community and welcome everyone to come and enjoy.
For more information, contact NESLA via nesla.vic@gmail.com or find the group on Facebook.
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