2025/2026 Year in Review
Term: 01 September 2025 – 30 August 2026
Introduction
The 2025/2026 term has been a meaningful, active and rewarding year for the Southland Sri Lankan Society.
Throughout the year, our focus was to bring the Sri Lankan community in Southland together, support new migrants and families, celebrate our culture and traditions, and strengthen the Society for the future.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the Society continues to play a significant role in connecting and supporting Sri Lankans living in Southland, while helping members settle, belong and thrive in New Zealand.
This year, we were proud to deliver a range of cultural, social, religious, fundraising and community support initiatives. These events were made possible through the dedication of the committee, the generosity of our sponsors and funders, and the incredible support of the wider Sri Lankan community living in Southland.
Our Vision for the Year
At the beginning of our term, we felt there was a strong need for the community to gather more often, reconnect, and create opportunities for newcomers to meet others and feel welcomed in Southland.
Many Sri Lankan families, students and migrants arrive in Southland without a large support network. As a committee, we wanted to create events and initiatives that helped people feel connected, supported, and proud of their cultural identity.
Our aim was not only to organise events, but also to build a stronger, more professional and sustainable Society for the future.
Key Highlights of the 2025/2026 Term
This year included several key achievements beyond the usual annual events.
1. Strengthening the Society’s Professional Identity
One of the key achievements of this term was creating a more professional and consistent identity for the Society.
Previously, the Society did not have a formal professional logo or standardised branding. With the support of a leading marketing agency in Invercargill, we developed a new professional logo for the Society. This was approved by the committee and formally adopted for use going forward.
Following this, we also created professional templates and systems, including:
• Letterhead templates
• Certificate templates
• Standardised communication material
• Consistent branding for future events and official documents
These improvements have helped create a more professional image for the Society and will support future committees in maintaining these standards going forward.
2. New Constitution
During our term, we developed and adopted a new constitution for the Society.
This was an important governance milestone. The updated constitution provides clearer guidance for how the Society should operate, including committee roles, responsibilities, membership, nominations, and decision-making processes.
This will help ensure the Society continues to operate in a transparent, organised and sustainable way.
3. Website Launch
Another major achievement of the year was the creation and launch of the Southland Sri Lankan Society website.
The website provides a central place for the community, newcomers, sponsors, businesses, and the wider public to learn about the Society, upcoming events, membership, sponsorship opportunities and community updates.
It also makes the Society more visible and accessible to people who are new to Southland or considering moving to the region.
The website was officially launched at the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration in April 2026 by Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell and Great South Chief Executive Chami Abeysinghe.
4. Professional Emails and Domains
To support the Society’s professional communication, we purchased domain names and created official email addresses for the Society.
This has helped standardise communication and create a more professional system for contacting members, sponsors, funders and external organisations.
5. New Student and Migrant Information Session
New Student and Migrant Information Session, organised to welcome new students, migrant families and newcomers to Southland was another key highlight during our term.
The session provided practical information about settling into the region, local services and everyday life in Southland, while also giving new arrivals an opportunity to connect with the Sri Lankan community and build their support network.
This initiative reflected one of the Society’s key purposes of helping Sri Lankans feel welcomed, informed, connected and supported as they begin their lives in Southland.
6. Supporting New Migrant Families in Southland
Throughout the year, the Society also continued to provide practical support to some of the newly arrived Sri Lankan families settling in Southland. Depending on each family’s needs, this included providing essential information, helping with housing arrangements and settlement needs, sourcing or coordinating essential household goods, connecting families with relevant local services, and offering general guidance and community support.
This support has helped new families settle more comfortably, access the information and assistance they need, and feel connected to a familiar and supportive community from the beginning.
7. Sponsorship Packages
We also created sponsorship packages for businesses and event sponsors.This was an important step in helping the Society communicate clearly with potential sponsors. It provided a professional way to explain how businesses can support our community events and initiatives.
8. Storage Facility
The Society also arranged a proper storage facility for Society items. Previously, there was no dedicated storage space for event equipment, decorations and other Society resources. This new storage arrangement will help future committees manage Society items more safely and efficiently.
November 2025 – Sri LankaNZ Vibes DJ Night
In November 2025, we held Sri LankaNZ Vibes, a DJ night created to bring the community together in a relaxed and joyful setting.
The event was organised because we felt the community needed more opportunities to connect, socialise and welcome new families and newcomers to Southland.
The DJ travelled from Christchurch, and the event received immense support from the community. Attendance exceeded expectations, and the night was a remarkable success. Everyone enjoyed the music, food and opportunity to spend time together.
The event showed the strength of our community spirit and the value of creating spaces where people can feel connected and included.
November/December 2025 – Cyclone Ditwah Fundraising Initiatives
In late November 2025, Sri Lanka was severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused devastating floods, landslides, property damage and loss of life.
As Sri Lankans living in Southland, we felt a strong responsibility to come together and support our motherland during this difficult time.
The Society organised several fundraising initiatives to support the victims of the disaster. These included community food stalls, donations and fundraising activities.
A major part of the success of these initiatives was the incredible generosity of our community. All food sold at the fundraising stalls was prepared and donated free of charge by members of the community, meaning the proceeds could go directly towards the fundraising effort. Families generously contributed food, ingredients, their time and effort, while many others supported the initiative through financial donations and purchases.
Another special highlight was the involvement of the younger generation. Sri Lankan children / youth in Southland formed a youth group and organised their own fundraising activities to contribute to the cause.
The fundraising campaign was a powerful example of unity, compassion, and cultural values. The support received from the community exceeded expectations, and we were able to raise more than our original target.
Funds were successfully sent to Sri Lanka to support those affected by the disaster.
December 2025 - Southland Santa Parade
The Southland Sri Lankan Society proudly participated in the annual Southland Santa Parade in December 2025, joining the wider Southland community in celebrating the festive season.
A key highlight of our participation was our traditional Sri Lankan dancers who proudly showcased our vibrant culture and heritage throughout the parade. Our members came together to create a colourful and memorable presence, proudly representing the Sri Lankan community in Southland.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share our culture with the wider community, strengthen community connections and celebrate Southland’s multicultural spirit.
January 2026 – Christmas Reloaded
Due to the Cyclone Ditwah fundraising efforts and the seriousness of the situation in Sri Lanka, the Society postponed the Christmas celebration originally planned for December.
The celebration was later held in January 2026 as Christmas Reloaded.
Christmas is a special time for many families, especially children and members of our Christian and Catholic community. We felt it was important to still provide an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together.
The event had a warm and festive atmosphere, with wonderful food, decorations and strong community participation. Attendance again exceeded expectations, and it was a joyful event for families and children.
New Student and Migrant Information Session
During the year, the Society organised an information session for new students, migrant families and newcomers to Southland.
This initiative was designed to support people settling into the region and help them connect with useful services, local information and the Sri Lankan community.
The session helped new arrivals feel welcomed and supported, and it reflected one of the key purposes of the Society: helping Sri Lankans settle, connect and thrive in Southland.
March 2026 – Annual Cricket Encounter
In March 2026, the Society supported the Invercargill and Dunedin cricket encounter.
Cricket is a much-loved part of Sri Lankan culture, and this event provided another opportunity for community connection and friendly competition.
Alongside the main match, friendly games were also held for women and children, making it a fun and inclusive day for families.
The event encouraged participation, connection and community spirit across different age groups.
March 2026 - Multicultural Festival – Celebrating Sri Lankan Culture
The Society also proudly participated in the Southland Multicultural Festival, providing another wonderful opportunity to showcase Sri Lankan culture to the wider Southland community.
A highlight of our participation was a vibrant Sri Lankan dance performance, which attracted a great deal of attention and brought colour and energy to the occasion. Our talented dancers represented our culture beautifully and gave the wider community an opportunity to experience and appreciate Sri Lankan traditions.
We also organised a fundraising stall at the event to raise funds for the Society. Once again, the support from our Sri Lankan community was immense, with many people contributing their time, food, donations and support to make the stall a success.
Our participation was not only a successful fundraising initiative, but also a great opportunity to proudly represent Sri Lankan culture and strengthen our connection with Southland’s wider multicultural community.
April 2026 – Sinhala and Tamil New Year: Soorya Udanaya 2026
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration, Soorya Udanaya 2026, was one of the biggest highlights of the year.
The event was a massive success, attracting around 500 people from across Southland. It was possibly one of the largest turnouts in the Society’s history.
The day was filled with traditional games, cultural activities, authentic Sri Lankan food and shared celebration. The event created a strong sense of pride, belonging and cultural connection.
A major highlight of the day was the official launch of the Society’s new website by Mayor Tom Campbell and Great South Chief Executive Chami Abeysinghe.
The event was also recognised in a Southland Tribune article, which highlighted the strong turnout, traditional Sri Lankan games, authentic cuisine, and the importance of the website as a central community hub.
Another special feature of the event was the raffle draw. This was the first time a raffle draw of this scale was held, and the committee worked hard to secure sponsored prizes. It was a great way to give something back to the community while also raising funds for the Society.
The day concluded with another successful DJ night, giving everyone a chance to continue celebrating together.
May 2026 – Vesak Celebration
In May 2026, the Society celebrated Vesak, an important religious and cultural festival for Buddhist members of the community.
The event was a beautiful and meaningful occasion, supported by monks visiting from Christchurch and Canada.
The community support was outstanding, with generous food contributions, donations, volunteer support and sponsorship towards the visiting monks and their involvement in the event
The religious ceremony was followed by a highly successful evening Dansala, which drew a fantastic turnout and strong community participation. It was a meaningful example of faith, generosity, unity and service.
Behind the Scenes
While the events themselves were successful and enjoyable, a significant amount of work took place behind the scenes.
Committee members gave their time and energy outside their professional, work and family commitments. Many spent days and nights planning events, preparing funding applications, organising food, coordinating suppliers, communicating with members, setting up venues and managing event logistics.
The success of this year was only possible because of this dedication and teamwork.
There were many challenges along the way, but every event was delivered successfully and without major issues.
Acknowledgements
The Southland Sri Lankan Society would like to sincerely thank:
• Our funders and sponsors
• Community members who donated money, food and prizes
• Volunteers who helped before, during and after events
• Families who supported every initiative
• Youth members who stepped forward to help with fundraising
• Religious leaders and special guests
• Local organisations and leaders who supported our community
• Every committee member who contributed their time, effort and commitment
Your support made this year possible.
The 2025/2026 term has been a year of connection, culture, service and growth.
We delivered successful events, supported newcomers, responded to a major humanitarian crisis, celebrated our traditions, strengthened our governance, created a professional identity, launched a website and built systems that will benefit the Society into the future.
As a committee, we can be proud of what has been achieved.
This year has shown the strength, generosity and unity of the Sri Lankan community in Southland.
Together, we have created memories, supported one another and helped build a stronger foundation for the future of the Southland Sri Lankan Society.