1 week Ago By Sahan Weerasooriya
The Sri Lankan community in and around the townships of Cooma, New South Wales, celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year for the third consecutive year on Saturday April 13. The community of about 80 families numbering about 120 people brought a riot of colour in their Sarees, Sarongs,`Redda and hatte’ to a park which had leaves of some of its trees turning into vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow in the mid- autumn weather. The majority of Sri Lankan families in Cooma have its head working for an ambitious hydro-electricity project known as the Snowy 2.
0. The project follows up on the success of the world famous post-world war two Snowy Scheme in the Australian Alps which harnesses the melting snow to provide electricity to the States of New South Wales and Victoria. Sri Lankan surveyors, engineers, quantity surveyors and geologists work shoulder to shoulder with professionals of other fields in the vast project spread across the snowy mountains.
While their husbands work in the mountains and offices, the mothers have their work cut out looking after their children’s needs, cooking and engaging in social activities in a foreign land. Amidst the tall evergreen cypress trees standing silent sentinel, reminding them of the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya. All families, except for a few dads on duty, were able to relax and enjoy a day reminiscent of times back home.
A mist covering the park heralding winter slowly lifted with the rising sun adding to the warmth brought about by the gathering of families and friends keen to rekindle fading traditions and strengthen friendships. The lighting of the traditional oil lamp by invitees and the boiling of a pot of milk preceded the partaking of `kiributh’, kavum, kokis, aasmi and other sweetmeats. They competed with bananas and fruits and mouth-watering cakes, cutlets and savouries which replicated many Sri Lankan ‘Aluth Avurudhu’ tables of bygone times.
Tucked away amidst the trays of sweetmeats were neatly cut ‘Kalu Dodol speckled with chopped cashew nuts’: a much sought after delicacy expertly prepared by about 15 young men who had spent the previous Friday night toiling away in a garage battered by cold winds heralding winter. Expertly cooked Sri Lanka cuisine prepared by the moms were also served at lunchtime. Traditional games were engaged in with much gusto with all participants including invitees, with the highlight being the ‘tug of war’.
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