President’s Message
I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the President of the Sri Lanka Sports Association of Queensland Inc, the most vibrant professional association in the community.
It is with anticipation, as the newly elected president, I look forward in 2022 to resuming the usual momentum of activities that have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our immediate past president, Lal Mendis, as well as all previous presidents and executive committee members, for their efforts. The present success would not have been possible without their leadership and all the contributions and hard work they have put in over the past years.
We will continue with the Carnival of Cricket, and the recent success of our inaugural golf tournament has inspired us to make it a regular feature in our yearly activities. To continue to build on these success, we are furthering our engagement with young and adult achievers in our community.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we seek out opportunities to extend into a wider variety of sporting events, support our local business communities and continue to build meaningful relationships with our members, sponsors and volunteers.
We thank you for your generosity and continuous support of the SLSAQ.
Young or old, we trust sport will play a prominent role in lifting your energy and spirit.
I wish you all a prosperous year.
– Sunil Gooneratne
Sri Lanka Sports Association of Queensland supporting community
The Sri Lanka Sports Association of Queensland Inc (SLSAQ), established in 2007, aids sporting organisations in Sri Lanka to develop junior cricket in under-privileged areas.
Over the years, the association has generously donated more than $20,000 for the development of sporting activities and cricket infrastructure in Sri Lanka. The association also supports local organisations in sporting activities, and assists in fundraising for charities and worthy causes in Australia and Sri Lanka.
The most notable annual event is the Carnival of Cricket, a two-day tournament in Brisbane, supported by the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport.
This year, the SLSAQ also hosted two golf tournaments in a number of age divisions.
We are proud to support our netball team, the Sapphires, participating in the social women’s event, Division 3, organised by the Cannon Hill District Netball Association.
We have also continued our Bunnings Warehouse sausage-sizzle fundraiser. This gave us the opportunity alongside the community to support both the Sri Lankan Paralympic Athletics Team and the Track Masters Netball Team. These teams participated in the Australian Open Para Athletics Championships 2023 and at the Pan Pac Masters Games in November 2022 on the Gold Coast respectively. We are proud to announce both teams won medals.
This year, welcoming the next generation of young members to our management committee, it is a privilege and enjoyment to see our association grow and be embraced, a true celebration of the culture and heritage of our motherland, Sri Lanka.
Our website: slsaq.com.au
OFFICE-BEARERS
President: Sunil Gooneratne
Vice-president: Nalaka Rajakaruna
Secretary: Charini Weerasinghe
Assistant Secretary: Sandeep Jayasooriya
Treasurer: Dharith Fernando
Assistant Treasurer: Iyan De Abrew
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Lal Mendis, Jayantha Pathikirikorale, Prasad Kodikara, Shiran Ranatunga, Saminda De Silva, Yasuththara Fernando, Sam Weerappuli, Sadeesh Dissanayake, Laksitha Gajasinghe.
