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The Dunedin Sri Lankan Society (DSLS) has elected a new leadership team and announced plans to expand its support for Sri Lankan migrants, families and students in the Otago region. The Society held its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 7 June 2026 at the Sargood Centre in Dunedin. The formal meeting was followed by a dinner for members, providing an opportunity to recognise the Society’s progress and welcome its next phase of development. Dr Suranga Dassanayake, a founding member of the DSLS, was elected President. Dr Kavinda Wijenayake was elected Secretary. The appointments bring experienced community leaders into the Society’s executive team as it prepares to broaden its health, wellbeing, educational and cultural activities. New leadership for the Dunedin Sri Lankan community Dr Dassanayake has been closely involved with the DSLS since its formation. He previously served as Co-Secretary and later as Vice President for two consecutive terms. His ...

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ISIPATHANA COLLEGE OBA NZ GREEN NIGHT 2026 – 17 OCTOBER 2026 – 7.00 PM TO 11.30 PM  Source : Isipathana College OBA New Zealand ISIPATHANA COLLEGE OBA NZ GREEN NIGHT 2026 Annual Premier Community Event Date – 17 OCTOBER 2026 Location – FICKLING CONVENTION CENTRE , 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1042 Time  – 7.00 PM TO 11.30 PM Dinner & 8 Member table have 1 red wine + 1 white wine DRESS CODE: SMART CASUAL NOW YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS FROM: Suresh Basnayake – 022 4117483 Hasitha Kahawitage – 0204552837 Manula Rathnayake – 0224786351   Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! At eLanka, we respect the rights of creators. If we have used an image you own and you’d like it removed, please email us at info@elanka.com.au and we’ll handle it promptly. Thanks. eLanka teamnbsp; ...

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Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Prasanna Gamage, has visited Wellington-based technology company Data Torque to discuss potential business partnerships and opportunities in Sri Lanka. The visit brought together diplomatic representatives, senior technology executives and Sri Lankan IT professionals working in New Zealand. It highlighted the growing importance of professional networks, digital services and international business connections in strengthening Sri Lanka–New Zealand relations. According to a report published by Wellington News, High Commissioner Gamage met Data Torque Chief Executive Vernon Kay and other senior executives at the company’s Wellington office on 14 August 2026. Discussions focus on potential partnerships in Sri Lanka Data Torque operates in more than 20 countries and specialises in tax collection procedures, revenue management technology and transformation strategies for public-sector organisations. The company’s work involves helping governments modernise systems used for tax administration and revenue collection. This can include digital platforms, improved administrative processes and ...

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A significant service milestone has brought Sri Lankan consular support closer to families living outside New Zealand’s main centres. The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Wellington held its first-ever mobile consular service in Hamilton on 19 August 2026, assisting more than 100 Sri Lankan nationals with essential documentation and related services. The outreach programme included support for passport applications and licence renewals, allowing members of the Sri Lankan community to access assistance without travelling to Wellington. For many families, students, professionals and older residents in the Waikato region, the service represented a practical improvement in access to official support. The initiative is particularly important for Sri Lankans living outside the capital. Although Wellington is home to the resident High Commission, travelling there can involve considerable time, expense and logistical planning. By taking services directly to Hamilton, the mission demonstrated how diplomatic and consular support can respond to the everyday ...

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Lankan Fest New Zealand 2026 will take place in Auckland on 1 November 2026, bringing Sri Lankan culture, tourism, business and community connections together in New Zealand for the first time. The new festival is being organised to showcase the best of Sri Lanka to New Zealand audiences while creating opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs and community members in both countries to connect. It is expected to provide a platform for cultural presentation, tourism promotion, product showcases, entertainment and people-to-people engagement. The official announcement was made at a press conference held at The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo. The event brought together media representatives, sponsors, special guests, entrepreneurs and members of Sri Lanka’s business community. Event details Event: Lankan Fest New Zealand 2026 Date: Sunday, 1 November 2026 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Focus: Sri Lankan culture, tourism, businesses, products and community connections Organiser: Krystal Events New Zealand Further information about the venue, ...

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The landscape of international women’s cricket continues to expand with unprecedented momentum, marked most recently by the auspicious arrival of the New Zealand Women’s ‘A’ Team on Sri Lankan soil. Touching down at the Bandaranaike International Airport on May 7, 2026, the visiting contingent was greeted with the warm hospitality that remains a hallmark of the island nation, signaling the commencement of a tour that is as strategically significant as it is historically groundbreaking. This particular excursion represents a pivotal juncture for New Zealand Cricket, as it constitutes the inaugural occasion upon which a Women’s ‘A’ side from the nation has embarked upon a comprehensive tour of the Asian continent, thereby facilitating a vital opportunity for emerging athletes to test their mettle within the demanding and distinct subcontinental conditions. The expedition, meticulously organised to foster developmental depth within the New Zealand ranks while providing high-quality competition for the host nation’s ...

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The historic Nittawela Stadium in Kandy, a venue traditionally steeped in the rich heritage of Sri Lankan rugby, became the epicentre of an extraordinary display of sporting resilience and physical prowess on Sunday, 3rd of May 2026. In an encounter that was as physically demanding as it was emotionally charged, the Sri Lankan national side, affectionately known as the “Tuskers,” faced off against the New Zealand Under 85kg side in a match that served as the second leg of the prestigious Sir Graham Henry Trophy. Whilst the final scoreline of 25–10 in favour of the visitors might suggest a comfortable victory for the New Zealanders, it provides only a partial narrative of a contest defined by Sri Lankan grit, a capacity crowd’s fervour, and a disciplinary crisis that saw the New Zealanders reduced to thirteen men during the height of the second-half struggle. The Atmospheric Intensity of Nittawela Nittawela Stadium, ...

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NASA’s Epic Flight, Trump’s Epic Fumble and Asian Dilemmas-by Rajan Philips Epic Crew (L-R): Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman Christina and Christina Koch Source:Island Three hours after the spectacular Artemis II flight launch in Florida, US President Donald Trump delivered a forlorn speech from Washington. Thirty three days after starting the war against Iran as Epic Fury, the President demonstrated on national and global televisions the Epic Fumble he has made out of his Middle East ‘excursion’. It was an April Fool’s Day speech, 20 minutes of incoherent rambling with the President looking bored, confused, disengaged and dispirited. He left no one wiser about what will come next, let alone what he might do next. There was more to April Fool’s Day this year in that it brought out the nation’s good, bad and the ugly, all in a day’s swoop. The good was the Artemis II flight carrying ...

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Oil prices rise after ships attacked near Strait of Hormuz File photo of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has now ground to a halt [BBC] Source:Island Global oil prices have risen after at least three ships were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran continues to launch strikes across the Middle East in response to ongoing attacks by the US and Israel. Two vessels have been struck, and an “unknown projectile” was reported to have “exploded in very close proximity” to a third, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said. Iran has warned ships not to pass through the strait, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil and gas. International shipping has almost come to a standstill at the strait’s entrance, with analysts warning that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices even higher. In early trade in Asia on Monday, global oil prices jumped by more than 10% ...

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