New Zealand’s First Lankan Fest Draws Around 2,500 to Auckland’s Waikaraka Park Lankan Fest signage at Waikaraka Park, Auckland. Photograph: Hari TV. New Zealand’s first Lankan Fest brought around 2,500 people to Waikaraka Park in Auckland on Sunday, 8 November 2026, for a free day celebrating Sri Lankan food, music, culture and cricket. The inaugural festival welcomed members of New Zealand’s Sri Lankan community alongside visitors from other communities, creating a shared public gathering around the country’s cultural traditions and sporting connections. Organised by Krystal Events and Ormiston Cricket Club, the event ran from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its programme included Sri Lankan food, live music, a cultural show, a children’s carnival and a cricket camp. The organisers have said they intend to make Lankan Fest an annual event, with the next edition planned for Auckland in 2027. Performers take part in the cultural programme at Waikaraka Park. Photograph: ...
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44 Sri Lankan Operators, 100 Kiwi Agents: Sri Lanka Tourism Roadshow 2026 Builds Bridges in Auckland and Christchurch Photo: Sourced from ශ්රී LankaNZ. Photo credit: Dhanushka Prathibha and Himasha Gunasekara. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry met with travel professionals in Christchurch and Auckland in August and September 2026, as a roadshow introduced the island’s destinations, experiences and hospitality to New Zealand’s travel trade. The Auckland session brought 44 Sri Lankan tourism representatives together with more than 100 New Zealand travel agents and tour operators for business-to-business meetings. The events took place in Christchurch on 31 August and Auckland on 1 September. A report by Auckland-based columnist Thulitha Abayawardana appeared in Issue 38 of ශ්රී LankaNZ, published on 31 October 2026. The article describes a strong focus on building connections between the two countries and helping New Zealanders discover Sri Lanka. Connecting Sri Lankan tourism businesses with Kiwi agents The roadshow was ...
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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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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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