About Us
The Otago University Sri Lankan Students’ Association strives to wield our culture to the betterment of students and members of the multi ethnic global society.
SLSA was an idea that blossomed in 2001 spearheaded by former students Nimandra and Gayan who went on to elect the first official SLSA committee in 2003. They aimed to bring a taste of Sri Lankan culture to the University of Otago at a time when New Zealand was experiencing a multicultural boom.
The first operations were funded by the members of the committee with continued support from the Lankan community in Dunedin. Subsequently, further funding was provided by Asia NZ. As the club grew, it was affiliated with OUSA (Otago University Students’ Association), to be recognized as one of the more active groups around campus.
Over the years, SLSA has hosted many social events including an annual cultural night, cricket tournaments, sausage sizzles, a ball, cocktail evenings, exhibitions and Sri Lankan new year celebrations to name a few. Additionally, many other events have been co-hosted with various other associations around campus. The funds raised were donated to a variety of organizations and causes in New Zealand and Sri Lanka including reconstruction work from boxing day tsunami devastation, Christchurch and Japan earthquake relief, the child cancer foundation, a cataracts program, and SOS villages in Sri Lanka.
This website was created in 2011 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. So surf and around and checkout the wide range of resources available. Please do leave us a comment if you can, to help improve our website or about anything we can help you with.
Although not great in size, the paradise of the Indian Ocean that is Sri Lanka has a bit of everything, from exciting culture, surroundings, and climate to beautiful beaches and historical ruins. To top it off, the people are just as charismatic. So join SLSA to let us take you on a rich cultural journey that you will be talking about for years to come!