9 January- Course advising for summer school, Formal classes begin

6 February- Waitangi Day (public holiday)

17 February- Summer School lectures cease

18 February- Summer School examination period begins

23 February- Summer School examination period ends

First Semester

17, 20, 21 February- Course Approval

17 February- International students should plan to be on campus by this day (at the latest)

22 – 24 February- International Student Orientation Programme

24 February- Preliminary lectures held

27 February- Formal lectures begin

6 April- Mid-Semester break begins / Good Friday (public holiday)

9 April- Easter Monday (public holiday)

10 April- Otago Anniversary day celebrated (University holiday)

16 April- First Semester resumes

25 April- ANZAC Day (public holiday)

1 June- First Semester lectures cease

4 June- Queens Birthday (public holiday)

6 June- First Semester examination period begins

20 June- First Semester examination period ends

Second Semester

2 July- International Students should plan to be on campus by this date

4 - 6 July- International Student Orientation Programme

5 July- Course Approval

9 July- Second Semester lectures begin

27 August- Mid-semester break begins

3 September- Second Semester resumes

12 October- Second Semester lectures cease

15 October- Second Semester examination period begins

22 October- Labour Day (public holiday)

10 November- Second Semester examination period ends

Every year Sri Lanka celebrates the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which falls on the 13th or 14th of April. The Sri Lankan New Year is a time where family and friends come together to celebrate and participate in traditional events associated with the beginning of a new year. There are many different events that are carried out at auspicious times during this festive season. Boiling milk over a clay pot signifies the welcoming of the New Year. The New Year festivities commence with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp. Gifts such as new clothes and money are exchanged and the entire family gathers around the dining table where traditional food such as kiribath (milk rice) and other delicacies are shared. Activities such as pin the tail on the elephant, sack race and tug of war are some of the games that are enjoyed by both the young and the old during the New Year celebrations.

The OUSLSA Sri Lankan New Year event is held right here in Dunedin. It is a time to celebrate the New Year, enjoy the delicious traditional food prepared by the Sri Lankan community, followed by a glimpse of some of the games celebrated during New Years. We invite both Sri Lankans and non- Sri Lankans in Dunedin to come and take part in the celebrations.

Location: Quaker Hall 15 Park St, Dunedin
Time: 9am-6pm, every third Saturday of the month
Activities include: puja, chanting, meditation, dana (lunch), Dhamma (Buddhism) talks and discussion

Additionally-

NEW! Children’s Dhamma and Sinhala classes: 10am-11am, same location

Time- 3.00pm-  5pm

Date- Tuesday 6th March

Location- on campus somewhere

Please contact Ven. Maithree on the below contact details if interested-

Telephone: 0064 03 4775772

Mobile: 0064 021 0731591

Email: maithreem@yahoo.com

This year, we are pleased to announce that some students from SLSA have volunteered to teach Buddhism and Sinhala to the local Sri Lankan children. Such opportunities do not come easily to children living overseas and we are grateful for those students who stepped up to help these children despite their other commitments. The students will provide fun learning activities for the preschool, primary school and high school children once every month coinciding with the existing Buddhist Sil Programme organised by the community. More information about the location and time is found below.

Location: Quaker Hall 15 Park St, Dunedin
Time: 10am-11am

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SLSA Contact details-

• Email- slsaadvice@gmail.com
• Mobile- 021 022 49264

You can contact SLSA through the above two mediums to arrange an appointment with the SLSA advisory panel. Just indicate which advisor you would like to meet and what three times would best suit you. We will then arrange a meeting time for you based on the availability of the advisor. Your identity will only be known by Nehan Munasinghe (SLSA president) outside of the chosen advisor. Every effort will be made to keep your identity confidential.

However, if you do not wish for SLSA to contact the advisor on your behalf, below are the direct contact details of the advisor-

Direct Contact details for Rev Greg Hughson-

• Address- The Upper Room, University Union Building, PO Box 1436, Dunedin, 9054.
• Telephone- 0064 03 479 8497 (work) / 0064 03 487 6226 (home)
• Mobile- 0064 027 212 1048
• Email- greg.hughson@otago.ac.nz
• Web- http://www.otago.ac.nz/chaplain

SLSA Contact details-

• Email- slsaadvice@gmail.com
• Mobile- 021 022 49264

You can contact SLSA through the above two mediums to arrange an appointment with the SLSA advisory panel. Just indicate which advisor you would like to meet and what three times would best suit you. We will then arrange a meeting time for you based on the availability of the advisor. Your identity will only be known by Nehan Munasinghe (SLSA president) outside of the chosen advisor. Every effort will be made to keep your identity confidential.

However, if you do not wish for SLSA to contact the advisor on your behalf, below are the direct contact details of the advisor-

Direct Contact details for Ven Dr Maithree-

• Address- Dhammachai International Research Institute, 16 Pitt Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin, 9016.
• Telephone- 0064 03 477 5772
• Mobile- 0064 021 073 1591
• Email- maithreem@yahoo.com

A glimpse of Ven Dr Maithree can be seen in the talks he gave on how to calm a restless mind on 26/10/2011. Below are the links-

1. How to calm your restless mind- part 1/5
2. How to calm your restless mind- part 2/5
3. How to calm your restless mind- part 3/5
4. How to calm your restless mind- part 4/5
5. How to calm your restless mind- part 5/5

Ven Dr Maithree is also involved with the Dunedin meditation Centre. Meditation is a great way to calm your mind and improve both your personal and academic life. So if you are interested, get in contact with Ven Dr Maithree for guidance.

(click on your advisor of interest for more info)

1. Ven Dr Maithree (Lecturer and Researcher)

2. Rev Greg Hughson (University Chaplain)

This is a service provided by SLSA to all students at university. The purpose is for students to meet and discuss any issues they have in their personal lives or study related with a member from the advisory panel hand picked by SLSA. You could contact SLSA to arrange a meeting time with the advisors or contact the advisor directly. Be assured that everything will be dealt with the utmost confidence to protect your privacy.

Keep an eye out for more advisors in the future….