Senior Citizens Day - March 2007

 By Sunil De SIlva

Sunday 25 March was a misty and dewy morning but the West Epping Park Hall throbbed with the sound of music as aromatic flavours of Sri Lankan food wafted out from the annual Senior Citizens Day held by the Sri Lanka Association of New south Wales.

The hall was packed to capacity by Seniors dressed in colourful sarees and western attire as the Vice President Kumar Athulathmudali welcomed the guests and invited Roshan Wickremanyake, the President and Gothami Indikadahena the Sri Lankan Consul General to address the gathering.
 

Laki Gunawardena on an immense Yamaha organ backed by Eroll Dias on the guitar and supported by electronic equipment from Lal Rankothge blended with the voices of Turin Fonseka a renowned Radio Ceylon playback singer, Cecil Fonseka and Lal Rankothge to treat the crowd to mixture of nostalgic songs from Sri Lanka
 

Mrs Seneviratne gave a virtuoso performance on the rabana and the evergreen Arthur Seneviratne and Mrs Cooray added voice to the proceedings.
 

The Seniors were treated to a scrumptious lunch from the Flavour of Ceylon augmented by equally tasty dishes provided by the committee and members of the Association. There was wine red and white, fruit drink tea and coffee.
 

Dr Rumesh Marcus provided the audience with an informative speech on the causes, identification and warning signs of strokes. Explaining a complex medical topic in simple layperson friendly terms.
 

A sing along coordinated by Pauline Gunewardena – Deanna Sathananthan, Alan Hendricus, Ben Chapman, Samil Lye and Arthur Seneviratne drew the the crowd into songs from the days gone by
 

The irresistibleness magnet of the baila of Laki on the Yamaha, Erroll on the guitar and Cecil behind the microphone had all the Seniors shaking and twisting.
 

The Raffle draw organized by Nelun Joachim with the Consul General, Neville Janz and Sirilal Silva pulling the numbers from the hat had every one with their fingers crossed for the enormous hamper and the other prizes on offer.
 

The day wound up with a game of musical chairs that was won by Mohini Pandita Gunewardena.
 

A thoroughly enjoyable day exquisitely organized by the committee of the Sri Lanka Association and their spouses. A thanks to them for a job well done.