Top end of Australia, Darwin is known to be a paradise for tourists in its dry season, May to October. Darwin is home to more than 350 Sri Lankan families who are on various visas, namely students, skilled migrants, temporary residents and permanent residents. Sri Lankans in Darwin are a closely knit community with different cultural backgrounds.
When the covid-19 pandemic hit the world early this year, Australia was also affected with more than 6,000 reported cases at present. Due to the economic downturn, many Lankan students and temporary residents have lost their jobs resulting in financial hardship. Chief incumbent monk of the Darwin Buddhist Viharaya Ven. Udahene Seelarathana Thero has come forward to help the community at this time of need, supported by resident monk Ven. Vimalajothi thero together with the working committee of the Darwin Buddhist Viharaya and the Sri Lankan community. Essential food items, dry rations, fresh vegetables and fruits were donated by Sri Lankans and other communities to the temple on a continuous basis and distributed among families and students who are in-need during this challenging situation. This project has helped more than 50 Sri Lankans to date. Ven. SeelarathanaThero is planning to continue this project with the help of the donors until the pandemic settles down. The program is run by maintaining the privacy of the beneficiaries and adhering to government regulations on social distancing.
This is only one such project initiated by Ven. Seelarathana Thero. The monthly educational scholarship program for under privileged students in rural areas of Sri Lanka is another valuable program carried out for more than 5years continuously by the Ven. Thero, who has been in the Darwin Temple since 2009 and serving the Sri Lankan community.