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Sri Lankan Australians

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Sri Lankan Australians (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ඕස්ට්‍රේලියානුවන්, Tamil: இலங்கை ஆஸ்திரேலியர்கள்) are people of Sri Lankan heritage living in Australia; this includes Sri Lankans by birth and by ancestry. Sri Lankan Australians constitute one of the largest groups of Overseas Sri Lankan communities and are the largest diasporic Sri Lankan community in Oceania. Sri Lankan Australians consist of people with Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Burgher, Malay and Chinese origins among others.[3]

Sri Lankan Australians
Total population
145,430 born in Sri Lanka (2021)[1]

95,948 Australians of Sri Lankan Ancestry

58,166 Sinhalese Australians

6,775 Sri Lankan Tamil Australians

Over 0.48% of the population
Regions with significant populations
 Victoria55,8351
 New South Wales28,7131
 Queensland9,7561
 Western Australia7,8001
 South Australia3,7851
 Australian Capital Territory2,7741
 Northern Territory4471
 Tasmania7751
Languages
English, Sinhala, Tamil
Religion
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam
Related ethnic groups
Sri Lankans
1 Populations based on Sri Lankan born population only, 2016 census.[2]

History

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1816 2—    
1876 ~500—    
1901 609—    
1911 611+0.3%
1921 637+4.3%
1933 638+0.2%
1947 *—    
1954 1,961—    
1961 3,433+75.1%
1966 5,562+62.0%
1971 9,091+63.4%
1976 14,866+63.5%
1981 16,966+14.1%
1986 22,513+32.7%
1991 37,283+65.6%
1996 64,068+71.8%
2001 53,461−16.6%
2006 62,256+16.5%
2011 86,412+38.8%
2016 109,853+27.1%
Data is based on population born in Sri Lanka, Australian Government Census.[4]
*Included in Indian population

Early arrivals

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Recorded Sri Lankan immigration to Australia started in 1816, with the transportation of Drum Major William O'Dean (a Sri Lankan Malay) and his wife Eve (a Sinhalese). Early immigrants from Sri Lanka (at that time known as Ceylon) were generally (unlike the O'Deans) absorbed into the Aboriginal population. Other early references of Sri Lankan migration date back to the 1870s when authorities in South Australia sought out the possibility of importing labour from Ceylon.[5] The first Sinhalese from Sri Lanka arrived in 1870 to work in sugarcane plantations in Queensland. A community was believed to exist on Thursday Island in 1876. In 1882, a group of 500 left Colombo for Queensland, mostly in Mackay.[5]

20th century

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The number of permanent settlers arriving in Australia from Sri Lanka since 1991 (monthly)

Under the White Australia policy, immigration was negligible. It resumed after the Second World War primarily involving migration of Burghers, who fulfilled the then criteria that they should be of predominantly European ancestry and that their appearance should be European. By 1954 around 2000 Sri Lankans had been accepted. Sinhalese migration began in the 1960s but it was after the mid-1970s that large groups arrived, which also included Christians and Buddhists. During the 1970s intake restrictions loosened and Sri Lankan students undertook courses in Australia as part of the Colombo Plan prior to the formal dismantling of the White Australia policy, and after 1973 and from the early 1980s Sinhalese, Tamil and Moor migration resumed and increased.[5][6]

Present

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In The Australian People, S. Pinnawala writes that "social interaction between the various Sri Lankan migrant groups has often been influenced by factors originating in their home country".

In the 1980s, on a reflection of ethnic unrest in Sri Lanka, tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities grew. However, in Pinnawala's opinion, more recently a Sri Lankan identity has developed among the various religious and ethnic migrants.

This has led to many new community organisations being established to promote Sri Lankan culture and traditions. There have also been strong links formed between Sinhalese Buddhists now living in Australia and their co-religionists from Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. Similar trends can be traced between Christian migrants from Sri Lanka who now live in Australia.[5]

Demographics

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See also: Tamil Australians
 
People born in Sri Lanka as a percentage of the population in Sydney divided geographically by postal area, as of the 2011 census
 
People with Sinhalese ancestry as a percentage of the population in Sydney, divided geographically by postal area, as of the 2011 census

The city of Melbourne contains just under half of the Sri Lankan Australians. Fewer than 20% are estimated to live outside New South Wales and Victoria.

The number of Sri Lankan Australians counted in 1996, including the second-generation, was 64,068. The 2011 census recorded 86,412 Sri Lankans born in Australia.

The rate of assimilation among Sri Lankan Australians is fairly high: among second-generation immigrants, the 'in-marriage' rate was extremely low – 5.6% for brides and 3.0% for grooms.

Sinhalese Australians have an exceptionally low rate of return migration to Sri Lanka. In December 2001, the Department of Foreign Affairs estimated that there were 800 Australian citizens resident in Sri Lanka. It is unclear whether these were returning Sri Lankan emigrants with Australian citizenship, their Sri Lankan Australian children, or other Australians present on business or for some other reason.

Tamils in Australia numbered 19,426 in the 2011 Census.[7] The majority of Tamils born in Sri Lanka came to Australia after 1983 when Sri Lanka faced ethnic turmoil and unrest (Black July). The Western suburbs of Sydney and the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne have a relatively high number of Tamil speaking people. There were 73161 Tamil speakers according to the 2016 Census, with the largest proportion of people across Australia in the Western Sydney suburb of Westmead (1,425 people, or 3.6% of people in that suburb), followed by Toongabbie (1,404 people, or 3.5% of people in that suburb).[8] Numerous Tamil schools and Hindu Temples have been established in all main cities to cater for the growing Sri Lankan Tamil population.

Analysis of 2011 census by language and ancestry[9]
Ancestry Language (first ancestry) Language (second ancestry)
Tamil English Sinhala Not
stated		 Other Total Tamil English Sinhala Not
stated		 Other Total
Tamil 11,407 1,057 85 58 149 12,756 650 257 16 13 48 984
Indian Tamil 406 50 4 3 15 478 21 12 0 0 -1 32
Sri Lankan Tamil 4,153 702 102 27 41 5,025 62 83 6 0 8 159
Sub-total Tamil 15,966 1,809 191 88 205 18,259 733 352 22 13 55 1,175
Indian 20,923 77,033 64 3,204 249,641 350,865 540 31,992 38 217 7,246 40,033
Sri Lankan 8,534 23,792 27,862 442 1,551 62,181 300 11,541 679 47 389 12,956
Australian 748 4,777,283 684 24,942 118,275 4,921,932 82 2,135,198 50 6,458 34,761 2,176,549
Sinhalese 942 2,351 16,898 115 225 20,531 76 901 1,372 13 54 2,416
English 862 7,062,120 809 33,676 125,990 7,223,457 7 13,136 8 107 1,821 15,079
Malay 502 6,973 17 134 13,230 20,856 91 9,015 32 56 3,568 12,762
Singaporean 178 1,930 0 123 1,302 3,533 25 2,083 0 13 498 2,619
Not stated 856 391,451 913 979,843 102,167 1,475,230 47,984 10,434,941 45,710 1,060,759 3,465,645 15,055,039
Other 640 4,164,549 754 42,924 3,202,008 7,410,875 313 3,870,132 281 17,808 300,557 4,189,091
Total 50,151 16,509,291 48,192 1,085,491 3,814,594 21,507,719 50,151 16,509,291 48,192 1,085,491 3,814,594 21,507,719

Language

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In 2006, there were 29,055 Australians who spoke Sinhalese at home.[10] SBS Radio is available in Sinhalese,[11] and Melbourne television channel Channel 31 runs the Sri Lankan Morning show, which has sections in Sinhalese.[12]

Religion

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Religion of Sri Lankan Australians (2021)[13]

  Buddhism (45.3%)
  Catholic (19.4%)
  Hinduism (16.1%)
  Other Christian (3.6%)
  Islam (3.3%)
  Other (12.4%)

In 2016, 40.8% from Sri Lankan Australians population identifying as Buddhists, 20.7% as Catholic, 18.8% as Hindus, 4.2% as Anglican and 3.7% as Irreligion.[14]

Most Sinhalese in Australia are Theravada Buddhists, and a small percentage of Sinhalese follow branches of Christianity. Sri Lankans have established many Theravada Buddhist temples across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia including the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Temple of Melbourne's eastern suburbs.[15]

The majority of Sri Lankan Tamils are Hindu. The Sydney Murugan Temple was constructed for the needs of the high Tamil population in Western Sydney. Smaller temples have been built in the greater Sydney area. The Siva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs south east of Melbourne is also a temple built by Sri Lankan Tamils. The Sunshine Murugan Temple in western Melbourne also caters to the Tamil community. In other cities such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Townsville, Darwin, Canberra and Hobart, Hindu temples have also been built.

Culture

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Popularly celebrated community festivals include Sri Lankan Independence Day (4 February) and Sri Lankan New Year (14 April). Sri Lankan restaurants are becoming a popular feature of shopping strips in Melbourne, Hawthorn, Brunswick, Northcote, Glen Waverley and Dandenong, while Sri Lankan Australian media is also growing with newspapers, television and radio stations broadcasting cultural programs.[6]

Community

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Suburb[N 1] Percentage of
Sri Lankans
Pendle Hill, New South Wales 9.4%[16]
Homebush, New South Wales 8.5%[17]
Homebush West, New South Wales 5.4%[18]
Endeavour Hills, Victoria 5.3%[19]
Dandenong, Victoria 4.8%[20]
Strathfield South, New South Wales 4.8%[21]
Lynbrook, Victoria 4.5%[22]
Hallam, Victoria 4.3%[23]
Lyndhurst, Victoria 4.2%[24]
Dandenong North, Victoria 3.7%[25]
Hampton Park, Victoria 3.7%[26]
Noble Park, Victoria 3.6%[27]
Glen Waverley, Victoria 3.6%[28]
Clayton South, Victoria 3.4%[29]
Clayton, Victoria 3.3%[30]
Oakleigh East, Victoria 3.2%[31]
Keysborough, Victoria 3.1%[32]
Lidcombe, New South Wales 3.1%[33]

Australia

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Events
  • Lankan Fest – Sri Lankan cultural show in Melbourne[34]
Organizations
  • Sri Lanka Association of NSW Inc.

https://www.slansw.org.au/

  • Global Sri Lankan Forum
  • Sri Lanka German Technical Training Institute - Old boys Association Australia Inc.
  • Sri Lankan Study Centre for the Advancement of Technology & Social Welfare Inc (SCATS), Australia (1992)[35]
  • Australia Sri Lanka Council (1994)
  • Committee for Sri Lanka (1993)
  • Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Australia Inc.
  • Multicultural Human Power Incorporated
  • United Sri Lankan Muslim Association[36] (1990)
Websites
  • slansw.org.au/
  • TamilAustralian.com
  • srilankadirectory.com.au
  • ozsrilanka.com.au
  • ausnewslanka.com
  • lankacube.com
  • ozlanka.com

Canberra

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  • Sri Lanka Dhamma Vihara Association of Canberra[37]
  • Lankans Canberra Foundation
  • Sri Lanka High Commissions
  • Sinhala Cultural Association of Canberra

New South Wales

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Organizations
  • Anandians of NSW
  • Austra-Lanka Muslims Association (ALMA)[38]
  • Sinhala Association of NSW
  • Sinhalese Cultural Forum of NSW
  • Sri Lankan Australian Malay Association (SLAMA)
  • The Sri Lanka Association of NSW
  • University of Colombo Alumni Association NSW Inc.
Radio

Victoria

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Events
  • Lankan Fest – Sri Lankan cultural show in Melbourne[34]
Organizations
  • Anandians of Victoria
  • Association of Sri Lankan Muslims in Australia (ASLAMA)
  • Black & Gold of Victoria – D.S. Senanayake College Old Boys Association[40]
  • Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia
  • Good Shepherd Convent Colombo Past Pupils' Association[41]
  • Katherine Keegel Children's Fund (KKCF)[42]
  • Northern Melbourne Sri Lankan Senior's Association Inc.[43]
  • Royal College Old Boys Association[44]
  • Nalandians In Sydney – Nalanda College Old Boys Association, Sydney, Australia (NIS)[45]
  • Nalanda College Old Boys Association, Melbourne, Australia [46]
  • Nalanda College Old Boys Association, Queensland, Australia [47]
  • Nalanda College Old Boys Association, Perth, Australia [48]
  • Sinhalese Cultural and Community Service Foundation
  • Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR)
  • Sri Lankan Association of Victoria (formerly the Ceylon Club of Australia)
  • Sri Lankan Study Centre for the Advancement of Technology and Social Welfare
  • St. Joseph's College Old Boys Union,[49] the biggest alumni association based on a Sri Lankan school in Australia
  • ST Peters Old Boys Union Melbourne
  • Trinity College Old Boys Association
  • United Sri Lankan Muslim Association of Australia (USMAA)[50]
  • Maris Stella College OBA Melbourne Branch
  • Visakha Vidyalaya Past Pupils Association (VVPPA)
  • Kelaniya University Alumni Association Australia
  • Anula Vidyalaya Past Pupils Association Victoria (AVPPAV)
  • St Benedict's College Old Boys Union

South Australia (Adelaide)

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Organizations

Western Australia

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Organizations
  • Anandians of Western Australia
  • AusLanka Charity Foundation
  • Sri Lankan Australian Youth Association [53]
  • Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara Perth Western Australia[54]
  • Sri Lankan Cultural Society of Western Australia
  • Sri Lankan Muslim Society of Western Australia Inc.[55]

Northern Territory

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  • The Buddhist Society of the N.T.[56]
  • Sri Lanka Australia Friendship Association[57]

Notable Sri Lankan Australians

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Main article: List of Sri Lankan Australians

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Areas with a high concentration of Sri Lankans in Australia, according to the 2006 Census.

References

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  1. ^ "2021 People in Australia who were born in Sri Lanka, Census Country of birth QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics".
  2. ^ "Community Information Summary Sri Lanka-born" (PDF). Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
  3. ^ "People of Sri Lanka" (PDF). The Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages. March 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "People in Australia who were born in Sri Lanka". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "SBS Radio - Sinhalese". radio.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Sri Lankans". eMelbourne. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Ancestry – Sri Lankan /Sinhalese/Tamil". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  8. ^ "ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் எந்த suburb-இல் தமிழர்கள் அதிகமாக வாழ்கின்றனர்? | SBS Your Language". www.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017.
  9. ^ "2011 Census of Population and Housing". Table Builder. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  10. ^ "2006 Census - Australia - Language". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  11. ^ "SBS Schedule". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  12. ^ "Channel 31 - Sri Lanka Morning Show". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Sri Lankan - Population Statistics".
  14. ^ "2016 People in Australia who were born in Sri Lanka, Census Country of birth QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Temple". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  16. ^ "2011 Census QuickStats : Pendle Hill (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  17. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Homebush (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  18. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Homebush West (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  19. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Endeavour Hills (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  20. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Dandenong (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  21. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Strathfield South (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  22. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Lynbrook (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  23. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Hallam (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  24. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Lyndhurst (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  25. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Dandenong North (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  26. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Hampton Park (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  27. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Noble Park (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  28. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Glen Waverley (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  29. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Clayton South (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  30. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Clayton (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  31. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Oakleigh East (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  32. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Keysborough (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  33. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats : Lidcombe (State Suburb)". Censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  34. ^ a b Lankan Fest
  35. ^ "SCATS: One of the oldest Sri Lankan community organisations in Melbourne, celebrating of its 25th year anniversary".
  36. ^ "usmaa.org.au". usmaa.org.au. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  37. ^ "The Sri Lanka Dhamma Vihara Association of Canberra(SLDVAC) Inc". Dhammavihara.org.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  38. ^ "alma.org.au". alma.org.au. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  39. ^ a b "SBS Radio - Sinhalese". radio.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009.
  40. ^ "Black & Gold of Victoria - D.S. Senanayake College Old Boys Association". Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Good Shepherd Convent Colombo Past Pupils' Association". Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Katherine Keegel Children's Fund (KKCF)". Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Sri Lankan - Northern Melbourne Sri Lankan Senior's Association Inc. - - - Community Directory - City of Whittlesea". Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Royal College Old Boys Association". Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  45. ^ Nalanda College Old Boys Association, Sydney, Australia
  46. ^ "OLD NALANDIANS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (ONAA, Melbourne". Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Nalanda Old Boys Association Queensland Inc". Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Old Nalandians Association of Western Australia Inc". Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  49. ^ St. Joseph's College Old Boys Union
  50. ^ "usmaa.org.au". usmaa.org.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  51. ^ "Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara". Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  52. ^ "Adelaide Sri Lankan Community". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  53. ^ Sri Lankan Australian Youth Association
  54. ^ Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Perth Western Australia
  55. ^ "Sri Lankan Muslim Society of Western Australia Inc". Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  56. ^ "The Buddhist Society of the N.T." Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  57. ^ "Sri Lanka Australia Friendship Association". Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2024.

Further reading

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Information about Sri Lankans in Australia can be obtained from the following publications.

  • Gamage, S. 'Curtains of culture, ethnicity, and class: changing composition of the Sri Lankan community in Australia, Journal of intercultural studies, vol 19(1), 1998,pp. 37–56.
  • Gamage, S. 2001. Sinhalese in Australia, in The Australian people – An Encyclopedia of the nation, its people and their origins(ed) James Jupp, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press,Cambridge, pp, 684–685.
  • Gamage, S. 2002. Adaptation Experiences of Sri Lankan Immigrants and their Children in Australia in the Context of Multiculturalism and Anglo-Conformity, in Annette Richardson and Michael Wyness (eds) Exploring Cultural Perspectives: Integration and Globalization, International Cultural Research Network (ICRN) Press, Edmonton, pp. 3–29.
  • Gamage, S. 2014. Life of Sri Lankans in Australia: identity, lifestyle and dilemmas of living between two cultures, Island (29.01.2014), Colombo.
  • Reeves, P. 2014. The Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora, Editions Didier Millet Pty Ltd. Singapore.
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