Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan MP, noted the valuable contribution made by the Sri Lankan community for the development of Victoria and to strengthen community harmony.

The Consul General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, South Australia and The State of Tasmania, Pradeepa Saram met with the Premier of Victoria at the Premier’s Office.

The meeting focused on further strengthening cooperation between Victoria State and Sri Lanka particularly in trade & investment, education, cultural and people-to-people connections.

The Consul General accentuated that education plays a significant role in Victoria’s relationship with Sri Lanka, given the large number of Sri Lankan students studying at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the State. Premier stated that “our ties grow as we welcome more students”. Australia is a popular destination for Sri Lankan students seeking higher education.

The Premier specifically underscored the valuable contribution made by the Sri Lankan community for the development of Victoria and to strengthen community harmony.

Victoria has the largest Sri Lankan community in Australia, contributing to strong cultural and social connections and the State also has the most dynamic multicultural society in the country.

Underscoring the importance of establishing a Community Centre for Sri Lankan community, the Consul General appreciated the Victoria Government’s recent commitment to allocate a significant portion of funding to support multicultural communities and programs, aiming to benefit culturally diverse Victorians.

There are approximately 85,000 Sri Lankans presently living and working in Victoria, Australia.