Sri Lankan New Zealanders

Sri Lankan New Zealanders , also known informally as “Sriwis”, are New Zealanders of Sri Lankan heritage living in New Zealand. This includes at least three Sri Lankan ethnic groups in New Zealand: the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil and Burghers. Sri Lankans in New Zealand span over 140 years emigration. In 2013 there were 9,579 Sri Lankans in New Zealand.

Sri Lankan New Zealanders
Total population
9,579 (2013)
Regions with significant populations
Most in Auckland, Wellington, with smaller populations in Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui, Canterbury and elsewhere
Languages
English, Sinhalese, Tamil
Religion
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Sri Lankan people

History

Early arrivals

The early arrivals who came to New Zealand from what was then British Ceylon were a few prospectors attracted to the gold rushes. By 1874 there were a mere 33 New Zealand residents born in Ceylon. Both New Zealand and Ceylon being part of the Commonwealth, New Zealand dutifully imported both people and commodities from Ceylon. After 1890, Ceylon began to surpass China as New Zealand’s supplier of tea. By 1901 the number of Ceylonese residents in New Zealand born in Ceylon had grown to 106.[1]

20th century

After 1950, under the Colombo Plan, some students and trainees received education in New Zealand. Up until the late 1960s the number of New Zealand residents born in Ceylon remained static. As the demand for skilled professionals in New Zealand grew, it led to a noticeable increase in the number of immigrants around this time. Racial and economic tensions in Dominion of Ceylon, made worse after the declaration of the republic in 1972, also swelled immigrant numbers.[1]

In 1983 the Sri Lankan Civil War began with Sinhalese political dominance being challenged by the militant Tamil Tigers, who sought a separate Tamil state within Sri Lanka.[1] After the 1983 riots in Sri Lanka ushered in an extended civil war, many Sri Lankans, both Tamil and Sinhalese, fled Sri Lanka, and the number of arrivals from Sri Lanka to New Zealand and the Sri Lankan-born population in New Zealand rose dramatically.[2]

Present

As during the 1980s New Zealand had relaxed its immigration policies towards Asians, it was seen as a welcoming destination and convinced them to emigrate permanently. Other Sri Lankans only found temporary employment in Africa and Saudi Arabia, intending to return to Sri Lanka. The number of arrivals continued to increase, and at the 2006 census there were over 7,000 Sri Lankans living in New Zealand.[1]

Demographics
Population growth of
Sri Lankan New Zealanders
187433
1901106
1951152
1976973
20016,168
20067,257
20139,579
Source:Te Ara[3]
Data is based on
New Zealand Government Census.

Sri Lankan New Zealanders comprised 3% of the Asian population of New Zealand in 2001. Out of the Asians, the Sri Lankans were the most likely to hold a formal qualification and to work in white-collar occupations. Sri Lankans mainly worked in health professions, engineering, business and property services, and the retail and manufacturing sectors, in large numbers. Most lived in Auckland and Wellington, with smaller populations in Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui, Canterbury and others.[4]

Community

Organizations
  • Linfield Lions Society (Sri Lankan community in New Zealand)
  • New Zealand Society for Peace, Unity and Humam Rights in Sri Lanka Incorporated (SPUR NZ)[5]
  • New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation
  • Sri Lankan Society of New Zealand[6]
  • New Zealand Sri Lanka Friendship Society[4]
  • New Zealand Tamil Society[4]
  • Sri Lanka New Zealand Student Foundation
  • Sri Lankaramaya - New Zealand[7]
  • United Sri Lanka Association Inc (USLA)
  • Canterbury Tamil Society
  • Wellington Tamil Society
  • Wellington Muththamizh Sangam

Culture

Sri Lankan New Zealanders predominantly speak English, with Tamil and Sinhalese sometimes spoken at home. Distinct observations include Sriwi day, celebrated on 5 February between the national days of Sri Lanka and New Zealand. During this celebration both countries are honored through drinking Ceylon Tea with New Zealand milk and ritual ringing of the Tamil Bell .

Notable Sri Lankan New Zealanders
  • Mayu Pasupati - New Zealand domestic cricketer
  • Dr Anne Doloras Perera - Past President of United Sri Lanka Association (Auck) and Founder President of New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation (1998)
  • Kumar Velambalam - President of the New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation[8]
  • Manjula Sanis Walgampola - President of the New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation[9]
  • Jereeth Abdeen - President - Sri Lankan Society of New Zealand[10]
  • Ven. Walgama Sri Munidawansa Thero - Chief Sanghanayaka of New Zealand [11]
  • Brannavan Gnanalingam - author [12]

5th

See also

References
  1. "Sri Lankans – Immigration". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  2. "An Immigrant Nation - From Sri Lanka With Sorrow". NZonscreen. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  3. "Sri Lankans – Facts and figures". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  4. "Sri Lankans – Community". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. http://www.spur.org.nz
  6. http://www.slsnz.org/
  7. http://www.srilankaramaya.org/
  8. "New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation contacts". New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  9. "Message from President" (PDF). NZSLFoundation. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  10. http://www.slsnz.org/ourmembers2017-18.php
  11. "The Chief Incumbent Thero". http://www.srilankaramaya.org. Retrieved 21 September 2018. External link in |website= (help)
  12. Stephens, Murdoch (15 May 2018). "Go, Brannavan, go: The novelist from Naenae nominated for an Ockham award". The Spinoff. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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