SriLankaNZ

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SriLankaNZ
SriLankaNZ.JPG
CategoriesCommunity Newspaper
FrequencyBi-monthly
Founder
  • Harsha Weerakoon
  • CJ(Charith) Ekanayake
Year founded2019 (2019)
First issueMarch 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03)
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish & Sinhala
Websitesrilankanz.co.nz
ISSN2703-4283 (print)
2744-6360 (web)

Sri Lankan Community Newspaper in New Zealand (also known by its abbreviation SriLankaNZ) is a community newspaper serving New Zealand’s Sri Lankan community (Sri Lankans in New Zealand) of over 18,000 people.[1] It aims at reaching out to readers of all ages and lifestyles in the Sriwis community (New Zealanders of Sri Lankan heritage living in New Zealand).[2] It is a bi-monthly newspaper providing education and entertainment, with content in both English and Sinhala.[3][4][5]

Overview

History

SriLankaNZ was founded in November 2019, by Harsha Weerakoon and CJ(Charith) Ekanayake, headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand.[6] The paper initially started as an online platform serving news articles and information for the community. It published its first printed edition in March 2020.[7] The newspaper was initially launched with the objective to promote and encourage Sri Lankans living in New Zealand to express their creativity and talents.[8][9] Through this publication, they are focusing on current events and sports related to Sri Lanka and New Zealand. It's a free newspaper, distributed across New Zealand.[10] The publication receives articles and illustrations from not only Sri Lankans living in New Zealand but also Sri Lankans living back in Sri Lanka, Australia, and the United States.[11]

Name

The name of the newspaper “SriLankaNZ” was chosen because it rhymes with the Sri Lankans with the Z and NZ representing New Zealand.

ශ්‍රී LankaNZ represents “Sri” as ශ්‍රී in Sinhala (main language of Sri Lanka).

Content covered by SriLankaNZ

SriLankaNZ collects submissions from a wide range of people including children, writers and poets, academics, medical and wellbeing practitioners, and religious organizations. It also disseminates information from organizations that provide services to the community in New Zealand.

It reaches out to readers of all ages and lifestyles with a wide range of articles covering health and wellness information, science, New Zealand and Sri Lankan history, politics and travel, world news and sports, a ‘kids’ corner’, community news, and information from a variety of cultural and religious traditions. It also showcases talented individuals in the creative arts who provide short stories, poetry, articles, and music.

Its main objectives are to

  • promote traditional values and activities among the Sri Lankans in New Zealand, enabling them to retain their cultural identity as an integral section of multicultural Aotearoa
  • disseminate information and ideas among the Sri Lankan community so they can make a meaningful contribution to the Kiwi way of life
  • provide a vehicle for Sri Lankans in New Zealand to share news and views about Sri Lanka and New Zealand
  • Allow Sri Lankans in New Zealand of all walks of life to display and enhance their talents and creative abilities to improve the quality of life of the community
  • provide useful information, guidance, and assistance for the Sri Lankan community in their efforts to promote traditional values and activities among the Sri Lankans in New Zealand and assimilate into mainstream society.
  • introduce the Sri Lankan community to organizations around Aotearoa that assist new arrivals.

Some recent articles included Finding my place in the land of the long white cloud,[12] an interview with a food scientist Dr. Anne Perera,[13] the story of Auckland’s NZ Sri Lanka Dance Studio,[14] and information on the cannabis referendum, ayurvedic medicine, the election, and earthquake preparation.[15][16]

1 Year Anniversary

Celebrated one year anniversary by issuing a Special Edition with the 7th issue of the newspaper and also on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of SriLankaNZ, a discussion was held last Sunday evening with the authors who wrote articles, short stories, and poems for the newspaper through zoom technology.[17][18] There, more than twenty people joined live for nearly two hours and shared various ideas and suggestions. Those ideas were a great help to the newspaper in its future progress. In addition, there was an opportunity to identify writers. The anniversary story was featured in a Srilankan newspaper “Sunday Observer” as well.[19]

Supporting the Sri Lankan community

The SriLankaNZ media provide a national public service benefit allowing the Sri Lankan community to feel connected and share support. It will be particularly helpful in providing information and networks to Sri Lankans who have newly arrived or relocated to New Zealand. It will enhance the community’s capability and ability to promote and support their culture and traditional values and show the strength of the community across New Zealand.[20][21]

The newspaper, website, and social media content improve the community’s ability to:

  • ensure new arrivals feel welcomed and included
  • provide information to help Sri Lankans take part in New Zealand society
  • receive easily accessible information in their own language including physical and psychological health and wellbeing, public messaging, and community services
  • showcase the skills and businesses of other Sri Lankans in New Zealand
  • share cultural, creative, and religious material to enhance their feeling of identity and belonging.

Fundraising / Events

SriLankaNZ uses crowdfunding to contribute to the publication of all the literary material. They have also participated in a fundraising event for Sri LankaNZ. It also helps non-Kiwis feel comfortable.[22] The event progressed by the screening of Nobody Knows, a Sri Lankan movie’.[23][24][25]

Editions and publications

SriLankaNZ is printed by Stuff New Zealand, Petone. Printed copies of the newspaper are currently distributed around 40 outlets with connections to the Sri Lankan community such as businesses, temples, and restaurants. Since March 2020, 14 issues(to 08/2022) have been produced at two-monthly intervals and 3,000 copies of each are distributed to outlets around the country. Newspapers have been between 20-32 pages in length.[26]

SriLankaNZ has its editions in major cities such as Auckland, Hamilton, Whanganui, Rotorua, Hastings, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington/Hutt Valley, Nelson, Christchurch, Otago/Queenstown, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The newspaper is also available online via a website and has content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.[27]

Notable Members

Editorial team

  • K.A.B. Karunarathne - Editor/Writer
  • Anu Weerakoon - Author/ Writer (Media Coordinator)
  • Harsha Weerakoon - Founder (Printing / Distribution & Advertising)
  • CJ Ekanayake - Co-founder, Multimedia Specialist (Editor Video/Web, Writer, and Designer)

Sub Editors

  • Gavithri Yatigammana - Author/ Writer
  • Dimuthu Wijesuriya - Author/ Writer
  • Buddhima Wickramarachchi - Author/ Writer

Tech/Website Support

  • Indika Jayarathna
  • Shehani Fernando

SriLankaNZ-TV

SriLankaNZ TV is a new initiative partnering with the SriLankaNZ community newspaper to cater high demand for video content. They are currently broadcasting a Weekly “Weekend News” bulletin every Sunday 7pm.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Fernandez, Michael (11 July 2021). "Sri Lankan Community were risen by the Newspaper "SriLankaNZ"". Daily Scanner. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "SriLankaNZ Editorial Team". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Regional News Issue #150 - May 25th 2021". Flipsnack. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Stein, Jamie (15 May 2021). "SriLankaNZ is bringing together Sri Lankan communities within NZ". Kiwis Today. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Binding of Cultures by LJ Shaw - Wellington". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Sri Lanka NZ : all about Sri Lankans". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Hui E A funding partner for community action" (PDF). huie.org.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "SriLanka NZ : all about Sri Lankans". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "SriLankaNZ is More Than a Newspaper for the sri lankans". Business Deccan. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Story of the Srilankan Newspaper - "Sri LankaNZ" - Exclusive". Best in Australia. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "A Great Opportunity to Enhance your Writing Talent with Sri LankaNZ - The Hear UP". thehearup.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "You searched for finding my place". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Interview with Dr Anne Perera - Food Scientist, Nutritionist and a Volunteer - SrilankaNZ Newspaper". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "The story of NZ Sri Lanka Dance Studio, Auckland by ශ්‍රීLankaNZ". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Weinstein, Michelle (15 June 2021). "Bringing Communities Together, SrilankaNZ". DigiHerald. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Srilankanz". PressPatron. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "ශ්‍රි ලංකන්ස් zoom සංවාදය - SriLankaNZ Zoom Meeting". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  18. ↑ "Anniversary Special - April- May 2021". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "First anniversary of Sri LankaNZ". Sunday Observer. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  20. ↑ Tronconi, John (8 June 2021). "SriLankaNZ Working to Preserve the Authenticity of Sri Lankan Culture". America Daily Post. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  21. ↑ "A Review of Ayurveda Medicinal Value of Cannabis ( part 01) by Dr (Mrs.) Nadeeka S. Perera - Dunedin". ශ්‍රී LankaNZ. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  22. ↑ Feldman, Ian (31 August 2022). "Historical Newspaper for Kiwi - SriLankaNZ Was Born..." Business News Ledger. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  23. ↑ ""Nobody Knows" - A Sri Lankan Movie". Stuff Events. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  24. ↑ ""Nobody Knows" - A Sri Lankan Movie". Stuff Events. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  25. ↑ ""Nobody Knows" - A Sri Lankan Movie". Eventfinda. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  26. ↑ "how-newspapers-like-srilankanz-are-forging-new-bonds". sunrisenews.co. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  27. ↑ Frometa, R. J. (23 June 2021). "Keeping the Essence of Print Media Alive : SirlankaNz". Vents Magazine. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "About". SriLankaNZ-TV. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

External links

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