The Sri Lanka Association of New South Wales (SLA) held the Annual HSC High Achievers awards ceremony on 01 September 2024 at the Don Moore Community Centre in Sydney.
 
The recognition, felicitation and honouring those  High School Certificate (HSC) students of Sri Lankan origin by the SLA has been an annual feature and event in the calendar of the Sri Lankan Community of NSW for over 20 years.
 
Each year students who have performed to an exceptional high standard at the High School Certificate examination in that year and received an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 95 and above are recognised. The ATAR rank is used to offer undergraduate places by Universities in NSW.
 
The HSC High Achievers Educational Awards were open to HSC students of Sri Lankan origin on their performance at the 2023 HSC Examination.
 
Eleven students were nominated for the Award. It was pleasing to note that of the eleven students were from the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Malay communities reflecting the major communities and religious groups Sri Lankan society.
 
The event commenced before a large gathering of well wishes and the families of the students.
 
Pride of place was given to the high achieving students as it was their day to shine. They were invited to light the traditional lamp following which the President of SLA gave a speech underlying the fact that the cream of the Sri Lanka youth in NSW was gathered at the event to be honoured. He said that the Sri Lankan community was in good hands for the future with these high achieving students taking the lead in the Sri Lanka community in time to come. He invited the students to join the SLA and take up the challenge of steering it for the benefit of the Sri Lankan community into the future.
 
A keynote address was given by Professor Wije Ariyaratne Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney and Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering University of Technology Sydney. In his speech Prof Ariyaratne stated that entering a university marks the beginning of an exciting journey, one filled with opportunities, challenges, and countless moments that will shape the student’s future. He also said to remember that university is not just about academics. It’s a place where you will grow, explore your passions, and discover who you truly are.
 
Other speakers were Jenny Mai representing CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) who sponsored the event and Aubrey Joachim former President of CIMA
 
The students who were recognised at the event were
 
JASMIN USHAM
 
PRATIKSHAAH SATHEESAN
 
LAKNI DINARA KALUPAHANA
 
TAMIZ MAALIK RUMEY JIFFREY
 
SENUJA ENUKA MALLAWA
 
LARA NUNAN
 
BANUJA THENUKA MALLAWA
 
PARAMI KURUPPU
 
ZARFISHAN REHAN UDDIN
 
AAYSHA MANAAL FAHIM
 
BIMASHI CHAMODYA WICKRAMASINGHE        
                                                 
Each student was awarded a takeaway trophy inscribed with their name and individual ATAR score and a Certificate of Achievement. Jasmin Usham with an ATAR score of 99.60 had the highest ATAR score and was awarded the Ashoak Nanayakkara Perpetual Trophy.
The event concluded with the playing of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka & Australia.
The event was followed by a Lamprias Buffet Luch and live music and entertainment from a variety of Sri Lankan artistes.