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Our vision is to fill the gap of a lack of a student-run Sri Lankan society at the University of Leeds.   

We have 4 main aims for Sri Lankan society. 

1. Create a place of gathering for all Sri Lankan Students:

As a larger community in Leeds but with small and isolated student bodies within various universities in Leeds, Sri Lankan students have found it hard to connect with each other due to the lack of a society. While our friends from countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have their respective societies to turn to when they need to connect to their culture, meeting another Sri Lankan student is simply a lucky coincidence for many of us. 

Through the Sri Lankan society, we aim to bring together Sri Lankan students in various universities in Leeds and anyone interested in our culture, creating a support network for individuals of similar backgrounds and interests, hosting culturally significant events and creating a space for fellow Sri Lankans to be represented within the diverse Leeds communities. 

2. Thrive and add to the diversity within Leeds: 

Sri Lankan culture is vibrant and colourful. The influence of blended local and foreign cultures has continued to impact our lives. We want to preserve the uniqueness that comes with the identity of a Sri Lankan.  

We plan to do this through collaborations, food events and taking part in cultural events with other smaller and underrepresented communities such as Leeds Nepali Society and Malayali Society etc. We also have started creating connections and relationships with the wider Sri Lankan community within the Leeds area, who have extended their wishes, support and encouragement for a student-run Sri Lankan society in Leeds. 

3. Support international students: 

As mentioned before, Sri Lanka is going through rough times, if anything we want to offer a safe place for many International Sri Lankan students. Being an International Sri Lankan student can be isolating and harder than usual under current circumstances. The lack of a Sri Lankan society can pose further difficulties with adjusting and feeling comfortable in a new country. Through this society, we aim to create a welcoming and comfortable space for international Sri Lankan students who can benefit from a supportive network of fellow Sri Lankans. 

4. Help: 

We also aim to raise funds to support Sri Lankans- mainly severely affected children in Sri Lanka as we understand that we are very lucky to have promising prospects in the UK while many of our Sri Lankan counterparts find their futures increasingly unclear everyday. We want to offer some support for the betterment of education in Sri Lanka. We could have been in their place just as easily if not for the opportunities that were provided for us.

Furthermore, we believe that through the society we can help to raise funds to provide financial support for families going through severe economic hardship. Mental health has become a vulnerable point- we want to offer help to reduce high suicide rates under the current situation and improve overall wellbeing.