The Sri Lanka-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group Launched Successfully
May 27, 2026
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra successfully launched the Sri Lanka–Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group on 26 May 2026 at the High Commission premises.
Despite the demanding nature of the current parliamentary sitting schedule, over twenty-five Australian Federal Members of Parliament and Senators from across the political spectrum attended the event, demonstrating a strong, bipartisan commitment to bilateral ties with Sri Lanka.
The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his remarks, Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite commended the invaluable contributions of the Sri Lankan migrant community, noting that their rich cultural heritage and professional expertise have profoundly shaped and strengthened the fabric of modern multicultural Australia. The event was also attended by senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and prominent representatives of the Sri Lankan community in Australia, including the Honorary Consul to Queensland Mr. Nalin Perera.
The Sri Lanka–Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group is chaired by the Hon. Cassandra Fernando M.P., a Sri Lankan-born parliamentarian who affirmed her dedication to enhancing relations between Sri Lanka and Australia while advocating for shared values and interests. The Vice Chair of the Group, the Hon. Senator Wendy Askew, also assured her steadfast support in driving this pivotal bilateral partnership forward. Hon. Ash Ambihaipahar M.P., who is of Sri Lankan heritage also participated in the meeting.
Comprising 34 Members of Parliament, the Sri Lanka – Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group serves as a vital instrument for strengthening long-standing bilateral relations and acts as a critical conduit for engaging with the Parliament of Sri Lanka as well as Sri Lanka’s diplomatic representation in Australia.
In her address, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, H.E. Yasoja Gunasekera, briefed the members of the group on Sri Lanka’s current economic, political, and security landscape. She emphasized the critical role of the Friendship Group in enhancing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia across all spheres and assured her commitment to working closely with the Federal Members of the Parliament. Captain Sagara Udayanga, Defence Counsellor at the Sri Lanka High Commission made a presentation on Sri Lanka – Australia Defence Cooperation.
The highly successful evening concluded with reciprocal assurances of continued, close collaboration to elevate the Sri Lanka–Australia partnership to greater heights.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka to Australia
Canberra
27 May 2026
