Consul General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, South Australia and the State of Tasmania, Pradeepa Saram met with the Governor of Victoria, Margaret Gardner AC, at the Government House in Melbourne on 5 June 2025.
It was an opportunity to discuss Victoria and Sri Lanka’s shared values and interests, Victoria’s vibrant Sri Lankan community and prospects to deepen the bilateral cooperation.
Governor, Margaret Gardner reminisced that Sri Lankan migrants were among the earliest to arrive in Australia before significant migration from other South Asian countries and acknowledged the noteworthy contribution the Sri Lankan community in Victoria continue to make to the development of Australia. Melbourne, is home to more than 90,000 Sri Lankan diaspora, contributing to a vibrant multicultural environment and considered one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of Sri Lanka.
Given that Australia is an important trading partner for Sri Lanka, and Victoria being a vital trade hub, Consul General discussed how Victoria can develop even stronger commercial ties with Sri Lanka, which would be mutually beneficial for both sides. She also noted that the education plays a key role in Victoria’s relationship with Sri Lanka, particularly Melbourne, which attracts a significant number of Sri Lankan students pursuing higher education in Australia.
Governor of Victoria recollected Professor David de Kretser a proud Sri Lankan, having been born in then Ceylon. Professor Krester served as the 27th Governor of Victoria, Australia, from 2006 to 2011, making him a distinguished figure of Sri Lankan descent in Australia’s political landscape. He was awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), in 2006.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, South Australia and The State of Tasmania
Melbourne, Australia
28.05.2025
