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On
Saturday 5th December Pragathi Café Sri
Lanka CIC hosted a Sri Lankan Cultural
Festival at the Jackmans Community
Centre in Letchworth Garden City,
Hertfordshire.
The
event although small proved to be a huge
success raising awareness for two very
good social enterprise projects that
benefitthe community. PragathiCafé is
selling Sri Lankan products to support
the cottage industry in Sri Lanka and
here in England they are also raising
funds to run a project to support women
from domestic violence and abuse to
enable them to get back on their feet
and start a new life.
The
event was hosted by VajiramalaHeath one
of the organisers of the event and a
director of PragathiCafe. There was a
short speech by the Sri Lankan High
Commissioner Justice NihalJayasingheto
welcome everyone to the event and the
lighting of the traditional oil lamp and
the sounds of the drummers beating out
the MagulBera. The Children of the Sri
SaddhatissaDhammaSchool choreographed by
Mrs KumuduPereraperformed four
traditional dances including Assne,
PareviKirilliyo, Malmalheenayeand
RukaththanaMal. PandukaWickramaratneand
his group of drummers and dancers
performed three drum dances. The Sri
Lankan Tourist Board provided a short
documentary about Sri Lanka and provided
literature on visiting Sri Lanka.
The event included a delicious
traditional Sri Lankan meal prepared by
the directors of PragtahiCafe was served
to all who attended, this included Fried
Rice, Lentil Curry, Chicken Curry, Fried
AubergieneCurry, Fried KadjuNut Curry,
Mixed Fruit & Vegetable Pickle, Egg
Tomato & Onion Salad, Papadams, Devilled
Potatoes finished off with a tropical
fruit salad and ice cream.
You could see that the community in
Letchworth and Hertfordshire was fully
supporting the event with a grant
provided by the orthHertsDistrict
council to enable the dancers to
perform, the Heritage museum in
Letchworth also had a stand where they
were asking people from the Sri
Lanakancommunity to contribute to their
exhibition of Sri Lankan’s in
Letchworth.
To help fund the social enterprise
project and support the Sri Lankan
cottage industry there was a huge array
of traditional SriLankan handicrafts and
gifts. And to enable people to enjoy the
Sri Lankan food at home delicious
traditional Sri Lankan snacks like Fish
patties, Fish cutlis, Fish rolls,
Vegetable patties, vegetable cutlis,
Vegetable rolls and Lentil wade with any
three for £1.00, fantastic value for
money.
The night concluded with some fantastic
songs by the band UK FRIEND and the
guests danced the remainder of the night
away.
As VajiramalaHeath commented ‘We hope
this is the first of many events we will
host to show the community in England
the vibrant culture of Sri Lanka and
raise awareness for our projects, and we
achieved what we set out to do which was
to show people who are not from a Sri
Lankan background what we are about’.
Who are PragthiCafé ?
We are a Community Interest Company
whose activities benefit the community.
In particular we will be retailing
fair-trade products which will assist
the cottage industry in Sri Lanka and
benefit the women and children in
various aide projects there. Here in the
UK we are involved with women who are
victims of domestic violence and abuse.
What are our aims?
PragathiCafé is dedicated to the
progress of the community through the
import of FairtradeSri Lankan food,
music, arts & crafts.
We aim to inspire the community,
transform people’s lives to improve
their talents and skills by providing
education and training to women who have
suffered from domestic violence and
abuse.
To help people to achieve their goals
and using the profits generated to
support the poor and needy children in
Sri Lanka. Toprovide for their welfare
and education and to help reduce child
poverty in Sri Lanka.
PragathiCafe will offer a place where
anyone could meet enjoy a delicious Sri
Lankan meal and enjoy the arts, craft
and music of Sri Lanka.
We are committed to providing you
excellent quality service, punctual
delivery and freshly prepared delicious
Sri Lankan food, for you, your family,
friends, clients and for your parties
and handle every function to your
specific needs.
How can you help?
We will accept help from any volunteers
who wish to assist us in any form they
can.
We also require funding and by
supporting our products and attending
our events you can provide us with some
of the funding we require.
Our Contact Details
Web: www.pragathicafe.com
Email: enquiries@pragathicafe.com
Telephone: 01462 686075
Address: 9 Fleetwood, LetchworthGarden
City, Hertfordshire, SG6 2LR |
