Members Statement: Sri Lanka Terrorist Attacks

Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (17:13:24): I rise today to note the tragic attacks in Sri Lanka that claimed over 250 lives and injured hundreds more on 21 April. These attacks have deeply affected many residents in the Yuroke electorate, which is home to a large Sri Lankan population. Certainly being such a long way from family and friends has made the days since the attacks all the more challenging. Yesterday I was joined by the member for Sunbury and Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, along with Hume City Council mayor Cr Carly Moore and Cr Drew Jessop, to visit the Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Yuroke, the Daham Niketanaya, and to deliver to them a greatly appreciated message of condolence and support from the Premier. This temple has been based in Yuroke for over 20 years and is an important religious, social and cultural centre for Sri Lankan families in Melbourne’s north. It has been an important place for the Sri Lankan community to come together to grieve, to support each other and to plan for how to support members of Melbourne’s Sri Lankan community who were directly and indirectly impacted by these attacks. I thank chief resident monk, the Venerable Kotte Santhindriya Thero, for meeting with us to discuss the welfare of the local Sri Lankan community and providing an update on activities at the temple. Finally, to our Sri Lankan community, I express my condolences. My thoughts and those of our broader Yuroke community are with you as we stand united in condemnation of these horrific attacks.