Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Sri Lankan community

Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) (12:38): Today I stand here and want to share my thoughts and strength with the communities of Sri Lanka. This week I spent time with many players and families of the Berwick Strikers Cricket Club. There are many players in the team who have spoken fondly of their home, Sri Lanka. Currently there are major concerns in politics happening across the country in Sri Lanka that are impacting on families, communities and businesses across their entire nation. The impact is felt by many here in Australia, and I can speak directly for those who have spoken with me in my community. In my conversations with Sam, Mili, Pas and AK as well as the many other players and families, their prime concern is around their own families, their own communities and the places that they have come from when they talk about the politics that is happening currently across Sri Lanka.

To all the Berwick Strikers, thank you for your trust in me in discussing how the political turmoil in Sri Lanka is impacting on you. I wish I could assist more than mentioning it here in this Parliament. You need to know that I will always remain your voice in Victoria, and I will remain committed to what I committed to at your recent awards night—a real politician is here to serve you, not for you to serve them. I look forward to continuing and building our relationship and remaining a strong supporter of your club and you as individuals as we move into the future.

Finally, to the team and to all the players, teams, volunteers and families, thank you for choosing Casey as your home for this club, making our community a better place. The one thing I will say is an exception is the green chillies in the eggplant curry—that was a fraction too much!