Why ex-Sri Lankan family chose to call Toowoomba home

DEEMANI Jayamanna and her family love Australia’s values of fairness and equality, so it’s no surprise they want to be a part of for the rest of their lives.

Citizens' representative Deemani Jayamanna, with husband Shan Wanasinghe and their son Hiresh Wanasinghe and daughter Senaya Wanasinghe before the Toowoomba Regional Council Australian Citizenship Ceremony at The Annex, Friday, October 18, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

DEEMANI Jayamanna and her family love Australia's values of fairness and equality, so it's no surprise they want to be a part of it for the rest of their lives.

The accountant and masters student became an Australian citizen, alongside her husband Shan Wanasinghe and their children, at a special ceremony in Toowoomba on Friday night.

Mrs Jayamanna, who came to Australia from Sri Lanka to study at the University of Southern Queensland in 2006, said she fell in love with the country and the opportunities it presented.

"If you have the courage, you can do what you want to achieve," she said.

"Even if you don't have enough money, if you're a citizen the government will help you.

"There are so many ways to move forward in your life. These values are what I love about Australia.

"You can grab what you want to be. That is the main reason I chose Australia."

At Toowoomba Regional Council Australian Citizenship Ceremony are (from left) Priyanka Devi, Saurabh Thakur, Dikshya Dhital and Max Gupta. Saurabh and Dikshya are to be naturalised during the ceremony at The Annex, Friday, October 18, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mrs Jayamanna, who spoke for the group of nearly 100 residents who took the oath at the city annex, said her children loved schooling in Australia.

"My son is seven years old, and my daughter is five and she's already a citizen because she was born here," she said.

"She's in Fairholme and my son is at Toowoomba Grammar.

"They love their schools - they're having fun and doing well."

New citizen Precious Eleda with daughter Georgia Eleda at the Toowoomba Regional Council Australian Citizenship Ceremony at The Annex, Friday, October 18, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mrs Jayamanna said Australians, particularly Toowoomba residents, had been supportive of her family.

"Australia is a very good place to live because people are caring and they're very kind-hearted," she said.

"We like Toowoomba, because it is a very nice place to live."

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