Who We Are
As the oldest community organization for the Sri Lankan community in the United States, the Sri Lanka Association of Washington D.C. (SLAWDC) is now embarking on its 50th year of continuous success. Located in the Nation’s capital, SLAWDC includes more than 250 dues-paying individual and family members and life members, with it’s fundamental mission to serve as a cultural and social hub for Sri Lankans living in and around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area while preserving some of our age-old traditions.
SLAWDC has consistently delivered a core program of organized events such as the Sinhala-Tamil New Year celebrations in April, and the Sri Lanka day. The Association typically engages in events that hosts cultural performances, exhibitions, and educational programs to showcase Sri Lankan heritage and promote Sri Lankan Culture to fellow Sri Lankans and the broader community. Furthermore, the organization also provides a community building platform for Sri Lankans in the Metro-D.C. area to connect, network, and support one another. This is done by facilitating social gatherings and recreational activities for families and individuals in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The Sri Lanka Association of Washington D.C also plays an important role in advocacy and networking as the organization acts as a representative body for the Sri Lankan diaspora, helping to strengthen ties with local authorities and other diaspora organizations. SLAWDC continues to promote cultural understanding and collaboration between Sri Lankans and the larger U.S. community.
In addition to its social and cultural mission, SLAWDC has occasionally stepped forward to alleviate the plight of compatriots in Sri Lanka be it in drought relief, medical assistance, or other forms of charitable giving for worthy causes. The Association established an affiliate organization for charitable and educational activities in June 2001. Since its humble beginnings, the Sri Lanka Association of Greater Washington, Inc. (SLAGW) has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to the generous support of our community and well-wishers near and far. SLAGW was approved as a federal tax-exempt charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service in March 2002, paving the way for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions from its members and the public.