From left, Indika Gurusinghe, Renuka Wijagunarathna, Evon Gurusinghe, Tom McLoughlan, Sirikumara Kasthuriarachchi, Sugandika Kuruppuarachchi, Lukshan Kasthuriarachchi.
Birchip has a strong connection with Sri Lanka that began when Laki Wijethilake serendipitously came to Birchip to work as a chef in the Birchip Hotel in 2013.
Laki developed a great relationship with the Birchip people and a Birchip contingent attended Laki and Hansi’s wedding in Sri Lanka in 2016.
Many other Birchip residents and ex-residents have had the good fortune of visiting Sri Lanka and many have been well looked after by Laki’s family.
In 2015 on Laki’s recommendation, his cousin Shana Kasthuriarachchi came to Birchip to work for a period with Tom and Celeste McLoughlan at TMC Enviro, and twelve months ago, his brother Lukshan Kasthuriarachchi joined the team at TMC Enviro as a diesel mechanic.
Lukshan has fitted into Birchip well. He enjoys his work with TMC, the local community and local sport, and last week he was delighted show his family around Birchip.
The fabric of the Birchip community is enhanced significantly by the influx of international workers who come to the country under skilled migration programs or to complete “the 88-day requirement” for a visa extension.
The skilled migration program plays an important role in regional development through providing skills and labour which can't be sourced locally, as well as encouraging investment and promoting local spending in regional areas.
Birchip is particularly lucky to have several international residents living and working in the community, and it is great to see their extended families coming to the area to enjoy the Mallee landscape and hospitality.
