Who We Are

The oldest social organization for the Sri Lankan community in the national capital region was formed in 1975. Now embarking on its 40th year of continuous operations, SLAWDC includes more than 250 dues-paying individual and family members and life members. With its fundamental mission to facilitate social and cultural interaction among the community while preserving some of our age-old traditions, SLAWDC has consistently delivered a core program of three organized events. The Sinhala-Tamil New Year in April, Washington-New York Annual Cricket Encounter in the summer and the New Year’s Eve Gala anchor our core programming for members. Other significant but smaller events such as the annual Children’s Christmas Party, sports tournaments, destination outings, food fairs, youth dances, career guidance seminars, and lectures/addresses by notables round out our programs of appeal to a diverse membership.

In addition to its social and cultural mission, SLAWDC has from time to time 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 200l. Since its humble beginnings in 2001, the Sri Lanka Association of Greater Washington, Inc. (SLAGW) has grown by leaps and bounds due to the generous support of our community and friends/well wishers from other parts of the U.S. SLAGW was approved as a federal tax-exempt charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service in March 2002, paving the way for receipt of tax-deductible contributions from its members and the public.