First Sri Lankan to be elected to Australian local elections

By Rosanne KOELMEYER ANDERSON

'A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others and action may not always bring happiness ... but there is no happiness without action.' So it has been with Dr. Tilak Dissanayake, the Sri Lankan born Australian who made his debut as the only Non European to be elected at the recent Warrumbungleshire Council Elections 2008 to the town of Coolah in New South Wales (NSW). He was subsequently also unanimously elected Vice President of the Rural Doctors Association of New South Wales, Australia. On a visit to Sri Lanka last week, Dr Tilak Dissanayke in an interview with Sunday Observer said his feat at the local council elections took New South Wales by storm with a wave of change.

An accomplisher who said behind discipline , love and luck there was much endurance. He wanted to give back to the community, not only from the medical point of view but "I wish to uplift the quality of people's life".

'Giving back is what matters after you are elected.' His optimistic outlook to life and high profile as a surgeon who had contributed immensely to improve the lives of rural folk says this is his dream come true.I simply wanted to do this at this stage of my life. Small villages need a strong supportive voice in local government.'

Dr. Dissanayke is bent on keeping all these election promises and bring about vast improvement in the small villages of Coolah and Dunedoo soon'. Dr. Dissanyake is currently the Resident and Surgical Registra of Alfred and Hustin Hospital (MELB), and works for major private hospitals, an Anatomy demonstrator at the Monash Medical School and often featured on Julie Mc Crossin's Radio Show 'Life Matter' on ABC Radio National where he speaks on many health related issues, people and education.

The Australian citizen has however not forgotten his roots. He is passionate about Sri Lanka and the less fortunate in his motherland in so much that he had even built houses for tsunami victims with Australian community support . Having gone to Australia to further his medical studies at Monash University, Melbourne in 1994 his talent was soon recognized and he was subsequently appointed an executive member of the Rural Doctors Network (NSW).

He was also on the Executive Medical Committee of Greater Western Area Health Service and being a professional who strongly believes in diversity he also joined the Lions' Club of Coolah which was engaged in sponsoring a number of local organizations.

'Health is one of the most important issues within small communities. My main objective is to ensure that local health services are maintained and improved. It is not easy but it a challenge and challenges are interesting.' Happily married to Donna, a Australian from Mudgree and with two daughters three and a half year old Hamish and two and a half year old Eromi living on a 800 acre farm ear Gulgong, the witty doctor says he loves country life very much.

Spurred by vision and the desire to work for rural folk in Australia, Dr Dissanayake is very interested in helping less fortunate Sri Lankans with medical assistance as well.