Work for Tamils wins recognition

DANDENONG man Wicki Ramasingham is beaming with pride after receiving an award from the Governor for his 16 years of refugee advocacy.
Mr Ramasingham represents Freedom for Ceylon Tamils, a settlement group helping Tamil refugees settle in Australia.
He said he was currently advocating that the Federal Government recognise Tamils who had been living in Australia for more than 10 years as Australian citizens.
But apart from his advocacy work, Mr Ramasingham has for the past 16 years been the voice of community radio’s Sanganatham show on Emerald’s 3MDR, where he broadcasts news affecting Tamils from around the world and at home in Australia.
In December 2007 he received an award for excellence in multiculturalism from the Governor, David de Kretzer.
“I was so pleased,” he told Star.
“I have also been recognised by the City of Greater Dandenong as a living treasure.
“I came here 20 years ago from Sri Lanka and when I came I saw what was going on and started helping others settle in.”
Mr Ramasingham said about 7000 Tamils lived in Greater Dandenong, coming from countries including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.