Dunedin 'best city', say residents and new NZ citizens

Palitha Udamulla and his wife Lalanthi with their son Nimesh and daughter Sanduni. Photo: Linda Robertson
Palitha Udamulla and his wife Lalanthi with their son Nimesh and daughter Sanduni. Photo: Linda Robertson
Dunedin has few bigger fans than four members of the Sri Lankan-born Udamulla family, who became New Zealand citizens yesterday.

''Dunedin is the best city,'' father Palitha Udamulla, now a bus driver, said.

Mr Udamulla first came to New Zealand more than 10 years ago mainly because he and his wife Lalanthi were concerned their two children faced a hazardous future, as a destructive civil war then continued to rage in Sri Lanka.

Yesterday, both husband and wife and children - University of Otago health sciences first-year student Sanduni Udamulla (18), and Nimesh (13) - were among 72 people who gained New Zealand citizenship at a Dunedin Municipal Chamber ceremony led by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull.

''I feel great,'' Miss Udamulla said.

Mr Udamulla initially lived in Dipton, Southland, and worked on a dairy farm for seven years before shifting to Dunedin about four years ago, since working as a bus driver to support his children in their education.

He had established a good vegetable garden at their Waverley house, and was enjoying life in a peaceful, friendly city.

''We've got everything now.''

''It's very calm and peaceful,'' Mrs Udamulla added.

She was ''very, very happy'' and felt accepted in Dunedin: ''I'm not feeling I'm a visitor - from the outside''.

Other new citizens: Mark Edward Dalphin (United States); Marryllyn Anne Donaldson (Britain); Paul Gerard Ferro (Britain); Benjamin Gavoille (France); Joby Joseph, Anupama Joby, Serah Ann Joby (India); Veronique Elisabeth Bernadette Manti (France); Jose Antonio Manti, Julian Sebastian Manti, Corentin Antonio Manti, Colin Neil Murphy (Australia/Britain); John William Lee Newsome, Tina Louise Owen (Britain); Ravnil Vishal Prasad (Fiji); Zhe Ruan (China); Manoj Parsad Surira (India); Tayla May Baldwin (South Africa); Maria Teresa Hamlin (Britain); Eseta Ioane Aitcheson (Samoa); Mary Fidelis Mnyany, Karyn Michel Alipo Mwandamilla (Tanzania); Thomas Anthony Paine (Australia); Hazel Elizabeth Salter (Britain); Penelope Ann Tilbury (Britain); Swaroopa Unni (India); Siddharth Makkuni Puthiyavalappil (India); Saras Wati (Fiji); Treeson Joseph (India); Ellena Mei-En Khoo (Ireland/US); Hangil Kim (Korea); Rajinder Kumar, Mrs Preeti Nagpal, Tanish Grover (India); Mark Stephen Lambert (Australia/Britain); Asadullah Omidwar, Leila Rezae, Samera Omidwar, Saeed Omidwar, Fatima Omidwar (Afghanistan); Patrick Pereira (Samoa); Barjinder Singh (India); Jane Anne Catherine Wilcox, Stephen Russell Wilkes (Britain); Jing Yang (China); Lars Alexander Humblestone (Britain); Daniel Kastelic, Alenka Abazovic (Slovenia); Martin James Corbett, Joseph Alexander (Britain); Ilze Carin Livesey, Kevin Malcolm Livesey, Lareina Livesey (South Africa); Laura Russell (Britain); Tobias Bartholomew Smrekar (United States); Michael Lynn Stitely, Beth Anne Stitely, Kelly Nicole Stitely, Kevin Carson Stitely, Adam Michael Stitely (United States); Yeongsook Yoo (Korea); Erin Rachel Milner (Britain); Shingirai Chiruka, Gillian Rufaro Musuka, Nigel Thando Chiruka, Thandie Jessica Chiruka, Tanya Alicia Grace Churuka (Zimbabwe).

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