Bhutanese-Australian, Parsuram Sharma-Luitel, who is based in Melbourne, called on Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, Sunday.
“It was my great privilege to meet our honourable Prime Minister, and thank her government to resettle Bhutanese refugees in Australia,” Luitel told Bhutan News Service.
On behalf of the Bhutanese community, he also presented the national flag, a traditional khada, bangchung (a traditional Bhutanese handicraft), a photo album and a DVD of the recent multicultural festival hosted by Luitel and his colleagues to the Aussie PM.
During a breakfast sitting with the Prime Minister, Luitel was able to directly thank Gillard and the Australian Government for resettling the exiled Bhutanese, and reported on the progress made by the resettled Bhutanese in short span of time of five years.
In response, the Prime Minister is learnt to have thanked the Bhutanese community for the presents.
Gillard also mentioned that her government has made some nation-building long-term policies announcements, which would help all Australians including migrants to be inclusive in the Australian society.
The morning breakfast was organised by Mohammad Masood, and co-hosted and coordinated by Farrukh Hussain, President of South Asian Community Link Group (SACLG) -Australasia Inc, and invited selected community leaders from wide range of communities.
The organizers invited Luitel to represent Bhutanese community and a recent inductee as the Executive Committee Member of SACLG-Australasia, In-charge of Community and Grants Affairs.
Around 80 people attended the special morning sitting with the Prime Minister, informed Luitel.
Other guests included State Member of Parliaments and former ministers, elected councillors from the municipality of Wyndham, Hume, and Whittlesea, multi-faith leaders, People of Australia Ambassadors.
