Sahani’s Blog

But, the Sri Lankan dream is to leave… 

 “Doesn’t the heat bother you?” “But it’s so dusty here…” “How do you stand the mosquitos?” “It’s so boring compared to the States…”

Just about the only thing that has shocked me since I have come to Sri Lanka is the amount of times I have had to defend my decision to do so. The most common response I have received after explaining “what I’m currently doing with my life” to a variety of people in Sri Lanka has been an immediate bewilderment as to why I would want to come back here. Don’t get me wrong, I have encountered many people who have praised my choice to participate in the program and who have encouraged me to make this new lifestyle more permanent. Additionally, almost everyone views the program itself as beneficial, important, and necessary. Still, I found many people, too many people in my opinion, simply did not see the logic in choosing to live and work in Sri Lanka when I could be back in the US. I found this reaction shocking and saddening because for me the answers to their questions were obvious. Sri Lanka is a fantastic country that I love, I’m invested in its future, and I want to do my part to contribute to its society.

That being said, I’m not blind to Sri Lanka’s shortcomings, biased perhaps, but not blind. A common trait I have noticed is peoples’ ability to disregard logic and make rash statements. For example, I recently met an individual who brazenly asked me how I can stand the ‘ineptitude of the masses’ in Sri Lanka and then proceeded to complain about how her employer was constantly pressuring her to adhere to deadlines. She found this request to be a justifiable reason to quit but did not see how it could possibly contribute to the very wastefulness she was complaining about mere minutes earlier. I’d be lying if I said this type of attitude doesn’t drive me nuts; but people like this can be found anywhere in the world. And sure, it’s hot and dusty and my constantly itchy skin is annoying. But to that I say - turn on a fan, don’t wear white too often, and buy some mosquito repellant. I also just flat out reject the assertion that life in the States is more entertaining than that in Sri Lanka.

After all, where else in the world does a relatively typical evening entail playing cranium with your extended family, clubbing until four in the morning, drive-up dining from Pillawoos and watching the sunrise from the beach in Mount Lavinia? Sri Lanka is home to some of the friendliest people in the world; their faces will light up with a grin at the slightest provocation. Celebrations marking significant holidays for several of the major world religions are openly celebrated on the street, bringing traffic to a halt, but accepted and embraced by all. A sincere testament to what a vibrant and wonderfully varied nation this is.

It is an extremely plentiful land, inundated with a variety of fine products. The soil produces numerous items from high-quality tea to coconuts, rambutan, and grapes, to onions, and karapincha, to cinnamon, rice, and rubber. Beneath the soil lies a plethora of rare and unique semi-precious stones; above it, a range of interesting natural landscapes and amazing man-made structures. The topography ranges from tropical rainforests, to white sand beaches, to stretches of arid desert. This diverse terrain is home to thousands of species of animals, many unique to Sri Lanka. Not to mention the rich sea that surrounds us; providing the country with fresh seafood and international recognition as a surfing destination. This is a country where tourist attractions range from white water rafting to elephant orphanages to spiritual retreats. A land blessed with a plethora of raw assets.
It’s a place where six degrees of separation is generally cut in half because your neighbor’s brother’s friend could be a third of the population. Where grandmas and young boys dance the baila with similar passion. Where there is at least one National holiday a month. And where Abans, one of the largest stores in the country, promotes the T20 cricket series by sponsoring a group of teenagers to paint their faces and dance to papara band music on flat-bed trucks that drive around the city during rush hour. Sri Lanka is certainly a place like no other.

I have been given the incredible opportunity to work on the issue of Women’s empowerment at one of the largest companies in the country, MAS holdings, and the experience has only reinforced my desire to work in Sri Lanka. The garment manufacturing industry is about 90% female and the issues faced by the factory workers are considerable. Forward thinking companies, like MAS, have implemented world-class initiatives to simultaneously improve the productivity and overall lives of their team members. The Women Go Beyond team creates and runs programs that deal with many relevant issues including- gender sensitivity in the workplace (sessions are conducted for both male and female staff), violence against women, sexual and reproductive health, and work-life balance. These programs focus on the needs of the employees while showing how addressing them is beneficial for the company. It is the way corporate social responsibility should be done. Why would I want to come back here? If you don’t know by now, you haven’t been paying attention.

Sahani Anne Chandraratna