The annual quiz competition organized by the General Knowledge Club of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 returned
physically after a period of four years on last Friday, 20th January 2023. It was held at the Bonjean Hall of St.
Joseph’s College, Colombo with more than 40 prestigious schools from all across the island competing for the first
time. As the chief guest, former DIG of Sri lanka police, Mr. Chris Obeysekara who is an old boy of St. Joseph’s, graced
the occasion. The theme for the evening was “A throwback to the 80s”, and it was conducted in an elegant and classy
fashion. The quiz had a total of six rounds with all teams competing including a special round out of which the highest
ranking duo were chosen to go head to head in the final championship quiz rounds. Each of the six rounds were hotly
contested and the top two teams were uncertain till the overall points were summed up. Richmond College, Galle
came out on top with a comfortable lead at the end of the six rounds while Royal College, Colombo were second.
Adding to the drama of the evening, Royalists managed to turn the tide around in the championship rounds and made
a late but impressive comeback and secured the plaque as the champions of Blue & White ’22. The second and third
places on the podium were taken up by Galle with Richmond College, Galle as runners-up and Mahinda College, Galle
at third.
-Isira Rodrigo

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Leading couturier Indi Yapa Abeywardena is set to take over the runway in style, bringing together a celebration of fashion, design, diversity, history, and culture. ‘Aarya by Indi’ is an upcoming Spring and Summer 2023 fashion show that will take place on 18 November 2022 at the Colombo Town Hall Building. The collection was named Aarya after Indi’s niece, with the historical significance behind the word being a reference to goddesses Parvati and Durga, and translating to the noble lady. 

At the exclusive media announcement of Arya by Indi at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Indi announced: “The show will be an amalgamation of storytelling, textiles, and history. The Aarya collection embodies a sense of heritage and is heavily inspired by the ancient paintings and architecture of Sri Lanka. I would describe it as a translation of the past to the present.”

The Aarya collection is set to feature hand-drawn prints, powerful statement pieces, inclusive outfits, and meticulously handcrafted textures that the brand Indi is known for. The collection has over 50 styles, ranging from bridal and ethnic wear to western wear like dresses, gowns, jumpsuits, blouses, and sarees. Focusing on sustainability, the collection consists of detachable pieces and silhouettes designed to be deconstructed and worn as separates, prolonging the lifespan of these garments. 

As the designer, Indi is honoured and excited to put together a fashion show of this grandeur through her brand House of Indi to showcase her couture collection single-handedly. The entire fashion show comprises Indi’s designs alone – she has worked tirelessly to organise this event and promises to deliver through her designs. 

Indi explained her inspiration for the Aarya collection: “Fashion has witnessed a massive transition, from embracing cultures to empowering traditions. Inspiration is everywhere – in nature, architecture, people going about their lives, a piece of art, an intricately decorated home, and my travels across our country.” 

The Aarya by Indi fashion show has also incorporated futuristic elements through special performances by talented local artists. As an entrepreneur, Indi always strives to empower the younger generation, especially women, by supporting them with the aim of transforming them into stronger individuals. She uses her skills as an entrepreneur to advocate for higher causes through her passion for art, history, and social justice. In doing so, she redefined what being a designer could represent, inspiring a wave of young and emerging designers to use fashion as a means of sparkling cultural change. 

Indi also emphasised the importance of putting Sri Lanka on the global map as a design destination and fashion hub to promote local artisans, craftsmen, and products, enabling them to attract international buyers. Indi expressed her immense gratitude to everyone who has been and continues to be a pillar of support behind the success of her celebrating a decade in fashion. 

Christell Skin Clinic, the foremost cosmetology clinic in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, headed by two of Sri Lanka’s leading cosmetology experts, Prof. Ramani Arsecularatne and Dr. Shanika Arsecularatne, is one of the main sponsors of the event. Chariot Bakery and Restaurant, a longstanding and beloved brand in Sri Lanka, is the official food partner.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo and Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo have joined as the official hospitality partner. Cinnamon Hotels represents a chain of modernity, vibrance, inspiring hospitality, and is committed to going the extra mile to satisfy customers. 

Aroma Bliss Ceylon is one of the sponsors of the show. They specialize in creating innovative, natural skin and hair care products. Aroma Bliss combines premium-grade natural extracts with innovative research to create natural and luxury skincare products. Sri Lankan Airlines is the proud official airline partner. They are our National Carrier and award-winning airline with a reputation for service, comfort, safety, reliability, and punctuality.

Brian Kerkoven Academy is the model agency. The Make-Up will be done by a team of top Certified Professionals in the industry. Capello Salons are the official Hair Partner, Beyond Destiny is on board as the photography partner, Nierra Shoes is the footwear partner, the official jewellery partner is Gitano Collection and Lè Floristè will be supplying the florals. Concierge services are to be provided by Wine World. Haut Monde Event Management is the official event and PR partner. 

About Indi 

Renowned designer and entrepreneur Indeevari Yapa Abeywardena; well known as Indi. She has claimed years of experience in the world of fashion and designs both locally and internationally. House of Indi Pvt Ltd was established in 2010. Celebrating a decade of design, today the name ‘Indi’ is synonymous with fashion. From INDI couture wear, IYA Bride, iBRIDE Bridal Lounge, WH, Indi Bindi, and INDI DIVA. Through her decade of eponymous labels, Indi has revived traditional Sri Lankan crafts and embroideries, giving small-scale artisans and craftsmen a platform. Trailblazing in the fashion arena, Indi and her brand has bagged many awards throughout the years. Indi has established her brand as a paragon of extravagance. 

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SRI LANKA’ S LATEST COMMUNITY KITCHEN CONCEPT 

By Amana Ifthikar Fawaz

One’s kitchen could be best known as the Hearth of a home. A lot of our hearths have been disoriented due to various factors of the crisis striking our homes. This is the sole purpose of why Chef Duminda and his team initiated “ගමේ මුළුතැන්ගෙයි” letting Sri Lankan have a taste of what it feels like to have a Community kitchen amongst us. 

The Community kitchen concept is something the locals haven’t  heard of much and therefore needed a lot of exposure to it. At a dire time as such initiating something like this brought about a lot of negative comments without a doubt. Yet the sheer determination and perseverance of the team is what has got ගමේ මුළුතැන්ගෙයි to where it stands today. We spoke to Chef Duminda,  rather the backbone of this project about how it all began. Here’s how the chat went down: 

Firstly Chef Duminda,  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into food making ? 

I am professionally a chef .I have worked in Italy and Australia on this concept of community kitchen.

Who and what made you initiate the idea of organizing the Community Kitchen “ගමේ මුළුතැන්ගෙයි”?

 Today the present situation in the country has led me to start this project.  We have created this for the low income earners in the country and I have seen in other countries they have created such projects for their low income earners so I thought it will be beneficial for  our people if we create this project.

How has the response to your idea been, what has been the best feeling about initiating this project?

The main perspective of this is to give a meal to all the low income earning families. And this is a new project we all should lend our hands to make this project successful. I’m glad to do projects of this kind at a time like this.

What has been the most stressful thing about it? 

 This is actually a hard process to create inside a village . It is hard for us to gather all people for this event in a village because of the political aspects they are having. They still fight for their political parties and try to pull down the people who encourage or try to help them .

How can the general public extend support to this project? 

For now we don’t have a huge support from the General Public because this concept is still something new to the people and they don’t have a proper idea about this concept.

Whom does one who wishes to volunteer contact? 

Yes ,all the volunteers can join this through Sri community development foundation

Does the community kitchen only cater to a particular group of people? 

Yes , we Carter to the low income families in villages and for the people who starve with no meals during this time of crisis. We get help from GA and AGA who are in those areas.

What kind of Donations are welcome for the project? 

we don’t expect money and do not want volunteers who give money we highly appreciate if they can give or lend us some dry rations and ones who are interested in this can contact the main office in Mathugama by contacting them to the number given.

Sri Community Development Foundation 

+94 77 735 2504

Here’s all of us at Chokolaate wishing the Team at Sri Community Development Foundation with all the success they deserve for initiating such an amazing project by feeding the hungry. 

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By Aakil Riyaz

Ayoob Aboosalih is a budding fitness coach making waves in the local fitness industry. Fondly known as ‘Coach Ayoob’ this 23 year old software engineer is a  unique meld of brain and brawn, and is an epitome of hard work and perseverance. 

This week we caught up with him to get a sneak peek into his life as a fitness coach. 

What got you into fitness in the first place?  

‘I started working out way back in 2016, simply because my classmates decided to  join the gym and I promptly followed suit. Despite going through a number of pitfalls  and setbacks over the years, I’ve successfully managed to complete 2 1/2 years as a  coach in the fitness industry, with a number of clients and corresponding results to  account for it.’

How have you managed to educate fitness enthusiasts on the benefits of  fitness, through your social media pages?  

‘With every single post I put out, I try to put out something that offers some form of  value addition to my followers, no matter how small it might be. Considering people  having short attentions spans with social media, I still believe that there are enough  & more people who want quality content. Which is why I haven’t given up on writing  fitness related content. Apart from this, I’m working on simplifying my content in a  manner that resonates with anyone, irrespective of their levels of fitness related  knowledge.’

What setbacks have you had to face over the course of your fitness journey?  

‘To be honest, I have had my fair share of setbacks both while working on my own  fitness and climbing up the ladder within the industry, but the most recent and taxing  one was an injury I suffered to my shoulder in December 2020. It gradually worsened  during a span of 6 months and I finally managed to make a complete recovery  around March this year. It was an excruciating 16 months of rehabilitation and  training, so in all honesty I’d say that I sure learnt my lesson!’

Do you believe that everyone needs to incorporate a fitness routine into their  lives?  

‘The short answer? Yes, and you don’t necessarily need to lift weights or get into the  gym per se, but you’ve got to find something you enjoy and stick to it in the long run.  And there are a lot of people who would enjoy the gym if they gave it a chance. In  the sense that if they stuck to it for more than 3 months. As far as I’m concerned, it’s  about holding onto that delayed gratification and putting in the work for months on  end, with no visible gain in return. Some might even lose confidence during that 

period, but afterwards you start seeing the fruits of your labor which is truly  gratifying.  

There’s something you would always find somewhat enjoyable, so I’d say go out  there and find what it is, you could even do it for the rest of your life depending on  how comfortable you are with it.’  

Having competed in a powerlifting tournament recently, what was the feeling  like leading to the competition?  

‘During the days leading to the tournament, it was mentally taxing and trying to keep  my head in the right place while consistently pushing away any negative thoughts  wasn’t an easy task. The feelings were simply overwhelming to express because  even though you’re in the right place physically, you feel like breaking down at any  moment. The only thought running through my head at the time was that, I’d never  be competing in this again, but having finished my lifts I was bubbling with euphoria  & thinking that I’d definitely do this all over again.’ 

Do you believe that novices need to hire a coach?  

‘Not necessarily, even professionals hire a coach. I have a coach and my coach has  his coach too. The main reason for the two of us having our own coaches is that,  we’ve done it on our own before and we understand the massive value addition in  having our own coaches. The best analogy I can give you is, me coming back from  an injury. Once I got to a decent level where I could start lifting weights again, I  programmed a month for myself & as the weeks flew past, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t pushing myself enough. Straight afterwards I began training with my  coach, Dhanushka Kodikara and I was putting in the effort to get myself out of the pit  I had fallen into. So, in all sincerity, everyone needs a coach, not just novices.’ 

What changes do you hope to make in the local fitness industry?  

‘Like I mentioned before, I’m big on educating people and my main goal with any  person that trains with me is for them to be able to handle themselves to a certain  extent, without me. I’ve also thought of a more futuristic and accessible approach  where I would be able to coach and hold workshops for large groups of people. So,  for me it’s all about levelling up the standard of the fitness industry, not only Sri  Lanka but the industry as a whole worldwide.’  

What advice would you like to give anyone willing to embark on their fitness  journey?  

‘You’re probably going to suck at it when you first start, which is completely normal.  Everybody struggles with it at the beginning, from the bad form to the slow progress.  If you’re anxious about getting into the gym, the best way to relieve yourself of that  anxiety is to keep getting into the gym continuously. Being a fitness coach, myself doesn’t mean that I’m impervious to all the problems above and believe me I have a  number of experiences to relate to these. Take it one day at a time and be extremely  happy with yourself after getting your workout done.  In conclusion, always have a performance-based goal that goes well and beyond the  mirror, one that makes you push past your boundaries.’

Aakil Riyaz is a 22 year old writer reading for a BSC in International Relations at the University of London. He is an outdoorsy person and is always seconds away from jumping into some form of physical activity. Between his studies, Rotaract & work, he manages to make time to write on all the topics he loves.

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By Afra Laffar

On Friday, the 15th of July 2022, at approximately 9:25 am, the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament announced the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapakse. The former president who was voted in by a whopping 6.9 million votes in 2019 as the 7th executive president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was the country’s first president to be forced to resign from this position before the end of his five-year term. His period of rule which was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic followed by an unprecedented economic crisis as a result of poor decision-making and mismanagement by the government, caused much anger and frustration among citizens who were severely affected by daily power outages, shortages in fuel and other essentials and soaring inflation. Anti-government protests that had been continuing since early April 2022, had forced out the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and his cabinet of ministers and there were calls for an all-party interim government in parliament. However, opposition parties refused to work under a failed president who had lost the trust and confidence of the people. Although changes were made to senior government positions, the country’s foreign reserves dwindled over the months; the island nation that was hanging by a thread, surviving on financial assistance granted by foreign nations, came to a grinding halt as the government was unable to secure payment for fuel. 

People were stranded as vehicles queued up for fuel for days and public transportation services including buses and the rail were unable to continue functioning at maximum capacity. Government offices reduced the number of working days per week as staff were unable to report to work. The anti-government protests were starting to gain momentum once again and a massive protest was scheduled to take place on the 9th of July with the support of major political parties, unions and other groups of professionals. This was the endgame; only the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapakse could resolve this prolonged political crisis. Various attempts made by the police and other government officials to stall the people’s protest were not successful and on the 9th of July 2022, a record number of protesters from all parts of the island representing different segments of society, flocked to the President’s official residence in Colombo, demanding his resignation. 

Despite tear gas and water cannon attacks by security forces, the protesters broke down barricades and stormed into the official residence and the presidential secretariat in their numbers. President Gotabaya’s whereabouts were unknown, as protesters partied in the presidential mansion, lounging on furniture, wrestling on his bed and even enjoying a dip in his pool as the police and armed forces looked on. By the eve of July 9, the president had agreed to step down on the 13th of July and ensure a peaceful transition of power. However, the much-awaited letter of resignation was not tendered on the 13th, as promised. The embattled president who had fled to the Maldives on an air force jet, had no intention of resigning from his position until he was able to secure safe passage to Singapore. In order to quell unrest and dissatisfaction among the citizens, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe who was appointed as the acting president in the absence of President Rajapakse, declared a nationwide state of emergency. The political instability was threatening to further delay the country’s economic recovery. Nevertheless, after much delay, President Gotabaya Rajapakse officially submitted his letter of resignation via email, informing the Speaker of Parliament that he was resigning with immediate effect. 

What Next?

On the 20th of July 2022, Ranil Wickremasinghe was elected president by the Sri Lankan Parliament with 134 out of the 219 valid votes cast in his favor. In his first address to Parliament, the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka called upon all political parties including members of the opposition to support him with the monumental task of steering Sri Lanka through its worst economic crisis since independence from British colonial rule. An ideal scenario would be the formation of an all-party interim government to work towards economic recovery. The success of an all-party government consisting of members with contradicting views and policies remains to be seen. Nevertheless, as the country is in urgent and dire need of immediate political stability and competent leadership to avoid an impending catastrophe, the option of holding fresh elections to vote in a new parliament may not be the wisest move at present. 

Economic experts have warned that corrective measures and serious decisions must be taken urgently in order to ensure that Sri Lanka’s economy falls back on track by the year 2024, the earliest. The next couple of months will be crucial, as Sri Lanka aims to secure a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Talks with the IMF began in April this year and the country is expected to reach a preliminary agreement with the IMF by late July. Financial assistance by the IMF and the World Bank will be accompanied with strict conditions. The implementation of austerity measures is expected to severely affect low-income earners and the middle-class. Moreover, since years of corruption contributed to the country’s downward spiral, Sri Lanka will have to introduce sound fiscal policies and effective anti-corruption measures to win back the trust of foreign nations and entities. There can be no easy way to revive a broken economy; Sri Lanka may have achieved accountability in ensuring the resignation of those responsible for the country’s dramatic collapse, however, the road to economic recovery will be a long and arduous one.

Afra Laffar is a practicing Attorney-at-Law and an avid reader. A lawyer by day and a writer and by night, she primarily focuses on current affairs, features and the occasional review.

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Third Year Running! Deakin University, Australia, in partnership with the Royal Institute of Colombo, successfully concludes the Young Environmentalists’ Challenge (YEC) 2022.

A talented team, “Fission Impossible”, from Bishop’s College, Colombo, have emerged triumphant in an international environmental competition for high school students- Deakin University’s Young Environmentalists’ Challenge (YEC). The formidable team, consisting of A-Levels students Mehara Jayasinghe, Visha Peiris, Aniqah Irshad Cassim and Amashki Samarasinghe, mentored by their teacher-in-charge, Mrs. Anushka Kavirathne, developed their winning environmental solution, a portable and cost-effective water filter. The filter sets itself apart from other commercially available filters in Sri Lanka, by specifically removing agrochemicals and other nitrates. The Bishop’s College team competed with eight other finalist school teams from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, the finalist teams all emerging from challenging initial rounds of the competition, spanning near six months. All the finalist teams impressed the Deakin and RIC academic judging panel with their innovations, including their thorough background research, engineering design, meticulous data collection, the teams’ outstanding presentation skills, as well as their high-level scientific understanding of the issues at hand. 

The YEC, an initiative of Deakin University Australia’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), has successfully concluded its third year this 2022. The YEC is conducted in Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC). RIC is Deakin’s only licensed partner in Sri Lanka for Environmental Engineering, as well as Environmental Science degree pathways to Deakin in Australia- both these fields being promising careers of the future, seeing steady, significant growth, globally. 

The YEC aims to inculcate a passion for the environment and sustainability in high-school students, by offering an opportunity for students to become change agents for their local communities, and consequently, for their country. As such, the YEC provides a platform for Sri Lankan high school students to display their creativity and innovation by designing and building their original solutions to combat Sri Lanka’s growing environmental challenges. 

The climate change crisis has been highlighted in recent times by world leaders and young students alike, all with the commitment to make positive change for the betterment of the planet. In 2018, Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, then aged only 8 years, heralded in a new movement for school children to be advocates of their environment; Greta initiated the movement, “Fridays for Future” (also called “School Strike for Climate”). Driven by her love of nature, Greta inspired hundreds of thousands of students from all around the world to participate in their own “Fridays for Future”, in countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands.

In 2020, in the grip of the global pandemic, revered natural historian, Sir David Attenborough, warned world leaders over an impending environmental crisis. To inspire and incentivise, Sir Attenborough and Prince William of Great Britain have together launched the “Earthshot Prize”, the inaugural event being held in 2021. The Earthshot Prize will award GBP £50 million over a period of ten years to 50 solutions to the world’s most serious environmental problems. This, being the most significant environmental prize to date, certainly could be viewed akin to a “Nobel Prize for environmentalism”. 

What is becoming more and more evident, is that no matter which side of the climate change debate the adults are on- whether champions of the environment like Sir Attenborough, or conveniently ignorant of the growing issues, it is up to young people, the future “Gretas of this generation”, to emerge as crusaders of the future. With what is now known as “the Greta Effect”, it is in this apt setting that school children in Sri Lanka too, now can inspire and impact their peers and wider society to becoming advocates and change-makers of their futures.

YEC 2022 saw participation from school teams all over Sri Lanka, despite very challenging times for the nation. Deakin University is deeply grateful to the participating schools, the Principals, students and their teacher mentors, for their tremendous effort and contribution, enabling the YEC to reach new heights, year upon year.

Students interested in participating in the next Young Environmentalists’ Challenge 2023, may reach out to Deakin University’s Sri Lanka country office: srilanka@deakin.edu.au, for more information.

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By Amana Iflal

For this issue of College Life, we sat down with Amanya Jagodaarachchi, a vibrant 24-year-old who is currently working as a junior doctor in Sydney. She’s a past pupil of Lyceum International School and at the age of 17 moved to Malaysia to complete her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. In 2021, she graduated from the Western Sydney University, Australia. When asked about how she likes to spend her time, she replied saying that she loves to check cafes out! She considers herself to be a big foodie and loves to travel, shop, and spend time with family and friends. 

Excerpts of our conversation as follows:

1. What are the expected results to get into the International Medical University Malaysia and what were your results? 

The entry requirements at the time I was applying to International Medical University Malaysia (IMU) were a minimum of one A pass and two B passes in A/Ls, and 7As for O/Ls, along with doing IELTS and passing an interview.

2. How did it feel like to leave your family and country at the age of 17 to study abroad? 

It was a rollercoaster of emotions at the time. I was excited to live with my friends and have the freedom to try out new things. I was also excited to learn about medicine. On the other hand, I was definitely thinking about how much I’d miss my family, friends, and home-cooked food! 

I did have moments where I felt homesick, and when I first moved to Malaysia I didn’t know how to cook anything except scrambled eggs! Fortunately, Malaysia is only 3.5 hours away from Sri Lanka so I would frequently fly back home. My parents would also come visit me regularly so that helped with the homesickness. Luckily, I also had some amazing friends who became family, and since I was also occupied with university and studying I eventually got used to it. Overall, I had a really great experience; I believe living away from home helped me learn so many new things that I never would have if I didn’t, in particular learning how to balance my chores and studies. 

3. Did you do any extracurriculars? If so, did that affect your application (and later acceptance) into the university? 

While I was schooling I did a few extra-curricular activities and I was a senior prefect. I took part in lambda, Toastmasters, and also swimming while I was younger.

Personally, I do believe that taking part in extracurricular activities helped with my university application! While I was at IMU, I was an event manager and secretary for various clubs, and I took part in charity work. I made it a point to take part in activities while at IMU as we were told that doing extracurriculars would help us get a spot in the university we would want to transfer to as well! 

4. Tell us about the transfer from the International Medical University Malaysia to the Western Sydney University School of Medicine? 

The transfer process was not very complicated. The main aspects were that we had to pass all our IMU exams and do IELTS once again and get a minimum of 7.0 for each band. However, the process works as a ranking system, where we would rank our University preferences and the universities would rank us accordingly. My first preference was Western Sydney University (WSU) because I wanted to move to Australia to complete my degree. 

There are only limited spots in each University. So ideally having a good GPA and extracurriculars would help you stand out and get a higher ranking by the University. 

5. What advice do you have for kids who are planning on going abroad to study? 

Don’t stress, you’ll have an amazing time! University is a wonderful experience and honestly, you’ll get to experience different cultures, meet people from all around the world and make friends for life! It was one of the most exciting times of my life. There are definitely ups and downs, but of course that’s just how life is. I made it a point to call home every single day to update my family cause I personally didn’t feel complete if I didn’t do so. Just make sure to surround yourself with a great circle of friends and not forget what you came abroad for, which is to get that degree! 

6. How is the student life in both universities? 

Overall, I’ve had a great experience in both universities. I’d have to say the most fun year was probably my first year because that was the most happening and most exciting. There was definitely a lot of studying involved as well. 

Since I did my first two years in Malaysia, it was mainly theory and clinical skills where we would learn medicine based on each human system such as cardiology, neurology, etc. We would have exams every six weeks after each system and two more major exams at the end of the year. Additionally, we would also have labs, problem-based learning sessions (PBLs) and clinical skills where we would practice skills we would need in hospital. 

We had an exam called OSCE each year where we would be tested on our clinical skills as well. We did have a few clinical and hospital visits during those two years too. One interesting visit was staying in a rural town in Malaysia for an entire month! 

However, when I moved to Australia, for the next three years, we were based in hospitals learning in the wards and from doctors 90% of the time. There were a few weeks of lectures included as well. Most of the learning after transferring to WSU was self-learning and clinic-based so we were expected to resource medical notes online and in textbooks. 

I also had the opportunity to work as an assistant in medicine during my final year of university. This was where some of us were selected and recruited to work in hospitals due to COVID-19. This was definitely a great learning experience and it definitely prepared me to start working as a doctor the following year! 

7. As a medical student, and now a junior doctor, what are some tips and tricks that you could give aspiring healthcare workers? 

I would definitely say time management; also, having good peers around you is super important while studying in university. Keep up to date with your studies and don’t procrastinate – at least try not to! Working in healthcare is a very rewarding experience, but it’s not always exciting as Grays Anatomy makes it out to be. However, seeing a positive impact on a patient can make your entire day. You will also learn as you go and you will be constantly learning even 10 years from now. There might, of course, be moments where you feel overwhelmed or experience imposter syndrome, but these feelings are normal. I would always recommend you have a life outside of medicine and enjoy little things such as spending time with your loved ones whenever you get the chance.

8. As a junior doctor, what is your opinion on overstimulation of STEM careers compared to other career pathways, especially in Sri Lanka? 

There’s nothing wrong with choosing a career pathway apart from being a doctor, lawyer, or an engineer. There are so many opportunities in the world today. Besides, if you’re talented and you have the skills to do what it takes, go for it! Always do what you love and believe in yourself, that will take you a long way!

9. If you could go back in time and change anything about your student journey, what would it be? 

I wouldn’t change a single thing! I’m really glad I chose the path that I did. Especially starting off in Malaysia and moving to Australia, which I initially did because I needed a guardian if I was going to study in Australia under the age of 18. Regardless, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made and I am really grateful to have such an amazing family who supported me through my journey and have been there for me.

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How the #GoHomeGota movement was fueled through tech

Tech talk – By Paramie Jayakody

(Photos: Kris Thomas)

Two years ago, COVID-19, first a pandemic, evolved into an infodemic with the involvement of technology. Likewise, this year, we see a series of protests become one big movement with technology at the heart of it all. 

Be it downloading a VPN to avoid those pesky social media bans, joining groups on Whatsapp or Telegram to coordinate supplies to protest sites, tweeting about police and military movement, or scrolling through Instagram to find protest schedules, technology is present in every nook and cranny of the massive wave of protests that has gripped our island nation. 

For journalist Kris Thomas, social media apps have become a quick and easy method to stay updated on the movement. This includes messaging apps as well. “The sheer number of Facebook lives that happen at GGG is incredible,” he said. 

Kris believes that technology plays a pivotal role in the protests, especially when it comes to recording and archiving the events that transpire. “The advent of technology and the access to it has made this one of the most documented people’s struggles in modern Sri Lankan history,” he noted, adding that technology has played a key role in the people’s mobilization as well, making communication more efficient. Therefore, it has become easier for people to muster both numbers and essentials required at the protest sites. 

In particular, Kris drew attention towards the solar panel system and the 24/7 charging station built at GGG. “This is rudimentary public infrastructure even local authorities could not provide,” he explained.  

The charging station is the main reason communication – from the site and the protestors who stay overnight – is as frequent as it is. “It would have been completely different in a different time period,” Kris added. 

For Senuri Jayasinghe, who lives in Nuwara Eliya and away from the hubbub in Colombo, social media is her main medium to stay updated and show her support. “I spend most of my time on Instagram,” she told me, adding, “I follow a number of people who constantly post updates. In addition, I also use Facebook a lot, and a combination of a number of online news channels to stay updated.” 

While she’s unable to always visit the protest sites, Senuri shows her support by sharing lists of essentials needed at the sites, keeping her followers updated on important news, and hashtagging as often as possible. 

This is a stark contrast to anything that has happened before. “We had a 30-year-long civil war in Sri Lanka, and yet we were not as informed as much [on that]. Due to technology’s development, it now plays a vital part in the GoHomeGota movement,” she said, adding, “Even in terms of keeping everyone informed, through technology we can keep not just the local community but the international community as well updated on what’s happening. Even asking for donations and fundraising has been easier with technology. In particular, technology is helpful in countering fake news as well.”

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Fake news is the downside of such an extensive technological involvement. “There were instances where photos from the protests were used in direct disinformation tactics. An example would be when there were photos of the first tents that were set up at GGG, the rumors of condoms being found at the site spread on social media. This was to discredit the movement initially, and was not the only instance of such disinformation either,” Kris pointed out. 

Senuri noted that fake news wasn’t limited to within Sri Lanka either. “There’s a tendency for false narratives to go out to the international media,” she said, noting that many international media outlets falsely portrayed the peaceful protests as ‘violent’. “Thanks to technology, we have been able to make efforts to reach those journalists [from foreign media] and also mitigate the damage by putting out our own narratives,” she added. 

However, if not for technology, this movement would have had a very bleak ending, Senuri opined. “Similar to the 30-year war, certain information would have been suppressed, and a doctored narrative would have been put out to the public.” The presence of technology has prevented yet another bloody event from occurring.

Technology can be a powerful weapon, and in Sri Lanka’s case, one the protestors have wielded with devastating efficiency. Indeed, one must only look at the authorities’ efforts to first impose a social media ban and then to install signal jammers at protest sites, to know just how big of a threat technology is. 

From coordinating the masses to stand against injustice, to spreading awareness and exposing carefully-crafted webs of lies that have been in place for decades, the people’s power is now stronger than ever. 

“I think technology and its involvement has its advantages and disadvantages. But here in this movement, it has resulted in more good than bad,” Kris concluded. 

The post The Technology of Revolutions How the #GoHomeGota movement was fueled through tech! appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Local sports

By Radha Wimalawansa

Ravindu ups his game at the Bangamata Squash world-rankings tournament 

Ravindu Laksiri, the national squash champion for nine consecutive years, took part in the Bangamata International PSA Tournament held at Bangladesh in March 2022. PSA tournaments enable squash players to up their points and subsequently qualify for international tournaments. The Bangamata Tournament was Ravindu’s very first game played for world rankings, and he emerged victorious, winning the fifth place. This young athlete is a past pupil of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo 07. He’s currently pursuing his higher studies in Human Resources at CIPM while working as an HR Executive at Brandix. 

We at Chokolaate had the chance to sit down with Ravindu for a chat. Excerpts of our interview follows: 

Hi Ravindu! How was the experience at your very first world-rankings tournament?

It was one of a kind. I’ve never played at a world-ranking tournament before. I am very happy to have won fifth place in my first PSA tournament. 

How was the competition at Bangamata?

I played in this competition as an unranked player, but in the first match, I was able to beat the No. 13 seed player in 3-0 sets and then the No. 8 seed player in 3-2 sets. The No. 13 seed player was from India and the No. 8 seed player was from Pakistan. 

What’s your current world ranking?

I’m now the 420th in the world. I went from 654th to 420th. It was a step up of 234 places.

Could you tell us about your national ranking?

I am currently Sri Lanka’s national squash champion. I’ve been able to set a record for being the champion for nine consecutive years from 2013 to 2021. I was also the national junior champion for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014.

What are some of your past achievements?

I’ve taken part in several international games. In the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, I was placed 17th.  In 2016, I won the bronze medal for the men’s team event at the South Asian Games in India, and in 2019, I won the bronze again in the same category in Nepal. I’ve also won the men’s plate event at the 18th Asian Individual Squash Championship, and became the 5th in the Second Asian Youth Games in China.

When did you start playing squash?

I started squash in 2004. My brother was the first to start playing. I grew up watching him play. Initially, I played both badminton and squash for about two years, then I selected squash because I wanted to work on just one sport.

What do you think about squash in Sri Lanka?

It’s not the most popular in Sri Lanka; squash is still progressing as a sport here. There have been a lot of talented squash players, but they didn’t really have the opportunities to go to the international arena. However, there’s a difference now. I see doors opening gradually. I want to make it to the international tournaments, which will help the juniors after me reach that milestone as well. 

Who’s your favourite squash player?

Mohamed Elshorbagy. He is currently the 3rd in the world.  He was ranked world’s No. 1 in 2014. 

I like him because of his skills, discipline, and commitment. 

How’s training these days?

I’m currently training for several international games. I have the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian Senior Team Championship and four world-ranking tournaments coming up. 

What challenges have you faced as a sportsman?

The biggest challenge is the lack of exposure to international games and training opportunities. We also lack proper infrastructure and facilities. The Sri Lanka Squash Federation and Brandix are currently making a huge contribution towards improving this situation. 

What do you look forward to in the future?

I’d like to become one of the top 50 players in terms of world rankings, and I am also hoping to win medals at the Commonwealth and Asian games. I’m thankful to all the people who’ve supported me so far – my parents, coaches, Brandix, the SSC Sports Club, and the Sri Lanka Squash Federation. With their help in future, I am hoping to achieve more. 

The post Local Sports – Ravindu Laksiri, the national squash champion! appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.