When I first entered university, I only had one simple thought in my mind: I wanted to be involved in something beyond academics. During my school years, I hadn’t actively taken part in many extracurricular activities, and university felt like a fresh start. I didn’t know exactly why, but Rotaract caught my attention, and I decided to join.

The 15th Installation Organizing Committee was my very first Rotaract project, and it opened a completely new world to me. From joining fundraising activities on the very first day with people I barely knew to exploring places beyond my usual routine, it gave me experiences I had never imagined before. Quite funnily, even though I had lived in Colombo my whole life, Rotaract made me discover parts of the city I had never been to before. Through this project, I not only learned to be more independent and confident, but I also found genuine friendships and created some of the happiest and most memorable moments of my Rotaract journey. Looking back, it was not just a project but the beginning of an incredible journey.

After completing the 15th Installation, I wanted to continue being part of Rotaract and experience more. That is when I applied for Christinzel’24, and I was happy to once again work with an amazing team. I served as an Event Coordinator, and through this project I gained more experience and had the opportunity to work with new people. It was another meaningful experience for me, where I learned more and also met many new friends along the way.

After experiencing several Rotaract projects, I didn’t want to miss any opportunity as it had become my comfort zone for growth. With that mindset, I applied for Rota Wasantha Udanaya 2025 and served as its Co-Chair, which became the turning point of my journey. Through this role, I learned to lead people, face challenges, and manage responsibilities, while also discovering my own potential and realizing I am capable of much more than I had ever believed.

The memories created throughout this project are unforgettable, late-night decorations, endless meetings, constant discussions, and countless calls that seemed never-ending. Moments like Isurika and Madhawa ayya’s endless calls, Ranjula’s “plain tea”, and even being the “annoying Co-Chair” for all PR coordinators (with a sincere apology to them) are memories I will always smile about.A special appreciation goes to Hiumie, who has been there since my early Rotaract days, always listening to my stress talks during the most overwhelming moments, basically my unofficial therapist.

My parents were a constant support throughout this journey. During the busiest days of Rota Wasantha Udanaya, especially during late-night decoration work that often continued until around 2–3 a.m., they would still come to pick me up from university every single day, even though we live far away.

I would also like to sincerely thank all three directors at that time for giving me the opportunity to be part of the Organizing Committee and trusting me with responsibilities that helped shape my Rotaract journey.

I was also part of the RT 5.0 project, Labadi. After being involved in several projects, I thought of taking a break from Rotaract and never really imagined myself applying for a board position. I even applied for the board forcefully, just to wrap things up and end my Rotaract journey peacefully. But somehow, that “exit plan” didn’t work out, and I ended up becoming a director anyway.

After becoming a director, we organized the 16th Installation, Christinzel’25, Rota Wasantha Udanaya 2026, and Kelani Handawa 2026. Throughout this journey, we were able to elevate each project to a new level and work with an incredible team of people. All these projects were successfully concluded, and our final project, Kelani Handawa, became one of the most unforgettable experiences of my university life — a perfect ending to my Rotaract journey.

Special appreciation goes to the entire Club Service team for the effort, sleepless nights, and commitment behind every project. My sincere thanks to amazing co-directors for their constant support throughout this journey.

A heartfelt thanks to our incredible Board of Directors. We started as strangers, but now we have become like a family. I also cannot forget the unforgettable leadership camp at Kitulgala, where I discovered a side of myself, I never knew existed, especially during water rafting, something I never imagined I would be brave enough to do.

I also met a partner in crime, Nimthara, for late-night travels back home, someone who never went on Rotaract trips without me, kept all secrets, survived my “just five minutes” promises that always turned into hours, and shared countless “no one else knows” gossip moments.

Along the way, I also had the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the “Signs of Sparkles” project in Rota Tomorrow 6.0. A big thank you to Team 01 for your hard work and dedication in making that project a success. There were ups and downs throughout this journey, but special thanks to my team leaders for their dedication and commitment in overcoming every challenge together.

As I come to the end of my Rotaract journey, I realize this was never just an extracurricular activity. It became one of the most beautiful and meaningful parts of my university life.

Signing off with love,
Viva la Rotaract.