I’ve always been a curious person, someone who wants to experience everything at least once. When I entered university, I knew I wanted more than just lectures and exams. I was looking for something beyond academics, something real. But honestly, my Rotaract journey didn’t start with a big plan or a clear goal.
It all started with a sea turtle.
One day, while scrolling through my friend’s WhatsApp status, I came across a flyer about a Sea Turtle Conservation project. That instantly caught my attention. I found myself wondering, what is this project? Will I actually get to see sea turtles? What do they even do there? That curiosity pushed me to dig a little deeper. While searching, I discovered the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya was open for member recruitment. Without overthinking too much, I decided to give it a try.
And just like that, out of pure curiosity, I stepped into something that would later become a big part of my university life.
After joining, I chose the Community Service Avenue and applied for my dream project, Project Swabasamudra. Getting selected as the Project Coordinator for such an incredible initiative was something I never expected, but it quickly became one of the best experiences of my journey. Through it, I built genuine friendships, traveled across the country, and stepped into moments of adventure I never thought I’d experience during university life.
A few months later, during the second quarter of the Rotaract year, Team Leader applications opened. And honestly, as someone who always looks for opportunities, I thought, why not? So I applied, and just like that, I found myself stepping into the role of a Team Leader.
That role came with a whole new level of responsibility. I was given the chance to contribute to one of the signature projects of the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya, Ignite Sri Lanka. This project focused on developing Giribawa village in the Kurunegala District, covering areas such as economic and entrepreneurship development, education, healthcare, agriculture, clean water access, and the empowerment of youth and women.
Looking back, none of this was planned. But that’s the beauty of it. Sometimes, the best parts of life come unexpectedly.
In the end, we successfully completed the project. One of the most memorable moments for me was organizing the final ceremony in the village, where we officially handed over everything we had built. Standing there and seeing the impact we created was a proud and slightly unreal moment. I couldn’t help but smile and think, how did I even end up here?
Beyond Project Swabasamudra and Ignite Sri Lanka, I had the chance to take on different roles in other meaningful projects as well. I worked as the Travel Coordinator for Ekhos of Ceylon and as the Event and Logistics Coordinator for Rotatomorrow 5.0. I can’t leave them out because those experiences shaped me in different ways, especially Ekhos of Ceylon, which gave me some truly unforgettable moments.
As the Rotaract year slowly came to an end, so did my journey as a general member. Then came the big question, what’s next? Do I just stop here and go back to being a “normal” university student?
Yeah… no chance.
Board applications opened, and I knew I wasn’t going to miss that opportunity. So I applied, and this time, I stepped into a completely new chapter as a Co-Director of the Finance Avenue for the 2025/26 RI Year. That experience easily became one of the most memorable parts of my journey.
Working in the Finance Avenue was something different. It came with its own challenges, responsibilities, and learning curves, but it was also incredibly rewarding. With the support of my co-director, the guidance of our Treasurer, and an amazing team of Team Leaders and Organizing Committee members, we were able to successfully carry out Finwave 2.0.
I thought my Rotaract journey would come to an end after Finwave 2.0, but it had one more surprise waiting for me.
While working on Finwave 2.0, I was given the opportunity to step into a new role as a mentor for a project under the RotaTomorrow 6.0 Competition Committee. It wasn’t something I had planned, but then again, most of my journey wasn’t. As someone who never says no to opportunities, I embraced it.
That’s how I became a mentor for Project LeadX, an initiative focused on empowering Sri Lankan undergraduates to lead technological breakthroughs.
Honestly, I can’t summarize that experience in just a few lines.
Project LeadX brought its own set of challenges, responsibilities, and unforgettable moments. It pushed me to think differently, guide others, and grow in ways I never expected. More importantly, it introduced me to some of the most dedicated Team Leaders and incredibly talented Organizing Committee members I’ve had the privilege to work with.
And then comes the hardest part.
The end.
Saying goodbye to Rotaract is not easy. It is one of the most emotional goodbyes of my university life because, somewhere along the way, this journey became more than just projects, roles, or achievements.
It became a part of who I am.
Rotaract transformed my university life. I learned. I grew. I found my people. Together, we created change, sometimes big, sometimes small, but always meaningful.
The Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya is more than just a club. It is a family, a space to discover yourself, a place to lead, to fail, to laugh, and to make a real impact.
As I close this chapter, I carry forward everything it has given me with gratitude.
Viva la Rotaract.
