Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

​The Waseda Hometown Ambassadors column brings together Waseda students from Japan and around the world to introduce their hometowns. This time, Abeyratne, a native of Sri Lanka, will share his experiences.

A small country with a big heart

ABEYRATNE, K M W Malinda Kanishka Bandara, 3rd year student, School of International Liberal Studies

Sri Lanka is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean. When you hear the name, many people may think of tea and curry. But for me, Sri Lanka is a place of tranquility and deep fragrance. In this country where the sea and mountains lie side by side and the greenery is constant all year round, time flows slowly, and the people's kind smiles are a delight.

Kandy, the city in central Sri Lanka where I grew up, is a beautiful town where mist envelops the hills and morning dew wets the trees. After school, I would climb the hill with my friends and look down at the town bathed in the setting sun. The sound of temple bells in the distance and the scent of the wind blowing through the forest--in the moment when these two sounds blended together, I felt as if my heart had become one with this land.

The famous Queen's Hotel in Kandy was built during the British colonial period and has a history of over 160 years.

My family runs a black pepper farm. The pepper trees, tended by my father, thrive under the strong sunlight and produce fragrant fruit. On harvest day, the black pepper plants spread across our garden sway in the breeze, absorbing the scent of the sun. That fragrant, slightly pungent aroma is still a memory of my hometown to me. As a child, I loved to sit next to my father and place peppercorns in the palm of my hand to detect their aroma. The warmth of the spice lingering on my fingertips somehow brought me comfort.

In Sri Lankan homes, spices are not just seasonings, but the "thread of fragrance" that connects the family. In the morning, the scent of coconut and curry leaves wafts from the kitchen, and the day begins with my mother's voice. The time spent laughing together as a family around the dinner table was, to me, the richest moment in the world.

Left: Sunset seen from the garden of my home
Right: My father's black pepper and tea plantation

Nerigala Temple, a temple close to my hometown. It is located on top of a mountain and has a beautiful view.

Sri Lanka is a country where Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and more all coexist. Despite differences in religion, people celebrate festivals and share joy with each other. This tolerance and kindness have always saved me. Respecting differences without fear is what Sri Lanka taught me about life. So, when people ask me, "What kind of country is Sri Lanka?" I always answer, "It may be small, but it has a big heart."

There is also a greeting in Sri Lanka called "Ayubowan," which means "May you live long and be happy." Like this saying, Sri Lanka always embraces people, prays for them, and welcomes them with a smile. I would like to connect with people around the world with that same spirit.

◎ This is what Sri Lanka is like ◎

Located southeast of India, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is an island nation with a population of approximately 21.76 million (as of December 2024). Its area is approximately 65,610 square kilometers, roughly 0.8 times the size of Hokkaido. It enjoys a warm climate year-round and a rich natural environment, including the sea and mountains, earning it the nickname "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Agriculture, including tea, spices, and coconuts, is thriving. The time difference with Japan is -3.5 hours.