Ms. Nayak Koralalage Umayangani Sasikala, a 25-year-old from Kantale in the Trincomalee district, lives with her parents and three younger sisters. Her father, Nayak Koralalake Ranjan, is a 51-year-old fishmonger. Sasikala studied up to GCE A/L and now runs a small restaurant while also taking responsibility for her family.

Although busy with her personal responsibilities, Sasikala has been involved as a civil activist in her village since May 2022. That same month, she participated in a civil activists’ discussion organised by the AHAM Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC) in Kantale. Captivated by the mission, activities, and vision of AHRC, she began her journey alongside the organisation.

Through AHRC, Sasikala participated in networking discussions, basic human rights trainings, and human rights documenting, which helped her develop strong communication and community engagement skills. She learned how to identify thematic human rights issues, provide services, and understand mechanisms and responses for resolving such concerns. She also deepened her knowledge about the struggles faced by minority Tamil and Muslim communities, gaining exposure to their legitimate demands and expectations as well as legal advice related to their challenges.

What impressed her most was that AHRC, which mainly works with Tamil communities, also provided similar human rights training for Sinhalese communities. This strengthened her commitment and transformed her into a conscious human rights activist who advocates without prejudice. Inspired by her learning, Sasikala initiated community activities such as offering free meals to villagers on Poya Days and educating people about their rights. Her commitment caught the attention of AHRC, which recognised her as a young Sinhalese woman breaking barriers by advocating for minority communities.

Today, with the support of AHRC, Sasikala continues to strengthen her activism by engaging with foreign embassies and missions, raising issues, and suggesting solutions for her community. She and her peers are determined to continue their journey with AHRC, which provides equal opportunities, non-discriminatory support, and continuous skill development.