Ready to set the game in play?

Our sports and recreation activities avenue is being led by two people who know how to play the game. Our own Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. They’re all about getting everyone involved, building some serious team spirit, and making sure you have a blast.

Who are these two, you ask? Well, buckle up.

Let’s start with the serial sticker maker, a person who eagerly waits for new pictures to enter the group before launching quiet, but perfectly on-point, sticker attacks. The aftermath of his work is a story in itself, that I might have to write a blog on.

We’re talking about a die-hard Stephen Curry fan who might even play better than the legend himself. He’s all set to score 90 on every project, just like last year when he was so good that he had to do it twice.

It’s my privilege to introduce you all to the Sports and Recreational Activities Co-director for the RI year 25-26,

Rtr. Minupa Kanaheraarachchi

If you cross paths with him, you might presume he’s a quiet person that keeps to himself but let me tell you, run away. He’s just seconds away from making a sticker of you and destroying your dignity. His calm persona is just a disguise.

Just kidding.

I don’t think there is anyone that can match Minupa’s calmness. He would win if there was a competition for the calmest person in the world.

And the only thing that rivals his calmness as the best thing about him would be his bracelet collection. I am shamelessly jealous of them and sincerely pray that he leaves it somewhere and forgets about it. But unfortunately, he never ever leaves them alone. Minupa without his bracelets is an odd scene so I have no luck.

His best quality is that he’s trustworthy. He’s someone you can tell your entire family history to and he will take it with himself to the grave. It’s a really rare and invaluable trait that makes him such a great confidant. He’s that friend you can always rely on.

He’s naturally a comedic person, and while it might not be immediately obvious when you first meet him, his stickers are all the proof you need. He’s famous for having “pissu @%#&” on his lips at any time, whether he’s joking around or dead serious. It’s just part of his everyday vocabulary, and honestly this knack for humor is a huge part of what makes him so easy to be around. He’s also so approachable because he has a gift for creating a comfortable space for everyone.

Alongside his killer performance in the basketball court, he absolutely kills it on the drums. Watching him play, you can see the passion and skill that make him such an impressive performer.

To be honest, he’s not just a performer in music, but in life too. He never just arrives; he makes a grand entrance with a line of cars that speak for him before you even meet him.

From what he proudly claims is Sri Lanka’s one-and-only 4×4 Corolla, an old and slightly leaning to the left, for reasons only it knows to the eco-friendly Nissan Leaf and the roomy Toyota Avensis 7-seater, his vehicles have basically become the unofficial cars used to go for projects, and he has unintentionally become the chauffeur.

With a person like him leading the way, you might wonder who could possibly be the perfect match. Who is the other half of this powerful duo, the person who completes the puzzle?

It is the most important person in Rotaract (his annoying claim),

The two-time RotaVerse champion (who shares the title with me, but in terms of aura, comes in second), a guy with impeccable style and the one who flips his hair a million times…..you have probably clocked exactly who I’m talking about. I’ll bet my life that he flipped his hair before taking that picture above.

Let me introduce the Sports and Recreational Activities Co-director for the RI year 25-26,

Rtr. Tharukshan Sivakumar.

But all jokes aside, Tharukshan is a deeply introspective individual. He’s someone who puts himself first, not out of narcissism, but from a strong belief that only if you love and care for yourself first, will you be capable of doing the same for someone else. This godsend self-awareness helps him to approach life with a grounded and rational mindset. He’s someone who controls his emotions, rather than letting his emotions control him, and in many ways, I think that is his greatest accomplishment.

He’s so in tune with his emotions that you’d think he never panics—I’ve never seen it, not even in our RotaVerse group. However, due to his strong drive to succeed, I have heard that he also has a fear of failure. But don’t worry, as a guru of emotions, he handles it like a pro. Instead of dumping his feelings on others, he consciously deals with them by engaging in activities he loves, such as sports and working out, listening to Harris Jayaraj and The Weekend, or confiding in someone he trusts.

Because of this characteristic, he’s able to transmit that energy and dedication to care for all those around him. He is the best person to have in your corner when you need support. Regardless of how big the problem is, he will actively listen and help you deal with it. Maybe it will cost you a Masala chai, but that’s a worthwhile bargain.

When you first meet him, you’ll notice his authenticity from the get-go. He loves being around people, cracking jokes, and being fully present in that moment, but he’s also someone who enjoys his solitude. So if you see him by himself, he’s just enjoying some ‘me time’ so let the “banda” (his sweet nickname) be.

One of his most endearing qualities is that he is a true “mama’s boy,” but not the negative connotation that phrase may hold. I mean, a simple call from his mother makes his entire day, and anything she cooks is his absolute favourite. This speaks to his deeply family-oriented nature; in fact, his number one priority is to become financially independent enough to care for his parents. In addition to that, his most cherished possessions are the watches he received from his father and grandfather.

Ultimately, his goals are deeply personal and focused on finding joy in experiences rather than anything materialistic.

He lives by the philosophy: “Spend time by yourself and become financially and emotionally independent”. It’s a motto that perfectly captures who he is.

With Tharukshan’s mindset of doing what’s right, without wondering what people might think, his admirable nature of celebrating his wins in silence, and Minupa’s trustworthy and calm character, comedic nature, and their collective love for sports makes them the best ones to rock the sports and recreation avenue.

Penned By:

Rtr. Rana Rilwan

Editor 25-26