“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know is that the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” – Albert Schweitzer

Forget the roadmaps and the guidebooks because these two don’t just organize service, they meticulously design and execute every phase, ensuring our dedication reaches the very heart of the community.

They are the living link that turns pure intention into concrete, life-changing aid.

Join me in introducing the inspiring force, our Co-directors of Community Service Avenue!

Rtr. Chanudi Amaratunga and Rtr. Yadhurshika RathnaKumaran

We all know someone who seems to throw back all the lemons that life deals them, with an incredible mix of focus and calm and that’s exactly the kind of person Chanudi is.

Her prominent personality trait is her extrovertedness. She has a 1000+ aura that attracts people like a magnet, the second she blesses a place with her presence. She doesn’t just lighten the mood but instead takes on the role of eliminating any awkwardness that might exist in that place with her talk. With her friendly, therapeutic character, you always feel heard and seen.

People tend to sometimes mistaken her as someone bossy but I would say she’s just too good at taking the lead. Whenever she’s faced with a conflict, she approaches it like a queen by planning out everything and handling things calmly. Anything she does, you can guarantee that it’s perfect and extremely neat (it has to be neat or she might have a stroke). Given her eye for detail, every project from the community service is bound to be a reporter’s dream.

Whenever she is in her comfort zone, she relaxes happily with her cup of tea, doing everything that needs to be done with a K-pop soundtrack or if she’s feeling all motivated, she will have an audiobook playing in the background. That’s Chanudi in her “no stress” mode.

In this mode, you may find her nose in her “everything notebook”, aka her diary that contains every minute detail ever needed. Possessing that book is enough to get her whole life story in detail. You may also read about her 10 PM rule that she personally sets for herself.

When the clock ticks 10, she clocks out.

No phone, no work, and no studying, everything comes to a halt. Sounds like a boomer in a young adult’s body, right? WRONG! It’s a stark reminder that she will have the last laugh outliving all of us. She will stand over our grave and fake cry calling us all “Betta”

If you get to know her in a deeper level, you will find her endearing habit of going to the temple whenever she’s free or listening to the Thripitakaya (a collection of Buddhist scriptures).

Her spirituality makes her resilient enough to deal with all the major hurdles she has faced in her journey. One of the biggest challenges she faced was when she was bombarded with her CIMA exams and university exams at the same time. But learning to tackle that came in handy when she got sick this year and had to catch up on all the work. That’s the bravest we have seen her and we are so proud.

That shows exactly why she was selected as the Community Service co-director. And that’s also why her list achievements doesn’t stop there, she was also selected for the dean’s list after passing her semester with flying colours.

But the achievement that surpasses all of this is her still living and breathing despite all the allergies in the world being obsessed with her. How has she survived? Only God knows. But we are grateful that she has.

She is a vibrant mix of discipline, and infectious energy that will drive this avenue. To perfectly complement this force, we have Yadhurshika.

To speak about Yadhu is to speak about a woman who redefines what it means to be busy.

If you see her, she’s probably busy moving mountains. She is working in a demanding job while doing her 4^th year research, and stepping up as a community service co-director. All of which she handles like it’s her daily meal.

She’s the go-to person for many people. She’s someone whose reputation precedes her, especially among the first-year students who affectionately call her “Akka” (elder sister).

Because of her calm, smiling and outgoing personality, they all tend to flock to her for help with assignments, pre-exam classes, and especially for a listening ear to share their love stories (hot topic: love failures) and gossips. That’s why she is loved among many, no matter what she’s going through, she will never fail to show up for you.

While she is generally a calm and composed person, some annoying people aka you know who brings out her mood swings and her angry bird mode. But it’s that same person from whom she needs continuous reassurance in everything so I guess it balances out.

But underneath all that sunshine is someone with a powerhouse of ambition. As the eldest in the family, she manages finances like a pro from financially helping her family to paying utilities and running the month on the remainder. She is capable of managing everything with just 2k in her pocket just like how she drinks Americano without sugar. Two odd but boss like acts.

Since she’s the captain of this world, she has a humorous, progressive wish for her future: she wants to make her husband a “house husband” so he can rest while she works and looks after the family!

I. wonder. who. this lucky. man. is. 

When she’s in her airplane mode, she’s got a few simple but strong preferences that define, especially when it comes to food and drink. For beverages, it’s all about coffee. But the true champion of her heart is potato fries. She loves them more than anything, even kulfi can be added to that.

In fact, they are the ultimate peace offering, so like if you're having a fight and want to solve it, buying her those fries is a guaranteed win, as someone claims she will "melt like ice."

The only thing that can threaten her boldness is her one major fear: dogs. Whether it’s a tiny pet or a large stray, seeing one, even far down the street, will make her run in the opposite direction. (now you know how to blackmail her…you didn’t hear it from me)

Whether she’s burning the candle at both ends to finish her work like a flash, managing her finances like a veteran, or simply enjoying her coffee and fries, she is a constant source of inspiration.

With Chanudi’s therapeutic warmth that calms conflict and draws people and Yadhurshika’s compassion and fierce commitment to showing up for everyone, they are truly capable of reaching the deepest needs of the community, heart to heart.

Penned By:

Rtr. Rana Rilwan

Editor 25.26