In a quiet part of Ahangama, right on Koggala Lake and nestled within its lush greenery, we met with Sunamawathie at her house.

From the age of ten, Sunamawathie helped her mother harvest and sell coconuts to make an income for the family. Later, she ventured out onto the lake in a kayak, fishing and selling the catch to provide for her family. Fishing became not just a means of livelihood but a sacred bond with the creatures that called the waters home. Nowadays, Sunamawathie spends her mornings sweeping the grounds of a nearby hotel while her grandchildren are at school. While her kayak broke and she didn’t have the funds to repair it, she still goes out finish, renting her neighbour’s boats.

Life hasn't been easy for Sunamawathie. She and her husband live with their two daughters and five grandchildren in a simple, humble home. Her children, like her, know the weight of uncertainty all too well. They work as day labourers, taking odd jobs to get by, with their income largely unpredictable and insecure. Until recently, the family lived without electricity, relying on their own resourcefulness to make ends meet. would have faced financial instability.

Throughout her life Sunamawathie has weathered storms—both literal and metaphorical—yet she carries with her a resilience forged in the crucible of life's challenges. Sunamawathie's family, like many others in similar circumstances, has experienced social and economic inequality, facing barriers to opportunities such as education, employment, and upward mobility.

Her story is one of hardship, but it is also a testament to the indomitable human spirit—the capacity to find joy amidst adversity, to forge connections that transcend circumstance, and to draw strength from the bonds of family and community. She is wishing for a better life for her grandchildren.