Today in ‘Inside Story’ we feature Adrika Sri Bawan, a lawyer and Banker, who was born in Sri Lanka but has lived all her life in Australia, and in short, is an amazing young woman who is an inspiration to all.  ‘Be the woman you envision yourself to be’ is Adrika’s watchword and she does indeed walk her talk! You can read her remarkable story and get to know this young woman, who really is one in a ZILLION.

Q    When did you first know that you were adopted?
My parents were very transparent about my adoption. They taught me from the age of two that families come in different forms, therefore I learned the definition of “adoption” very early on but only discovered it applied to me at the age of 7. 

Q    How did you feel when you were told this?
At first, I was upset, confused, and angry. But because my parents were very open and held no secrets about the circumstances surrounding my birth, it didn’t affect me significantly. My parents taught me to always respect my biological family and never to have any resentment towards my biological mother because they did the best they could at that time in 1995. 

Q    Do you have any recollection of your life at Mother Theresa’s home?
No I don’t, I was 3.5 months old when I was taken home to Rohini Road Colombo 6 to my family.

Q    When it was discovered that your hearing was impaired – were you old enough to realize the implications of being differently-abled or did it hit you only later in life?
No, hearing loss is a part of my life. I don’t know any different, I have heard the world through the sounds I know. Just like a hearing person wouldn’t know what a deaf person goes through unless they lose their hearing later in life. I knew I wasn’t able to hear as a normal person would but I didn’t see myself any different from my peers. The reason was that my parents did everything in their power to ensure I was not treated any differently and that I led a normal life. 

Q    What was it like growing up in Australia – did you encounter any racism?
I am proud to call Australia home. It has given me a life of prosperity and opportunity, thanks to my parents’ hard work and sacrifice. 

I didn’t experience any racism but I was bullied throughout my childhood and adolescent years. I have no resentment towards my bullies as we all have to overcome hurdles in life. I simply saw it as a challenge to overcome. I am thankful that the bullies only made me stronger to face any adversity in life. They unknowingly taught me many lessons such as how to stand up for myself and how to ensure my voice is heard.

Q    How was life during your school days and thereafter at university?
I loved my schooling and University years. Without a doubt, I faced many challenges and it was not easy but I was privileged to have a strong support network.

I wore hearing aids until I was 19. I had my first Cochlear Implant surgery at 16 on my left ear. Hearing aids only amplify the hearing you have, as I had a severe to profound hearing loss. Wearing hearing aids as a teenager made me tired because I had to strain to listen. By 12.30 pm, I would fall asleep in class because I would be exhausted listening to my teachers and peers. This affected my studies but my teachers were very supportive and understanding. We worked together to establish strategies to overcome my challenges. 

Once I had my Cochlear Implant in my left ear, listening became a little easier but I still had a profound hearing loss in my right ear. My audiologist told me I was only hearing vowels of the alphabet. 
To highlight the extent of the difficulty I had to overcome, I completed VCE (my university entrance exams, in Sri Lanka it is called O/L and A/L) with one ear. I had limited hearing left in my right ear but I chose not to go under surgery during VCE because I knew rehabilitation would interfere with my studies. 

Q    What would you say have been the three most important events of your life?
Walking beside my dad throughout his 7-year cancer journey. We fought every battle and celebrated every win together. This was one long event but dad was my best friend and there were times, I would be his voice to reason out with his medical team. He fought a great battle with such dignity and grace. 

Being admitted as an Australian Solicitor and having my parents beside me to witness it. This was a dream I had since I was 7 years old and I accomplished it. 

Being titled Miss Sri Lanka Australia, Miss Inspirational at the age of 21. This event made me realise I have a story to share with others. I was thankful for being titled thus because it meant that my journey and values were recognised. This allowed me to embrace myself even more and share my life with others. 

Q    What made you choose law and banking as careers?
Firstly, I chose to be a lawyer so I could be a voice for those who don’t have one. Secondly, I wanted to continue my father’s family’s legacy - Dad came from a family of a generation of lawyers in Sri Lanka and they inspired me to enter the legal industry. 

It’s important to understand that the law is applied in every aspect of life. I wanted to diversify my skills and expand my knowledge in another industry. This would enable me to have a foundation of understanding of how other sectors operate, the policies and procedures involved when I start practicing. I unknowingly followed my father’s footsteps as a banker and I am currently in a role that my father was once in, 27 years ago. He imparted invaluable advice on how to be an unbiased and fair banker to all customers, and to always prioritise their needs above all else in an ethical manner. 

Q    What is the most important lesson that life has taught you?
My dad’s cancer journey has taught me to live life to the fullest, to live in the moment, and embrace every opportunity to do the things that brings you the most contentment and happiness. 

Q    What made you come to Sri Lanka?
My trip to Sri Lanka in 2022 was a tour of duty. I came to scatter my dad’s ashes in his hometown of Trincomalee. I have visited Sri Lanka over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed each holiday. However, this trip was bittersweet, filled with much sadness. I hope to visit Sri Lanka again in happier times. 

Q    Do you have much family and friends here and is it easy to relate to them having been born and brought up in Australia?
We have a handful of family left in Sri Lanka; sadly the majority of our family have left the country due to the civil war and for better opportunities. However, my parents have a wide circle of friends in Sri Lanka with whom they were in constant touch although they left Sri Lanka 31 years ago. Unfortunately, I wasn’t educated in Sri Lanka hence my circle of friends in the motherland is very small. 

I was born in Colombo and lived here for 2 years, therefore I will never forget my place of birth and my origins. However, I was raised in a Western country with liberal parents and with a very open mind. 
As a result of this, the one thing I still struggle to come to terms with within Sri Lanka is the disparity between the rich and poor. I struggle to understand how in 2022, class, religion, and ethnicity still play a role in determining your future in Sri Lanka. I come from Australia where everyone is given a fair go and everyone is treated with respect irrespective of nationality. I strongly believe there’s only 1 race, the human race, and everyone should be given a chance regardless of their social-economic status. 

Q    How was your experience at the Deaf and Blind School in Ratmalana?
To simply describe it in one sentence - it was an eye-opening experience. I will never forget how I met one teacher, who didn’t believe I was deaf because I was able to speak. If she doesn’t have faith that children with hearing loss can speak, how can the students prosper and thrive? I’m able to talk because my teachers believed in me. 

Q    What changes / improvements does Sri Lanka need to make / implement vis a vis differently-abled people ?
Firstly, attitudes towards children with special needs need to change. A child with special needs is not a taboo topic and most certainly not a stigma. Parents, teachers, and medical professionals need to believe that a child with special needs can contribute to society in a meaningful way. Children with special needs must not be shunned from society, they must be embraced with love, respect, and care. 

Secondly, resources and support. This is a multi-million dollar question because I understand the country is currently in an economic crisis as never before since the 1970s. But if one person can invest in a child’s education from a lower socio-economic background, this world will be a better place. 

Q    Is Australia as a whole conducive and sympathetic to differently-abled people?
Sympathy is not the correct word. Australia enables children and adults to achieve their full potential by providing ongoing support throughout their academic and working life. They provide the support and platform for special children to learn according to their learning styles. 

Australia believes in representation and promoting people from all walks of life. Hence corporates and businesses in Australia are working together to ensure representation is achieved from grassroots levels to Parliament.  

Q    How do you perceive yourself?
A global citizen, an advocate, and a motivational speaker. 

Q    What are your future plans?
The future is unpredictable, I don’t like planning too far ahead because you never know what’s in store. But my vision is to continue to be a global citizen, to use my voice to ensure wherever I go that a just and equal environment should prevail for those who don’t have a voice. 

Q    What is your advice to young people and actually just anyone with regards to facing life’s challenges and overcoming them?
Be yourself, I can guarantee there’s never going to be another you! Life is always going to be full of challenges, remember it’s how you embrace those challenges and yourself that will define your character. 
Self-reflection and listening to others’ advice has helped me significantly in life but I never lost sight of my vision and of who I want to be. But always remember, you’re never alone, you’re evolving and your past doesn’t define your future. Most importantly, be kind to one another and listen to each other genuinely. If we share our stories, our problems, and our triumphs, we can work together in overcoming our personal problems because we are able to learn from one another.

Text Anusha David

Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe