Tharaka Munidasa
Tharaka is the co-founder of Duality. He is passionate about addressing key cultural barriers and giving all Asian youth the opportunity to understand their roots through building a supportive community.
Having been born in Sri Lanka and moving to New Zealand when he was 6-months old, he was fortunate enough to volunteer back in Sri Lanka supporting marginalised communities.
Tharaka uses his platform and profile to facilitate conversations about harnessing a dual identity with the aim of deepening the connection between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Indika Samarasekara
Having been born and raised in New Zealand, Indika is passionate about remaining connected with her roots in Sri Lanka. As a co-founder, Indika hopes that Duality can provide a platform for Sri Lankan youth to learn and embrace their culture through less formal and traditional teachings.
Indika is also passionate about sharing the stories of first and second gen youth who have taken unconventional paths in order to build more relatability for those that don’t feel like traditional paths are the right fit for them.
Suveen Walgampola
As a co-founder of Duality, Suveen is passionate about exploring history, culture and society to facilitate building an inclusive and supportive Sri Lankan community within Aotearoa.
Moving to Aotearoa at the age of 2, Suveen has gone through a lot of different stages in life around different parts of Aotearoa as well as overseas.
Hopes for the future include providing a bridge for current and future generations to be able to find their own path by developing a grounding in their dual identities.
Harini Lakna Jayaratne
Harini hopes Duality provides genuine support, a sense of belonging and a place of open mindedness that Sri Lankan youth need to thrive in Western contexts.
Having grown up in both Sri Lanka (for 8 years on/off) and New Zealand, Harini feels for individuals feeling ‘hybrid’ or those who are struggling to feel a sense of belonging between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Harini hopes Duality provides a platform to bridge individuality, help our Sri Lankan youth understand and utilize their cultural roots and their unique ability to make sense of their environments and equip them with the resources to turn their pain into power. This is an opportunity to create a ripple effect of empowerment.