This young man has a story we only normally read about or see in the news or in a documentary . A dear friend of mine and a person who has earned my admiration. A true story.
When Jeewan was a very young boy his father, a hard working fisherman, led a very tough life trying to provide for his family and to his peril (as with many poor Srilankans) became an alcoholic. To a degree Jeewan was neglected and his education was sadly missed and he had little or no schooling. His Mother could not cope and left to work in Dubai for several years leaving her family behind . Begging, stealing and borrowing it was finally Jeewan’s uncle that realized his Nephew needed rescuing and at the age of 14 Jeewan’s uncle took him to Malaysia to work as a building labourer. The work was hard, poorly paid and took its toll on Jeewan and after 2 years he decided to escape back to his homeland paying what money he had earned for a fake passport and air ticket. Unfortunately he was caught in Malaysia by Customs and was slung into a Malaysian Jail for 3 Months before being deported back to Srilanka to serve another 3 months in Jail. (I have been to visit these Jails!)

After his release and now a young man who already had remarkable life experiences to tell about he returned to his home town near Bentota, a major holiday destination on the west coast bordering the southern province. Like so many others Jeewan earned what he could and how he could but this time he had grown to understand how to get by without turning to crime. His ability to learn very quickly was how he survived, he played at gymnastics on the beach and sold local wears and batiks on the hotel beaches. He met up with a very talented and devoted buddist, Priya, who took Jeewan into his close WuShu family. Jeewan again was a quick to learn and Priya could see potential talent and a future star in the making. A strong brotherly friendship developed.
Through working long hours selling on the beach and training his art Jeewan managed to borrow and earn enough to rent a small batik shop which became a good thriving business in total contrast to his tough childhood life yet still very young. Priya looked after his younger protege helping him where he could. Priya also having come from a similar experience having lost his own father to alchohol. Life for the two young men was tough but was finally on the up.However this was to take another sad and crushing turn. When the 2004 Tsunami hit Srilanka with total devastation his small Batiks Shop was washed away, everything he had worked for and built had gone, all he had left were his friends and family. Once again Jeewan had to dig deep or give up. With Priya supporting him more phychologically his art and his faith were his driving force and Jeewan was not going to give up .

Jeewan played his gymnastics and his Wushu on the hotel beaches getting the interest of many tourists and he quickly became a showman. He started, giving local guidance, knowledge and information to tourists and it was a visit by a Russian Lady that gave Jeewan once again a life line. In exchange for his help and guidance she agreed to teach Jeewan to read, write and Speak Russian. Jeewan spent every day and every night studying, (bearing in mind he had no experience of academic learning in his childhood) but he learnt in 3 months to be fluent enough in the Russian Language to work as a beach boy. This became his life line and set him above all other beach boy guides as the Russian tourist was one of the biggest tourism imports to Srilanka.

He would cycle to one of the hotel beaches every day meeting and guiding all nationalalities which established that venue as his beach. He now spoke perfect Russian , English and German. He bought a motorbike to give him greater mobility, riding to work, training with his master (Priya) and also forming his own Wushu club. His level and knowledge had doubled by this time thanks to Priya and his success allowed him to earn enough money to invest in a mini bus. Now Jeewan could expand into running a professional Tour Guide Company.
Through all of this Journey Jeewan has helped and supported his family and friends alike. In contrast very few people helped him along the way, people like Priya. Time spent in a Srilankan jail could have been avoided with the payment of a fine but not being acquainted with Priya at that time there was no-one else to raise the funds and he served the full, hard labour sentence.
Jeewan never holds this against anyone and now helps many friends and family around him. Remarkably he now has the knowledge, drive and determination to start his own Massage and Ayuvedic center with his friend and master alongside him .

Jeewan is the epitome of the SriLankan way - never give up - “Nothing is Impossible” .