The Blessings brought by the holy island of Sri Lanka, shining with light.

Having joined this April, a staff member currently undergoing a three-month training program at JICA Sri Lanka office since late September, shared her experiences from visiting various sites. Please take a moment to read this blog written from the perspective of a newcomer who has just stepped into the field of international cooperation!

A large crowd of people gathered at the Presidential Palace in Sri Lanka. In 2022, the country fell into an unprecedented economic crisis, with widespread protests erupting as people attributed the cause to the mismanagement of the Gotabaya administration. The protests gained momentum day by day, ultimately leading to the president fleeing the country. Subsequently, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency, secured support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and achieved some success in stabilizing the economy. However, policies involving tax hikes and increased electricity rates were regarded as adding further burdens to their lives by voters. As a result, in the presidential election held this September, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a candidate from a leftist party, was elected. Promising to overhaul the outdated political structure and provide relief to citizens suffering from hardships during the economic reconstruction, which direction will the new president lead this country to? I arrived in Sri Lanka at this critical moment, as the country reached a major turning point following several tumultuous years. Seizing the opportunity to work here during such a significant time, I hope to reflect on the country’s journey and consider its future direction. With this aspiration in mind, I have come to Sri Lanka.

This staff blog aims to provide readers with opportunities to reflect on development issues and to offer a glimpse into what each staff member and the organization as a whole consider important when engaging in international cooperation. As for me, the author of this article, I am the most junior member, having joined the organization only this April. The piece you are about to read is not the work of someone who has accomplished significant achievements here, but rather, is an honest expression of my thoughts and feelings from the perspective of a newcomer. 

In addition to my desire to witness the current turbulent situation in Sri Lanka with my own eyes, I came here with a strong determination to understand what exactly constitutes the "field" that JICA staff members encounter. I have visited a wide range of sites so far, from field-levels where JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers are active, to high-level discussions with Sri Lankan government officials. Among these experiences, what left the deepest impression on me was witnessing the shining efforts of the volunteers in Kandy, a city in the center of Sri Lanka, who are engaged in environmental and Japanese language education. Their determination to build genuine trust by engaging in frank discussions with local municipal staff members and residents, diving into their roles while utilizing Sinhala they had only recently begun learning, was truly inspiring and made me reflect on my own commitment. In addition, I was also impressed by their efforts to teach children in kindergartens about waste sorting by using tools such as origami and puppet shows. JICA operates through various forms of cooperation, such as technical cooperation, loan aid, grant aid, dispatch of volunteers, private sector partnership programs, and grassroots technical cooperation projects. Each of these activities is driven by a diverse group of stakeholders. These include consultants and experts who dedicate their knowledge and skills to implement projects on the ground, companies contributing to local development through their advanced technologies, partner governments that serve as implementing agencies, and development partners addressing local challenges alongside us. When I found myself in an environment where such diverse actors in international cooperation converged, I could feel firsthand the heightened energy created by the intersection of their passion and the steadfast commitment each party brought to their respective roles. Witnessing these moments, I realized that the responsibility of JICA staff members supporting the frontline lies in moving projects forward while embracing the perspectives of all the stakeholders involved. This is a lesson I have learned through direct experience in the field.

Returning to the current status of Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the beginning, the poverty rate in 2023 stands at 25.9% (World Bank), highlighting the harsh reality that the most vulnerable remain in dire circumstances. To ensure that such a situation never occurs again, it is essential to work hand in hand with the leader and new administration chosen by the people, providing full support for the nation's recovery from this unprecedented crisis. This is the role that JICA must fulfill, and it is also the top priority of JICA Sri Lanka office, positioned at the very forefront. As a newcomer, I have yet to fully grasp the significance of how my work connects directly to the country's recovery. However, for now, I am committed to diligently building up each task one step at a time.

As I write this blog, I reflect on the fact that the overseas office itself—where national staff members who trust Japan and JICA work hand in hand with home staff members dedicated to contributing to Sri Lanka—is also a kind of "field." It is within this field that I am putting down roots, grounding myself in what "the field" means to me. Having worked alongside so many inspiring individuals at various sites—people who captivate people around them with their shining efforts—I aspire to be someone who can light up my own corner of the world from wherever I am stationed. And one day, I am determined to return to Sri Lanka again. With this wish in my heart, I savor the privilege of being here, grateful for every moment.