Viraj Madusanka Dias Sooriyaarachchi

I am Viraj Madusanka Dias Sooriyaarachchi, and I attend Gujarat, India’s Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU, formerly PDPU). I obtained a first-class grade (9.17 CGPA out of 10) for my B. Com (Hons) Marketing and Management bachelor’s degree. I had the good fortune to receive a 100% scholarship from the Indian government’s Study in India program. My experience with the Rural Internship in India was an eye-opening one. I had the opportunity to work with a local NGO in a small village in the state of Gujarat. I was amazed by the spirit of the people living there and their commitment to development, despite the challenging conditions. The NGO was working to provide basic amenities such as clean water, health care, and education in the village. My role was to support the NGO in their efforts, by helping in the day-to-day operations and also by engaging in awareness campaigns. I found this experience to be incredibly rewarding. I was able to gain a greater understanding of rural India, the people, their culture, and the various challenges they face. I also had the chance to interact with local people, who had a wealth of knowledge and experiences to share. The NGO staff were also very helpful in teaching me about the various development initiatives they were undertaking and the progress they had made so far. My time in the village made me realize the importance of acting to help those in need. It was a humbling experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to have made a difference. In my first year, the Indian government gave me insurance coverage in case I had any problems while I was there. In comparison to Sri Lanka, where I am from, the food and lodging there were excellent. I received a lot of support and assistance from the faculty members and the office of International Relations (OIR) to successfully complete my degree. A three-day trip to Rajasthan was planned by the office of international relations, and it was enjoyable. We visited the City Palace of Udaipur, the second-largest palace in India, and it was one of the most stunning palaces I had ever seen. We witnessed the folk dances of fire, chakri, etc.

In the cricket and carrom teams at my university, I played both sports. It was enjoyable to exchange expertise and strategies with Indian team members. Finally, I’d want to thank the Indian government for providing me the chance to study there. I made a lot of acquaintances from other countries, which allowed me forge close ties with them.