Page head: Interview
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PHOTOS Eshan Dasanayake
Dasith Duljaya is an 11-year-old student from Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya. He is passionate about engaging in new inventions and playing chess, and dreams of becoming an inventor and an entrepreneur so he can build things to help others to do their work faster and easier.
Dasith, tell us more about yourself.
My full name is Dasith Duljaya Thilakarathna. I turned 11 years old on 17 February and currently I am in Grade 6. I was very excited about going to middle school from primary, but my school hasn’t reopened for our grades yet, so I haven’t met my new friends. My hobbies include riding the bicycle, playing chess, and drawing. I have a sister who is 15 years old. She goes to the same school, and her name is Jithmini Mithara.
My favourite subject is Science, and I think my second favourite subject is English. I am also a student of Sri Pragnasara Dhamma School. I almost forgot to mention, I am a member of the school primary band, and I was selected as a prefect when I was in primary school.
What instrument do you play in the band?
I used to play the melodica, but now I play the drum.
You said riding your bike is one of your hobbies. Is that to stay physically active, as you know physical exercise is important?
Well, to be honest, I just like riding the bicycle. I like how I feel the wind against my face when I go fast. My grandfather gifted me the current bicycle I ride. He says in no time I’ll grow up to ride the big bicycle we have at home. I am hoping that I grow up fast so that I can ride that one.
I sometimes get to ride the bicycle down our lane. I make sure I wear a mask when I do that, and that there is an adult, either my uncle or my father, to watch me while I ride.
You have to be extremely careful when you are riding the bike on the road because there are other vehicles, and you have to always pay attention to those. I started doing this regularly as I am missing my swimming lessons. I used to love to go for my swimming practices, but that too was halted due to the pandemic.
Tell us about your other hobbies too.
My next favourite thing to do when I am free is to draw. I have a collection of drawings that I did during the time I was home due to Covid-19 restrictions. I like to copy the drawings that I see, and draw superheroes. I send my drawings to Little Stars every week too. I feel so happy when my work gets published.
I also love to play chess. But my sister doesn’t like it that much. So I have to wait until my cousins or my father is free to play a game of chess with me. I also watch cartoons and movies when I am free. But my mother says to limit watching TV, as we frequently use the computer for our studies and it is not good for our eyes. You have to make sure your eyes are given enough rest.
You said you like to draw superheroes. Who is your favourite one?
Well, I do have a real superhero in my life – my father. He works at the National Blood Center in Narahenpita. He works very hard, he had to go to work even when the country was under curfew due to the coronavirus. He helps a lot of people at work, and when he is home he helps me with all I ask. I have another hero in my life too – that’s my mother. Although she doesn’t go to work, she does all our work, sometimes even without taking a break, and makes sure everything is in order.
You said your ambition is to become a scientist who discovers new things. Is this why you enjoy building new things too?
Yes, I think so. I recently figured out how to make a rocket using paper. It’s not the usual rocket that we make. it is more complicated to make and it flies a very long distance. I have a couple of books with instructions on how to make stuff and sometimes I get to use YouTube. I enjoy working on these little projects so much.
What is your favourite cartoon/movie?
My favourite movie is Harry Potter. I like how they go on adventures and help others to get out of danger. I also like how they experiment with magic potions. It’s always fun to watch and you never get tired of watching Harry Potter movies.
Tell us about what you learn in your Dhamma school too.
Well, there is a lot that we learn. It’s mainly Buddhism that we learn. We study dhamma stories and jataka stories, good habits, different gatha and pirith sermons, and also things like how to become a good friend, how to become a good child, or how to take care of your parents.
Can you tell us more about taking care of your parents? How can a little one like yourself take care of your parents?
Taking care of one's parents is something that is highly praised in Buddhism. We even leant a story about a monk who was highly praised by the Lord Buddha because he was taking care of his parents. There are things you can do to take care of your parents, like helping them out with the chores they have at home, bringing them things when they want something, or taking care of them when they are not well. Being obedient and not being stubborn is also a way of showing gratitude to your parents. You don’t have to wait until you are older to show gratitude to them for the things that they do for us. You can start now itself.
I help my mother and father when they ask me for help. My sister and I help my mother with cooking, and sometimes when the mother is not well or so, we take over cooking so that our mother doesn’t have to worry about it.
PHOTOS Eshan Dasanayake
Dasith Duljaya is an 11-year-old student from Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya. He is passionate about engaging in new inventions and playing chess, and dreams of becoming an inventor and an entrepreneur so he can build things to help others to do their work faster and easier.
Dasith, tell us more about yourself.
My full name is Dasith Duljaya Thilakarathna. I turned 11 years old on 17 February and currently I am in Grade 6. I was very excited about going to middle school from primary, but my school hasn’t reopened for our grades yet, so I haven’t met my new friends. My hobbies include riding the bicycle, playing chess, and drawing. I have a sister who is 15 years old. She goes to the same school, and her name is Jithmini Mithara.
My favourite subject is Science, and I think my second favourite subject is English. I am also a student of Sri Pragnasara Dhamma School. I almost forgot to mention, I am a member of the school primary band, and I was selected as a prefect when I was in primary school.
What instrument do you play in the band?
I used to play the melodica, but now I play the drum.
You said riding your bike is one of your hobbies. Is that to stay physically active, as you know physical exercise is important?
Well, to be honest, I just like riding the bicycle. I like how I feel the wind against my face when I go fast. My grandfather gifted me the current bicycle I ride. He says in no time I’ll grow up to ride the big bicycle we have at home. I am hoping that I grow up fast so that I can ride that one.
I sometimes get to ride the bicycle down our lane. I make sure I wear a mask when I do that, and that there is an adult, either my uncle or my father, to watch me while I ride.
You have to be extremely careful when you are riding the bike on the road because there are other vehicles, and you have to always pay attention to those. I started doing this regularly as I am missing my swimming lessons. I used to love to go for my swimming practices, but that too was halted due to the pandemic.
Tell us about your other hobbies too.
My next favourite thing to do when I am free is to draw. I have a collection of drawings that I did during the time I was home due to Covid-19 restrictions. I like to copy the drawings that I see, and draw superheroes. I send my drawings to Little Stars every week too. I feel so happy when my work gets published.
I also love to play chess. But my sister doesn’t like it that much. So I have to wait until my cousins or my father is free to play a game of chess with me. I also watch cartoons and movies when I am free. But my mother says to limit watching TV, as we frequently use the computer for our studies and it is not good for our eyes. You have to make sure your eyes are given enough rest.
You said you like to draw superheroes. Who is your favourite one?
Well, I do have a real superhero in my life – my father. He works at the National Blood Center in Narahenpita. He works very hard, he had to go to work even when the country was under curfew due to the coronavirus. He helps a lot of people at work, and when he is home he helps me with all I ask. I have another hero in my life too – that’s my mother. Although she doesn’t go to work, she does all our work, sometimes even without taking a break, and makes sure everything is in order.
You said your ambition is to become a scientist who discovers new things. Is this why you enjoy building new things too?
Yes, I think so. I recently figured out how to make a rocket using paper. It’s not the usual rocket that we make. it is more complicated to make and it flies a very long distance. I have a couple of books with instructions on how to make stuff and sometimes I get to use YouTube. I enjoy working on these little projects so much.
What is your favourite cartoon/movie?
My favourite movie is Harry Potter. I like how they go on adventures and help others to get out of danger. I also like how they experiment with magic potions. It’s always fun to watch and you never get tired of watching Harry Potter movies.
Tell us about what you learn in your Dhamma school too.
Well, there is a lot that we learn. It’s mainly Buddhism that we learn. We study dhamma stories and jataka stories, good habits, different gatha and pirith sermons, and also things like how to become a good friend, how to become a good child, or how to take care of your parents.
Can you tell us more about taking care of your parents? How can a little one like yourself take care of your parents?
Taking care of one's parents is something that is highly praised in Buddhism. We even leant a story about a monk who was highly praised by the Lord Buddha because he was taking care of his parents. There are things you can do to take care of your parents, like helping them out with the chores they have at home, bringing them things when they want something, or taking care of them when they are not well. Being obedient and not being stubborn is also a way of showing gratitude to your parents. You don’t have to wait until you are older to show gratitude to them for the things that they do for us. You can start now itself.
I help my mother and father when they ask me for help. My sister and I help my mother with cooking, and sometimes when the mother is not well or so, we take over cooking so that our mother doesn’t have to worry about it.