Kaweesha Gamage, better known as @island_girl_kawee on Instagram, is a digital creator producing travel content for her massively popular travel-themed social media page. In addition to her Instagram content, where Kaweesha shares stunning captures of nature, showcasing Sri Lanka’s striking destinations, she also has a YouTube channel Island Girl, where she shares cinematic captures of her adventures around the island.
The incredibly stylised cinematic portrayals of her travels on her YouTube channel have generated a considerable amount of views amassing an audience looking forward to Kaweesha’s next adventure.
Kaweesha shared with us that she is originally from Deniyaya and is currently residing in Galle, and while her travel journey started way back in 2018, social media has been a part of her life for far longer and documenting her day-to-day life was something she had developed an interest in. “I started to travel in 2018 but my Instagram account was updated in 2016, then my friends encouraged me to start a YouTube channel. So, in 2019, I started my YouTube channel,” said Kaweesha. Adding that had it not been for her friends' encouragement, she never would’ve started posting as she did and she is so very grateful to them for all the opportunities that have come her way since then.
“I like to share what I see when I travel and show everyone the hidden beauty within,” said Kaweesha, adding that her origins have instilled in her a deeper appreciation of her environment and the beauty of Sri Lanka. “As I said before, I’m from Deniyaya, so that beauty inspired me to post travel content as my philosophy. I like to create something unique for my followers,” she said.
Deniyaya being a travel hotspot in Sri Lanka – surrounded by the Sinharaja Rainforest, home to the famous Deniyaya Patna Sliding Rock, Sathmala Ella, and numerous other attractions – it is no surprise that her origins from such a picturesque destination would inspire her to further explore what Sri Lanka has to offer.
Kaweesha shared that while her hometown will always hold a soft spot in her heart, some of the most memorable travel experiences she has had have been when she visited Gerandigala and Wangedigala. “They were my favourite places to visit. The top of Gerandigala is dreamlike; it is stunning and it is a perfect place to visit for a great view,” she said.
Considering that she now has a large audience engaging with her content on a daily basis, we asked Kaweesha what her aspirations are for the future, whether she perhaps hopes to continue in this stride and become a full-time content creator, and she shared that she would indeed like to be a full-time content creator. “I would like to be a full-time content creator, but my ultimate goal is to create something special and inspiring for my audience,” she said, adding also that “I always try to give something new for my audience”. Sharing her future plans, Kaweesha said “my future plan is to be an inspirational content creator and travel around the world to accomplish my bucket list locally and internationally”.
She also shared that the quality and success of her travel videos are a result of the support and encouragement she gets from her husband Kashyapa and that a great big thanks must be extended to her videographer Hiran.
Kaweesha shared that the pandemic has been particularly difficult considering that she is, after all, a travel content creator and because travel has been banned. “It’s hard for everyone, especially for content creators. But I have managed to keep the flow because I was in Deniyaya during those days of lockdown and we are surrounded by waterfalls and eye-catching locations." She said that while it is difficult, she encourages and requests that everyone stays safe and stays home until the pandemic is over.
Instagram: @island_girl_kawee
YouTube: Island Girl
The incredibly stylised cinematic portrayals of her travels on her YouTube channel have generated a considerable amount of views amassing an audience looking forward to Kaweesha’s next adventure.
Kaweesha shared with us that she is originally from Deniyaya and is currently residing in Galle, and while her travel journey started way back in 2018, social media has been a part of her life for far longer and documenting her day-to-day life was something she had developed an interest in. “I started to travel in 2018 but my Instagram account was updated in 2016, then my friends encouraged me to start a YouTube channel. So, in 2019, I started my YouTube channel,” said Kaweesha. Adding that had it not been for her friends' encouragement, she never would’ve started posting as she did and she is so very grateful to them for all the opportunities that have come her way since then.
“I like to share what I see when I travel and show everyone the hidden beauty within,” said Kaweesha, adding that her origins have instilled in her a deeper appreciation of her environment and the beauty of Sri Lanka. “As I said before, I’m from Deniyaya, so that beauty inspired me to post travel content as my philosophy. I like to create something unique for my followers,” she said.
Deniyaya being a travel hotspot in Sri Lanka – surrounded by the Sinharaja Rainforest, home to the famous Deniyaya Patna Sliding Rock, Sathmala Ella, and numerous other attractions – it is no surprise that her origins from such a picturesque destination would inspire her to further explore what Sri Lanka has to offer.
Kaweesha shared that while her hometown will always hold a soft spot in her heart, some of the most memorable travel experiences she has had have been when she visited Gerandigala and Wangedigala. “They were my favourite places to visit. The top of Gerandigala is dreamlike; it is stunning and it is a perfect place to visit for a great view,” she said.
Considering that she now has a large audience engaging with her content on a daily basis, we asked Kaweesha what her aspirations are for the future, whether she perhaps hopes to continue in this stride and become a full-time content creator, and she shared that she would indeed like to be a full-time content creator. “I would like to be a full-time content creator, but my ultimate goal is to create something special and inspiring for my audience,” she said, adding also that “I always try to give something new for my audience”. Sharing her future plans, Kaweesha said “my future plan is to be an inspirational content creator and travel around the world to accomplish my bucket list locally and internationally”.
She also shared that the quality and success of her travel videos are a result of the support and encouragement she gets from her husband Kashyapa and that a great big thanks must be extended to her videographer Hiran.
Kaweesha shared that the pandemic has been particularly difficult considering that she is, after all, a travel content creator and because travel has been banned. “It’s hard for everyone, especially for content creators. But I have managed to keep the flow because I was in Deniyaya during those days of lockdown and we are surrounded by waterfalls and eye-catching locations." She said that while it is difficult, she encourages and requests that everyone stays safe and stays home until the pandemic is over.
Instagram: @island_girl_kawee
YouTube: Island Girl