Life style

The power of being heard, with psychologist Anita Sharma

Published

3 months ago

2026/01/4

Anita Sharma is from Singapore and holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology

Anita Sharma is a psychologist, who approaches the human mind with equal measures of empathy and insight. Known for her calm presence and thoughtful perspectives, she works closely with individuals navigating anxiety, relationship, trauma and the quiet emotional struggles that often go unseen. With experience working with individuals, couples and families, she has built a reputation for helping people navigate emotional challenges with clarity. Compassion and confidence. Anita Sharma stands as a reassuring voice bridging science, sensitivity and cultural understanding.

What inspired you to pursue a career in psychology?

I was inspired to pursue a career in psychology because I have always been curious about how people think and behave, especially when observing the world around us today. With so much happening in society, I often found myself wondering why people responded differently to similar situations and what influenced their choices, emotions, and behaviours. Psychology allows me to explore these questions on a deeper level and understand how factors like the environment, experiences, and social pressures shape a person’s behaviour. This interest motivated me to want to better understand others and eventually use that knowledge to make a positive impact.

How has your journey been as a psychologist? Have you faced unique challenges?

My journey as a woman in this field has required a lot of resilience and self-belief. In a world that is not always kind, there have been moments where certain spaces felt intimidating, but I chose to turn those experiences into strength rather than allow it to limit me. Instead of shrinking myself, I learned to speak up and trust my inner voice. These challenges have shaped my confidence, sharpened my perspective, and reinforced my commitment to the field.

What areas of psychology Do you specialise in and why did you choose them?

I specialize in counselling, focusing on people experiencing depression and anxiety, as well as adolescents, couples, and individuals recovering from surgery. I chose this area because I’m passionate about helping people go through life’s challenges. Supporting adolescents allows me to guide young people through critical stages of growth, counselling couples strengthens relationships, and working with individual’s post-surgery helps them cope emotionally and adjust to major life changes. Overall, this field lets me make a meaningful impact on people’s mental and emotional well-being.

How Do you approach therapy or counselling with clients facing anxiety or depression or trauma?

When working with clients facing anxiety, depression, or trauma, I approach therapy with empathy and patience. I start by creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and understood. I focus on understanding their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, and together we identify coping strategies and goals that are realistic and meaningful for them.

In your opinion, what are the most promising mental health challenges facing women and men?

In my opinion, some of the most pressing mental health challenges today revolve around stress, anxiety, depression, and the pressures of balancing personal and professional life. For women in particular, societal expectations, gender bias, and body image pressures can take a significant toll. Women are often expected to excel at work, manage family responsibilities, maintain social roles, and meet certain standards of weight and beauty appearances. Society frequently makes remarks or judgments about women’s bodies and looks, which lowers their self-esteem. Men also face challenges, like societal pressure to suppress emotions, which can lead to untreated stress or depression. Addressing these challenges requires awareness, supportive environments, and access to mental health resources

What role do you think society can play in reducing stigma around therapy and counselling?

Society plays a crucial role in reducing the stigma around therapy and counselling. By openly talking about mental health, sharing personal experiences, and normalizing seeking support, we can challenge the idea that needing help is a sign of weakness. Media, workplaces, schools, and communities all have a part to play in creating safe, supportive environments where people feel comfortable accessing mental health care. Education and awareness campaigns can also help people understand that therapy isn’t just for crises

Psychology can be emotionally demanding. How do you maintain your own mental health and balance work like pressures?

Psychology can definitely be emotionally demanding and it’s not a field that is suited for everyone. Maintaining my own mental health is a priority. I make a deliberate effort to detach from work at the end of the day, which allows me to process my own emotions and recharge. I also practice regular self-care, such as meditation, listening to music, and spending time with my family. Seeking supervision and peer support helps me gain perspective on challenging cases, ensuring I don’t carry that emotional weight alone

Would you say has been your most rewarding experience as a Psychologist?

Looking back, the most rewarding part of my work in psychology is hearing a client say, ‘I feel so much better after speaking to you.’ In those moments, I’m reminded that simply being present, listening without judgment, and offering support can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Knowing that I’ve helped someone feel lighter, more understood, or more hopeful is incredibly fulfilling and just reinforces why I chose this profession.

Where privacy and social perceptions matter greatly. How do you help individuals feel safe and comfortable seeking psychological support?

In a close-knit society where privacy and social perceptions are deeply valued, some women face pressures from traditional family expectations, including arranged marriages and strict cultural norms. To help them feel safe seeking psychological support, I focus on creating a space built on trust and understanding. For many, it’s the first time they can truly voice their thoughts and emotions, and helping them express themselves is incredibly empowering. By being sensitive to their cultural and societal context, I guide them towards confidence, emotional relief, and the belief that their feelings matter.

Ultimately, I hope this helps people understand the importance of mental wellbeing and seeking support when needed. I believe that at some stage, everyone can benefit from counselling. It’s not just for when you face a problem, seeking support can help you understand yourself better, manage challenges, and grow stronger. Life is always changing and nothing stays the same forever. By taking steps to care for our minds, we can move forward with clarity, courage, and a sense of inner balance, trusting that even difficult moments will pass.

By Zanita Careem ✍️

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Life style

Grace, grooming and confidence

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The leadership team behind the academy at the head table

Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

Life style

From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

Life style

Pakistan’s 86th National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan with traditional flavour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive democratic welfare state.

The day commemorates a defining moment that led the foundation for the creation of Pakistan.

The ceremony commenced with the raising of their national flag, fluttering proudly against the morning sky, symbolising faith, unity and discipline, the ideals upon which the nation was built. Dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and guests gathered in silence as the national anthem resonated creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and national pride .

Cultural elegance added a distinctive charm to the occasion, with traditional attire and warm exchanges reflecting the rich heritage of Pakistan. Guests were later invited to partake in light refreshments, providing an opportunity for cordial interacton and celebration.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tune of Pakistan’s national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan High Commission

The National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23rd March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Special messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were readout, in which both the leaders highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in her message on the occasion said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka continue to maintain their traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations, based on mutual respect and trust. She said that the strength of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka relationship lies in diversified engagement in many fields such as trade, defence, science, culture, and education. She also extended sincere greetings and best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Sri Lanka.