Lankan in France: A bright spark
by Rikaza Hassan
"I cried," he says simply, speaking of the emotional defeat of France
at the hands of the Azzuri at the World Cup (Football) finals. "I didn't
expect France to get that far. It was an amazing feeling knowing that
they were in the finals. I still think they should have won," he adds
vehemently.
Lakshitha Piyumsara Wagalath, who turned twenty-one but a week ago,
is a Sri Lankan born citizen of France. And like all other French
football fans he does not relish the prospect of reliving the
emotionally charged match and its repercussions to French national
pride. Approaching with hesitation, "He (Zinedine Zidane) is a great
player, one of the greatest players ever. What happened was just part of
the sport and while it is sad for him, I think people will remember him
for how good he actually was."

Lakshitha migrated to France at the tender age of three with his
parents and immediate family in tow. Living his life in Paris and
schooling at the prestigious Louis Le Grand school, he remained on for
an extra two years after completing his secondary studies, in
preparation studies to enter the Ecole Polytechnique.
"I sat for the examinations in 2005 and was one of the 400 chosen out
of the 5,000 who applied. I also came in 9th among the 80 selected for
the mathematics/physics/engineering sector."
The Ecole Polytechnique, "founded in 1794 and given its soul by the
Emperor Napoleon," is an institution of higher education and research,
supported by the state. The most highly competitive university for
sciences in the country, nearly 50% of the largest multinational firms
in France are headed by its alumni or alumnae.
Lakshitha has currently finished his first of the three years of
studies of the diploma 'Ingenieur de L'Ecole Polytechnique', which is
equivalent to several MSc degrees. "The Polytechnique has been under the
Department of Defense since 1970 and hence the first year comprises of a
eight month long military training regimen." The Leadership in Training
course is taught alongside the core curriculum of the first year. "I had
to study at least six subjects including economic analysis, computer
science, mathematics, applied mathematics and quantum mechanics."
"The military training was tough - getting used to the military
discipline. I spent one month in a military camp where I was assigned
the specific task of immigration control." Lakshitha was incorporated
into the gendarmerie - the French police, at the end of his officer
training stint. "We also spent time doing community service and menial
labour. The school requires that we spend at least some time in the
place of the people whom we will manage in the future."
His present goal is to finish his diploma and move on to the Advanced
Graduate Degree, "where I get to go abroad, may be to the U.S.A. - the
New York University or Columbia - to complete my research and
internship. I also get to specialise more though I have no idea in what
specific area right now." He is still clueless as to what he wishes to
do afterwards. "I'm very fond of mathematics and I also like finance a
lot, so it might be an interesting avenue for me, though I really don't
know right now."
Speaking of growing up in France with a Lankan background, he says
integration was never a problem. "My parents learnt the language and I
learnt it from them as a child. As a teenager, my friends were French
but separate from my family so there really was no clash as such." As an
independent adult however, he finds things slightly different. "It's
difficult culturally because I know I belong in a Sinhalese Buddhist
culture. Living alone I have to cope with it by myself."
Nevertheless Lakshitha feels he is fortunate to have grown up in
France. "It's a whole world of opportunities, especially in the
scientific field with internationally recognized qualifications." And of
course with his near and dear always close at hand, easy access to his
favourite and the latest movies, and his passion for football fulfilled
(he plays for a school team), Lakshitha has no reason to complain. |