Nilantha Costa
A sense of community
Q: How do you maintain a connection with your Sri Lankan cultural heritage while living in Malaysia?
A: A great part of my cultural heritage is kept alive with the help of family and friends.
This is especially true of my wife, who keeps the traditions alive by preparing Sri Lankan food and following auspicious traditions, so that our children and I can embrace our heritage even though we’re more than 3,000 kilometres away from home.
Moreover, we like to maintain ties with the Sri Lankan community, embassy and Buddhist temple in Malaysia, which enables us to bridge the gap between the two countries and keeps us connected to our motherland.
Q: What aspects of Sri Lankan cuisine do you miss the most – and how do you satisfy those cravings in Malaysia?
A: One particular combination of dishes that I usually crave is white rice with black pork curry, breadfruit curry and baby jackfruit curry.
My loving wife usually takes time out of her day to prepare these dishes for me. As they say in my generation, ‘Sri Lankan wife, Sri Lankan food!’
Q: How do you find the balance between preserving your Sri Lankan identity and integrating with Malaysian society?
A: Back in school at St. Peter’s College, being exposed to a mix of cultures from a young age has enabled me to assimilate into Malaysian society easily.
Moreover, being patriotic by nature, I consider myself to be a person who embraces aspects of both cultures that resonate with me the most. Ultimately, it’s about honouring my heritage while also appreciating and respecting the culture of Malaysia.
Q: Are there any Sri Lankan community events or gatherings in Malaysia that you participate in?
A: As an engaged participant of the Sri Lankan Workers’ Welfare Society, I collaborate closely with the Buddhist temple and Sri Lankan embassy to orchestrate various events – including the recent Rhythms of Hope with the Marians.
My involvement in these initiatives stems from a profound commitment to fostering a sense of community among Sri Lankan expatriates residing in Malaysia.
By helping with the coordination of these gatherings, we as a collective aim to provide a supportive environment where individuals can cultivate a sense of belonging and connection in their adopted home.
Q: What are the main differences you’ve noticed between the lifestyles in Sri Lanka and Malaysia since relocating to the latter?
A: The primary distinction I’ve observed lies in the balance between work and personal life. Since relocating to Malaysia, I’ve embraced golf – a pursuit that would have been challenging to maintain in Sri Lanka.
Establishing my own logistics and trading business has afforded me the flexibility to prioritise both professional endeavours and personal interests.
Furthermore, the convenience of daily life here facilitates efficient task completion, and enables me to explore various activities while dedicating ample time to nurturing relationships with friends and family.
In a holistic sense, I’d say this contrasts with the bustling and demanding lifestyle I experienced in Sri Lanka, where leisure time was often limited by hectic schedules.
We as a collective aim to provide a supportive environment where individuals can cultivate a sense of belonging and connection in their adopted home
FACT FILE
FAMILY
Wife – Subhashinie
Son – Nalintha
Daughters – Nimna and Navodha
SCHOOLING
St. Peter’s College
HIGHER EDUCATION
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS)
PRESENT OCCUPATION
CEO/Founder and Director of Adovan Asia
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE
Malaysia
CITY OF RESIDENCE
Petaling Jaya
CV IN A NUTSHELL
Nilantha Costa is a dedicated professional with a passion for innovation and problem solving. With his background in shipping and trading, he has honed his skills in timber trading and cargo shipping, enabling him to contribute to his team’s success.
Costa takes pride in his ability to have built Adovan Asia into one of the leading timber suppliers to Sri Lanka, which he believes has been instrumental in keeping the company going for over 10 years.
He strives to embody his core values such as ‘working with people instead of for people’ and make a positive impact in everything he does.