Anthony & Tharaka’s Story of Friendship Beyond War

From Division to Discovery

In a country still healing from the long shadow of civil war, stories of reconciliation are precious and rare. But sometimes, in the most unexpected places, they bloom. This is the story of Anthony and Tharaka, two young men from opposite sides of Sri Lanka’s ethnic divide, brought together by Play for Peace. What started as training became a powerful journey of listening, unlearning, and ultimately, friendship.

Their paths crossed in early 2025 at the Play for Peace youth training in Kandy. It wasn’t just a workshop, it was a space where laughter replaced fear and shared games replaced inherited prejudice. Both Anthony, from the Tamil-majority North, and Tharaka, from the Sinhalese South, arrived carrying unspoken histories. But through moments of play balancing, building, creating together, their bodies and minds began to speak a new language of trust.

“I always thought we were so different,” Tharaka admitted. “But playing together made me realize how much we’ve all carried. And how much we want the same things: peace, safety, joy.”

The games created space for vulnerability. For the first time, Anthony shared his memories of growing up during the conflict, of silence and fear. Tharaka listened, really listened. And in return, he opened up about his own journey through misunderstanding and inherited bias.

Their friendship deepened not in grand gestures, but in small, everyday moments: sharing meals, laughing over awkward icebreakers, walking side-by-side after sessions.

By the end of the training, they weren’t just participants—they were brothers on purpose.

Why It Matters: A Microcosm of Peace

Anthony and Tharaka’s story is a living reminder that peace doesn’t come from policy alone. It grows in quiet spaces where people meet without armor, without labels, just as humans.

As they return to their respective communities, they carry more than memories, they carry a living example that reconciliation is possible. Through their continued involvement with Play for Peace, they are planting seeds of empathy and unity among other youth, one session at a time.

Friendship like theirs is both fragile and powerful. It needs nurturing, storytelling, and shared spaces to grow. Play for Peace is committed to expanding these spaces, not just in Kandy, but across Sri Lanka.

Anthony and Tharaka’s story reminds us that even in places marked by division, the simple act of playing together can break barriers generations in the making.

#PlayforPeace #FriendshipBeyondBorders #PeaceThroughPlay #YouthLeadership #SriLanka #Reconciliation #HealingTogether