A heart attack pushed Dr Sarath Jayawardana to finally put pen to paper.
The Canning resident had long carried the desire to share his life story, not for those walking beside him, but for those walking behind him.
“I postponed it for many years despite my daughter’s encouragement,” Dr Jayawardana said.
“The turning point came after a cardiac event last year that led to urgent bypass surgery. It forced me to confront the fragility of life.”
The result is ‘Unchartered Horizons: A journey of Resilience’, a memoir that retraces his path from rural Sri Lanka to suburban Perth. It touched on migration, identity, hardship and personal growth.
Dr Jayawardana left Sri Lanka in the late 1980s during a period of civil unrest. He arrived in Australia alone, without a plan, and began the process of rebuilding his life. There were legal battles over the right to practice acupuncture, financial struggles, and a near collapse of his college after a policy change caused most of the students to leave.
Most recently, he faced a serious health crisis. Each chapter of his life, he said, demanded something new.
“Resilience isn’t just about surviving,” he said.
“It’s the capacity to face adversity, adapt, learn, and return stronger. Life doesn’t always follow the script we write, but we can rewrite the next chapter.”
Now in his 60s, he reflects on how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership and to life. He speaks of integrity, gratitude, discipline, and the value of choosing the right companions.
“I believe in empowering others, leading with authenticity, and seeing every setback as a setup for a greater comeback,” he said.
Dr Jayawardana has lived in the City of Canning for over 20 years. According to him, it is a place where he found belonging, support, and room to grow.
While the book is personal, the story it tells mirrors that of many others.
“Every migrant’s story is unique,” he said. “But many of us share similar themes… sacrifice, starting from scratch, and navigating cultures. I think it will resonate with others who have taken bold steps into the unknown.”
To young people, especially those from migrant backgrounds, he said, “This is your story to write. Don’t let fear or doubt hold your pen.”
For Dr Jayawardana, writing the book wasn’t about revisiting the past, it was about passing something on.
He said, “What I’m most proud of is being able to honestly share my journey and express my deep gratitude for a country that gave me a second chance at life. Over the past 34+ years, I’ve served in many roles…educator, mentor, business owner, lawyer and advocate… and this book is, in many ways, a culmination of those efforts. It’s my way of giving back and hopefully offering light to others finding their way.”
That memoir is set to launch in Perth on June 8.
