Nayomi Amarasiri aged 29 is currently sailing the seas across the world as Sri Lanka’s first and only female seafarer to be hired on an international cruise liner.
Naomi who hails from a naval home with both her brothers serving in the Sri Lankan Navy, (with one of them retiring recently owing to family commitments) always nurtured a wild dream since her childhood to ride the seas in whatever capacity.
Dreams
And there she was on October realising her dreams when she set foot on the gangway of the gigantic and majestic luxury cruise liner from a port in Norway in October last year.
Since then Nayomi has rode the waves on the Ida Aidosol for the past eight months in the capacity of a deck utility hand and has had the opportunity of sailing into ports at Sweden, Germany, Spain Portugal, the UK, France Netherland, Scotland and Denmark.
Described by her immediate bosses as a hard working and cheerful youngster she was even selected as the employee of the year from an estimated 6,000 staff that included individuals from more than 20 countries such as the Philippines, Germany, Italy, Austria, Romania Indonesia and Thailand.
NUSS
Nayamomi’s trading to be where she is today started with a training from the Mahapola Institute sponsored by the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and generously funded by the Japanese Government and supported by the Voice of Migrant Workers.
The Aidosol has a length of 253 metres with a tonnage 71, 304 and could accommodate some 2,000 passengers.
She added that the bulk of her co-workers are friendly and cheerful in nature and very helpful at all times although communication could somewhat be difficult at times owing to the difficult nationalities.
“But things could be solved as time goes on. My final message to other female youngsters try a voyage and break the bondage at home and in the local society. After sailing for some eight months and taking in a monthly salary of US$ 93,000 she is currently on off shore leave.
She is anxiously waiting for a re-appointment to be arranged by the NUSS.
The NUSS is a local maritime trade union that monitors the welfare of Sri Lankan sea workers across the world.