Why the section 'adoption and Sri Lanka'

 

Perhaps the suspicion was already there, or you have already read it elsewhere, but I (Shamila) was adopted from Sri Laka. That is also the explanation why we (I) have a strong bond with this beautiful island. I am proud that my roots are there, and I think it is important that my daughters know that they are half Sinhalese and half Dutch. But 'being proud of your roots or 'having a strong connection with' sounds logical, although sometimes it is not so black and white with adoption. Because 'I should be happy that I grew up here', at least that is the opinion of the majority.

 

In this section I want to tell more about my experience regarding adoption, my story. I tell this from my perspective, which means that it describes my opinion, feelings and emotions. Between 3000 and 4000 children from Sri Lanka have been adopted by Dutch couples. That in itself is special that it is an estimate, you would say that this 'administration' is on order.

 

For many people, adoption is a far-from-my-bed show, and the collective thinking about adoptive children is that "they have it better here than there." Recent program 'with open arms' is such a program that (in my opinion) was mainly made from the point of view of the intended parent.

 

And a program such as trackless does show a different side of adoption, but even then there is little attention for the side of the adopted child. And of course this is not possible when they are still babies, but it can be for a later age. Fortunately, there are many success stories, but unfortunately there are also stories where things did not end well or where permanent damage has occurred. As my husband always says, "you can take the girl out of the island, but you can't take the island out of the girl." And that is something that is certainly true.

 

Recently there has been a lot going on about adoption, on Zembla there has been a short series about adoption fraud and adopted children have also spoken in other talk shows who wanted answers from the state. Finally, the adoptees are heard, or at least given a place to tell their story and their side of the adoption.

 

I want to do the same here, inform people and share my story.