Chaminda Character Analysis in Foreign Soil

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Chaminda is a Sri Lankan man who befriends Asanka when they’re both passengers on a fishing boat full of people seeking asylum. During the journey, and after, when they’re detained and sent to the Villawood Immigration Detention Center, Chaminda acts as Asanka’s protector. Loretta, who was previously a lawyer at the center, arranged for Chaminda’s release, but his case fell through the cracks, stalling his release. In response, Chaminda seemingly poisoned himself and died, leaving Asanka to navigate things alone. It’s Chaminda who told Loretta to visit Asanka and try to help him, but by the time Loretta sees Asanka, she’s only a volunteer and so can’t do anything to really help Asanka.

Chaminda Character Timeline in Foreign Soil

The timeline below shows where the character Chaminda appears in Foreign Soil. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Just then, another passenger, a small man (Chaminda), gets up from his place on the cabin floor. Reasoning that Asanka is just a... (full context)

Asanka’s thoughts are interrupted when Mustache walks over to the man (Chaminda) who helped Asanka and attacks his face with the fish knife. The man clutches his... (full context)

...he moves on to the next room. Asanka has had a room to himself since Chaminda died. Asanka goes about his morning routine, using his watch to count the seconds that... (full context)

...in bed all day, but they’ve been making him get up at 7:45 ever since Chaminda’s death. It’s hard for Asanka to find ways to fill his days. He thinks he... (full context)

Asanka remembers when the cleaner found Chaminda’s body; it was covered in vomit and had been sitting there for a day before... (full context)

...boat, Asanka wakes up soaking wet. His right hand is tied to the bench with Chaminda’s shirt—Chaminda did this after Asanka told him he couldn’t swim. Now, the storm has passed,... (full context)

...Blaxland Unit, which is where they send people who are unwell. He’s been there before. Chaminda tried to tell them that he’s just a boy, but Immigration doesn’t believe him. And... (full context)

...Loretta’ purse. “There was an incident recently,” she explains. But Loretta already knows about this; Chaminda was one of her cases. Loretta is irritated when the officer tells Loretta she can’t... (full context)

...he walks inside, and nobody stops him. He knows to look for the woman’s (Loretta) hair—Chaminda told him the woman would be able to help him. As he waits for her,... (full context)

In a flashback to Asanka’s journey aboard the boat, Chaminda and Ponytail frantically yell at Asanka to pull himself up out of the water (Asanka... (full context)

...Asanka doesn’t smile back. 10:16:55, Asanka is facing Loretta. She has red hair, just like Chaminda said she would. But it’s a nice red, like a sunset—not like blood. She looks... (full context)

Asanka tells Loretta that Chaminda is dead, and Loretta immediately knows he must be Asanka—Chaminda told her so much about... (full context)

Communication and Misunderstanding Theme Icon

On Loretta’s last day at the center, Chaminda’s case was almost closed. She left a note detailing his release memoranda on Viv’s computer,... (full context)

In the present, Asanka observes Loretta. She looks sad when he says Chaminda’s name. All Asanka wants to do is wrap his arms around the woman’s waist and... (full context)

...and screams. The men on the boat are soldiers, and he knows what soldiers do. Chaminda runs to Asanka and kneels beside him to comfort him; he promises that the men... (full context)

...blanket around him. A man in a uniform asks if there was anyone else onboard. Chaminda tells him about the man they lost but admits that he doesn’t know the man’s... (full context)