Saying he was ‘Strengthened by the lion’s might”, Jaith Nathavitharana is the youngest Sri Lankan
to climb to Everest Base Camp
At just 15, Jaith Adithya Nathavitharana has become the youngest Sri Lankan to reach Everest Base Camp, after already summiting Kilimanjaro at 13, and now sets his sights on Europe’s Mount Elbrus and Antarctica’s Mount Vinson in his pursuit of the Seven Summits dream.
- Jaith Adithya Nathavitharana climbed to Everest Base Camp at 15 years, 4 months
- Summitted Stella Point, Mount Kilimanjaro at 13 year, 8 months
- Sets sights on Europe’s tallest mountain – Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Vinson,
tallest mountain in Antarctica
The youngest Sri Lankan to reach Everest Base Camp, Jaith Adithya Nathavitharana, achieved this
feat at just 15 years and 4 months. Now, he sets his sights on summiting Mount Elbrus, the tallest
mountain in Europe, and Mount Vinson, the tallest in Antarctica. At 13, on 10 August 2023, Jaith
summited Stella Point of Mount Kilimanjaro and pledged to himself to climb the Seven Summits,
including Everest Base Camp, sooner rather than later. Mount Elbrus in Russia stands at 18,510 ft,
while Mount Vinson reaches 16,050 ft.
“As cliché as it may sound, I am truly proud of myself. Strengthened by the lion’s might, it was an
amazing experience overall, and being the youngest there is simply the cherry on top,” he says
with a sense of achievement. A Year 9 student at Colombo International School Kandy with a
penchant for History, Business Studies, and Biology, Jaith relied on his sports background in
football and badminton to build stamina and endurance.
“In comparison to summiting Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp was truly more special. It was less
rushed and more relaxed. We stayed about 30 minutes, taking photographs and enjoying the
surroundings, whereas on Kilimanjaro, it was five minutes, one photograph, and then
turnaround.” Jaith, who collects ornamental fish and plays video games as hobbies, also swims
and plays chess, adding to his vast extracurricular repertoire, which includes being a member of
the Model United Nations.
While the adrenaline rush of seeing the words Everest Base Camp etched into the rock is hard to
express in words, Jaith, who felt a mix of joy, achievement, and shock at having reached the Base
Camp, also had some grounding moments on the climb. “The lives led by the mountain people on
Everest and other peaks in the region were shocking. The Sherpas, for instance, earn barely
enough to live even though they carry 15 to 30 kg on a given trip. The Everest region feels like time
has stood still. There are no cars, no running water, and yaks and mules are used for ferrying
necessities, while these Sherpas climb to and fro to earn their living. It’s not an easy life for them.”
Jaith recalls that the biggest challenge was the altitude, with breathing becoming harder as the
climb grew steeper. “We would usually start climbing at about 6:30 am, walking an average of
seven hours daily. The higher we went, the more difficult the days became, and those final days
were truly challenging – fighting altitude and fatigue, which hit me in the last few days.”
He does, however, acknowledge that memories are not just made of reaching Base Camp. “Visiting
tea houses, crossing suspension bridges, climbing alongside mules and yaks, soaking in the
beautiful landscape of glaciers and temples, experiencing the spiritual side of the mountain, and
meeting experienced mountaineers who kept encouraging me – all of these are memories I will
cherish. It is amazing how every climber becomes a part of the mountain and the culture in the
region. The experience truly helped me bond more with my father and this climb was special
because it was my way of getting back at him for Kili,” he adds with a smile.
Though his career ambition is not ‘mountain-oriented’ but rather focused on becoming a
professional footballer playing in the Champions League one day, Jaith says he will not attempt an
Everest climb again. “It’s a little too nerve-wracking and has too many negatives. But I am
preparing for the next two climbs – the tallest in Europe and the tallest in Antarctica.”
Grateful for the support his teachers and friends extended to ensure he didn’t miss any
schoolwork while away, Jaith encourages other young people to try mountaineering. “Just
remember, once you start, there’s no going back – as one person on the mountain told me. All you
need is a trekking pole and good layering. From there, it becomes an addiction. It is truly a soul-
cleansing experience, builds self-confidence, and is a very useful way to find yourself.”
