About Siri Bandagiriye

Siri Bandagiriye speaking about Saati, holding a microphone

My name is Siri Bandagiriye. I'm a Sri Lankan immigrant living in Halifax, and I write every answer on this site.

For 30 years I have practised as a Buddhist monk and taught mindfulness. For the past six years I have also worked with Correctional Service Canada as a chaplain and reintegration coordinator, supporting youth and adults in crisis. My education combines a Bachelor of Information Technology with master's-level study in mental health.

I founded a non-profit whose members are more than 90% immigrants, now running in three locations across the Maritimes. Through that work I saw two needs up close: second-generation immigrant youth have very few places to find culturally safe mental health support, and many seniors in Atlantic Canada are deeply lonely.

That is why I built Saati, which means "companion". It is a companion app built on a care model that comes from contemplative practice and crisis chaplaincy, not from a conventional chatbot. The app launched on October 9, 2026, alongside World Mental Health Day. Next, we are building a tabletop companion for older adults who live alone. Saati is made by Inspire Sirius Living Inc., a Nova Scotia company.

How I answer these questions

I tell you what an app can't do as plainly as what it can.
I don't call Saati therapy, and I don't claim it treats or diagnoses anything.
When I cite research, I link to the original study.
Every page points to real people: 988, 911, Kids Help Phone, and the people in your own life.

You can reach the Saati team at info@saati.ca, or find me on LinkedIn. If you'd like to see what I've built, Saati is free to try.