Thushera Kawdawatta Associated Director of Technology and Chief Software Architect Virtusa Corporation shares his story

11-June-2009

Thushera Kawdawatta Associated Director of Technology and Chief Software Architect Virtusa

He possessed a childhood dream to be a musician, which nurtured to be a doctor, changed dramatically when he showed his interest in electronics and mathematics while schooling. As an individual who always wanted to learn new avenues and practice innovativeness, he joined a private computer institute to pass time pending A/L results. Born in Kawdawatta, a petite village within the city limit of Kurunegala, hailing from Maliyadeva College Thushera Kawdawatta is at present the Associated Director of Technology and Chief Software Architect in one of the leading global software IT Consulting and Outsourcing Services provider Virtusa Corporation.

My interview began with the query why he selected IT as a career path he answered glee fully My parents were wholly supportive in whatever decisions I made. Since childhood, Ive always thought of creative innovation that would make a change globally. I didnt see or feel a computer in my life until I was 18 years old. I obtained a basic knowledge in IT initially at IIT and understood the extent of innovations that could be achieved. I absorbed the value of new technology understanding that IT is always about innovation. I realized information management and systems automations can help cut short unproductive time. My next question was about the impact IT has made in his life.

Thushera smiled and explained Having exposure to a global community and, highly professional individuals in different cultures and societies, made me an opened, humble, meaningful person than what I was, a pure technologist 12 years back." I wanted him to elaborate on his point, People I meet every day at office are highly educated, with very high intellect plus greater level of common sense. I learn from each and everyone that I meet and interact with. When designing an IT system, we need to be perfectionists and wider angles to a single problem are always considered. This trait has given me an ability to think rationally and act professionally in my personal life too. Considering another persons angle is very vital as were automating complex systems in a more generic yet complex and dynamic systems using wide range of technologies. Being in IT, I learnt to observe through others views and help them understand to handle difficult situations. Ive seen the IT evolution, and realized the importance of adoptability even with my family, children, neighbours and the society I am attached to. I asked his advice for our future IT talent he answered promptly Every single individual by nature is innovative, few of them will get an opportunity to leverage it. IT by design challenges every individual to be innovative and creative if not; he or she will be unsuccessful.

If youre not challenged, you do not know your capabilities, capacity, hence theres a lack of growth. IT gives everyone an opportunity to freely use every innovative idea they have. He winded it up in grand style You are exposed to the entire world and your contributions are leveraged worldwide. IT intern gives you the freedom to be more creative, and no boundaries to work on. Currently his job responsibility focuses on heading the entire technology committee in Virtusa Sri Lanka plus talent management, broad management and retention. Thushera continues to strengthen the IT community been an active lecturer helping the ICT education sector in Universities and academic institutes like Open University, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, IIT and SLIIT. He believes there is a talented pool of IT students, who can perform and enhance the IT sector in Sri Lanka.