Special Feature

Buddhika Prasad Perera, IT Executive, MTI Consulting

PR 2.0 Champion Ashan Kumar met Buddhika Prasad Perera, IT Executive, MTI Consulting to understand How “IT” changed his life… log on to prwire.blog.com for the uncut version

“There are lots of opportunities in the IT industry. Without the knowledge in IT I don’t think anyone can survive in the future world, is my opinion. Every industry cannot function with out Information Technology. I am very happy to see Sri Lanka initiating the use of IT as a tool to develop education, health and finance systems. If you want to compete and challenge the world at the same time gain success in your life, Information Technology is the area for you” said a vibrant young Buddhika an ex Cambrian living in Panadura.

8-Sep-2009

Ashan Kumar met Vice President Technology and Operations, eMarketingEye (Pvt) Ltd Anupriya Jayathilake to understand How “IT” changed his life.

Anupriya Jayathilake, Vice President Technology and Operations, eMarketingEye (Pvt) Ltd

“Developing a skilled IT workforce would help Sri Lanka be more visible in the global IT solution market. Our people are talented and IT savvy. Our developers are capable of delivering world class products.

As a country we should not miss this opportunity” are the thoughts of Vice President Technology and Operations eMarketingEye Anupriya Jayathilake. Born in the hill capital, the youngest in a family of three brothers and a sister, he schooled at Kingswood College, his childhood dream was to become an Engineer.

28-Aug-2009

Jeyavani Rishikesan Senior QA Lead hSenid Mobile Solutions Pvt(Ltd)

PR 2.0 Evangelist Ashan Kumar met Jeyavani Rishikesan Senior QA Lead hSenid Mobile Solutions Pvt (Ltd) to understand How “IT” changed her life… log on to prwire.blog.com for the uncut version

IT (Information Technology) is a science which is constantly changing as a scientific discipline out of research and development activities in the fields of technology, data base technology, software technology, video technology and communication technology, to the adaptation to a vital part of everyday life.

Isuru Amalka Senadheera

PR 2.0 Evangelist Ashan Kumar met Isuru Amalka Senadheera, Software Engineer, Eurocenter DDC (Pvt) Ltd to understand How “IT” changed his life… log on to prwire.blog.com for the uncut version

Born in Galle and brought up in Balapitiya his parents are government employees. He considers himself fortunate for his education at Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda. After his A/Ls he received a higher education at University of Moratuwa. Having passed out from university last March, young vibrant Isuru works as a Software Engineer at Eurocenter DDC Ltd, in the present.

Anton Sachith Kevin Fernandopulle

PR Consultant Ashan Kumar met Anton Sachith Kevin Fernandopulle, Assistant Vice President – Operations Epic Lanka Technologies Private Limited to understand How “IT” changed his life… log on to prwire.blog.com for the uncut version

At least quarter of the young generation in Sri Lanka dream of becoming either a doctor or an engineer and it is quite significant as to how some individual’s dreams shift along the path of life. May be due to the influence I had from my parents, teachers and classmates my dreams did not deviated much from the common goal of being either a doctor or an engineer.

7-July-2009

Ashan Kumar met Balathasan Sayanthan, Solutions Architect hSenid Mobile Solutions to understand how ‘IT’ changed his life...

Having been born in Jaffna and brought up in the hill capital, Sayanthan is definitely a humble individual with an ambition and force to be a respected person in this industry one day. “My family and my alma mater are my greatest sources of energy,” he said.

“As a child my dreams and ambitions were circumspect, I wished I travelled the world like Ian Wright, the host of the Discovery Channel program Lonely Planet I forever used to dream about travelling around the globe. I didn’t dream of having anything to do with computers as I wasn’t aware of the opportunities available in the IT sector and the ICT domain. Secondly I thought that others around me were much better than me, when it comes to handling machines and gadgets,” he said.

12-June-2009

Imalka De Silva, Assistant Manager Software Development IFS Research & Development (Pvt) Limited

Background

My parents were government employees and we lived in Kandy during my primary education at Dharmaraja College in Kandy. Our family moved to Colombo when I got in to Royal College through year 5 scholarship. I completed my degree in Information Systems at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK where I graduated with second (upper) class honors. While I was studying for my undergraduate degree I started my career at IFS as a Trainee Software Engineer. I completed my Master of Business Administration degree last year from Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

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.

Ashan Kumar met with Kalhara Welendagoda Manager, Professional Services and Support hSenid Mobile Solutions to understand How “IT” changed his life…

His early childhood dream was wavering between the aspiration to become a doctor and an engineer. He finished his A/Ls in Mathematics and was selected to Engineering faculty of Peradeniya University. He graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, born in Kandy, to a family which always valued education. H is father was a government servant, and mother, a housewife, Kalhara studied at St Anthony’s College, Kandy.

6-May-2009
By Ashan Kumar

Ashan Kumar met Sadeepa Ravinath Palliyaguru to understand, How "IT" changed his life.

Associate Software Engineer and Technical Writer OPRO Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Sadeepa Ravinath Palliyaguru

"My Childhood dream was to become a doctor. An astrologer and many palm readers predicted that I would be a skilled surgeon. My father who was a physics teacher then, collected notes. However I had to travel a different path at my A/L". I entered into a dialogue with somewhat of an introvert, possessing commendable leadership skills from tender age. Sadeepa can be described as a personality who encompasses "quiet potential".

4-Apr-2009
By Ashan Kumara

I recently got the opportunity meet a schoolmate of mine, in his school days I remember him as a very active scout and a person with fine leadership skills. Presently the Manager Software Development at IFS Research and Development (Pvt) Ltd, Azmaan recalls how his life shifted, through the vista of ‘IT’.

“I didn’t have a specific ambition as a child. However during my A/Ls I wanted to pursue my higher studies in the IT field as a result of increased awareness in the field and personal interest” said Azmaan. Describing his background he said, “I come from a business oriented family and resided in Colombo where I schooled at Wesley College.

15-Feb-2009

Ashan Kumar met young Rajitha Dahanayake CEO eMarketingEye to understand How “IT” changed his life...

I got the opportunity to meet up-coming young exuberant Rajitha Dahanayake a fan of cricket and a voracious reader. Rajitha said that he had never dreamt to become a doctor or an engineer.

“I forever sought to be an entrepreneur, managing my own business. My father is a senior government officer, and I found myself travelling with him to his duty stations.

I had to attend six schools and I ended up at D.S. Senanayake College to finish my A/Ls from grade 10,” said Rajitha. Presently he is the Founder and CEO of eMarketingEye, which offers a wide range of online marketing solutions to improve the performance and visibility of online marketing.

2-Feb-2009

Ashan Kumar meets Manager Operations hSenid Mobile Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Dumidu Nayanamithra, to understand How 'IT' changed his life...

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Dumidu Nayanamithra possessed a childhood dream of being a journalist with the intention to travel to all parts of the world.

An old boy of Dharmaraja College Kandy who studied Biology for his A/Ls, he is from a middle class family where both the parents were government servants who did not have any idea about IT.

He recalls "I didn't have any exposure to the IT field until I completed my A/Ls". I asked him how he got exposed to the IT field. He answered "My initial IT exposure was at IDM, Kandy where I did my initial "Computer Course". Then moved to Colombo and enrolled at NIBM (National Institute of Business Management) where I did the Diploma and Higher Diploma. After which I completed my first degree at NIBM, offered by National University of Ireland. Later I did a Masters Degree in IT at the University of Colombo, School of Computing (UCSC). I queried further and he explained "After completing my A/Ls, I was thinking about various career paths. I became very frustrated with my A/L results and during this period I did my own research where I used to refer all vacancy advertisements in weekend papers and I found out that Accounting and Computing has a lot of opportunities out in the market.

18-Jan-2009

Ashan Kumar met Asanga Marasinghe, Manager Software Development IFS Research and Development to understand How 'IT' changed his life...

A naturalist and an adventurer with a desire to explore wildlife, spending his leisure taking part in safaris at the Yala and Wasgamuwa is how I can describe young Asanga Marasinghe who is currently the Manager Software Development at IFS Sri Lanka, a global enterprise solutions company.

He recalled his school days at Nalanda College, Colombo, where his aim was to become a civil engineer, following the mathematics stream, as advised by his parents. His father is a retired draughtsman and mother a retired teacher. "While I was schooling I haven't heard of the term "Software Engineer" said Asanga. He said "My life changed completely as I strived hard to get into Informatics Institute, after my A/Ls. I had to complete five tests to get into the application process. And I succeeded." He added "I aspired to become a software engineer, as this was the time the country was facing an Information Technology revival, the IT boom in Sri Lanka, made a vast change in my life".

13-Jan-2009

"I peeked through our living room entrance to see my father, deep in concentration, in front of him was a TV with a type writer, I stood there for a while to see what he was doing, but I didn't understand anything.

I swiftly ran to my mother who was preparing dinner and asked what exactly is dad doing"? She grinned, lifted me from the ground, looked into my eyes and said, "Your dad is working on a commodore 64 computer." For me this was amusement and I burst out laughing," said Nayana Somaratne presently the Chairman of Paradox Software, recollecting his initial experience with a computer.

16-Jan-2009

"I want to be a fighter pilot" said young vibrant Shalinka when her parents were curious about what plans the tom boy in the family had about her future. She laughs and goes on to explain how she wanted to explore new avenues, and how curious she was to experience adventure and excitement. She reminicises how her friends wanted to become a doctor, engineer and a teacher, and being a fighter pilot was quite a contrast ambition to imagine.

Born and raised in Nugegoda, an old girl of Anula Vidyalaya, Shalinka Jayatilleke is presently the Business Development Manager plus a lecturer at Sri Lanka's premier degree awarding education institute, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.