When I was quite small I can still remember as to how I stepped into the school premises for the first time while holding the hand of my dad. I still recall my classmates entering into the classroom, attired in brilliant white school uniform while carrying beautiful water bottles and school bags. My poor little soul wept within myself for not been able to carry such a beautiful water bottle and bag attired in brilliant white uniform. My poor parents could not afford them. Anyhow amidst a lot of financial constrains my parents managed to send me to the school. On that day I carried my books in a shopping bag which costs on one Sri Lankan rupee. Despite the financial constrains I managed to perform a sound academic work in the first, second, third and fourth years in my school life. I had often been either the first or the second in the classroom exams. But with the time as I got gradually older I found myself trying to be slightly away from the classroom. Also the attention of the teachers to my studies was not really satisfactory either and that made me one of the lowest scoring students in the classroom. Gradually I got noticed as a so called stupid child who regularly got criticized and punished. Later on I found myself being the leader of some students who were similarly marginalized and criticized by the teachers. They called us ‘idiots’.

I can still remember the friends who gave me such a good company in our endeavour of avoiding the lessons and leaving the classrooms as a lesson was in progress. The teachers rejected and ignored all of us who were in the same pile. We used to run away from the classroom before the teacher arrived and numerous times we got punished and asked to kneel down right in front of all the other students in our section. During the school hours we found ourselves swimming in a nearby stream, and infiltrating into a nearby coconut grove or mango orchard. We loved climbing up to the top of the coconut tree and plucking the coconuts down where some other friends collecting them and tasting the delicacy of young coconuts.

Right throughout the friends in my umbrella and I had been known as troublesome, misguided and notorious children. Afterwards there came a very decisive time as I entered into the eleventh year of my school during which we are required to sit for an exam as per the Sri Lankan education system. Only if you pass this crucial exam you become eligible to study in the Advanced Level (A/L) classes. Believe me or not I was not able to get through this exam and that dropped me out of the school. I did not have any second thought. I packed my bag and left home for Colombo looking for a job. I found a minor employment as a construction worker for few months. I returned home to celebrate our traditional new year with my family. Returning Colombo was not possible with my mom who took me to a private class and forced me to sit for the exam for the second time. This time I was able to get minimum required marks from the exam. Once I returned to the school to apply the GCE Advanced Level class I was blamed, insulted and driven away by the principle in the presence of my parents and all the onlookers. I got so disappointed and annoyed and I left the school premises with the expectation of getting my readmission into the school soon.

You have to study in the A/L class for two years. My father and I decided to meet both the zonal director of education and the Minister of education regarding this matter. Following the meeting they contacted my school and informed the principle about the matter. The principle had complained and told the relevant party that my conduct and the discipline were pretty bad and I do not deserve to be in the school. But to the dismay of principle, the Director had convinced and reminded the principle of the duty of the teachers and principals in a public school, where the principle was asked not to marginalize the children but to get them on the right track. Finally, I was permitted admission after 08 months. On the very next day itself I found myself as if I was a king who won a huge battle.

Since I was not able to get through the GCE Ordinary Level at the first sitting, I had to sit for the A/L exam with the students who were a year junior to me. I was in the grade 12 while my contemporaries were in the grade 13. I found myself a little embarrassed since I was not well received in the classroom, and did not find a peace of mind for studies. As usual I found myself getting insulted and badly received by the teachers. They castigated me as if I were the worst in the classroom. Under such circumstances again I got badly bored of getting to school.

In the island there are only state funded Universities and only 1% of the students who sit for the A/L examination get qualified for the University entrance. Since, this exam is rather competitive, in addition to the lessons taught at the public school; generally the students attend to paid classes. Once I heard that a private class was to organize an educational tour, and with the mere expectation of going on the tour, I also joined with the class. The teacher in the class got rather curious about my sudden joining of the class and asked me whether I attended the class for learning or going on the trip. The teacher got so surprised to have heard of me replying saying that my sheer purpose of joining with the class was to go on the trip.

For my utter surprise the teacher did not turn down request while suggesting me to keep on attending to the class even following the trip. The teacher looked at me and told that I look like a tough bully and suggested for me to be taken into the trip organizing committee. Since childhood I always looked for adventures and enjoyed a lot by taking over responsibilities. I was assigned with the duty of hiring a vehicle for the tour since I had quite a lot of senior friends while being widely known in the community.

Visiting the ‘University of Peradeniya’ for an educational exhibition was the purpose of our trip. Around 4 O clock’ in the morning we all were ready for to leave for ‘Hulandawa’ junction. During the previous night, I was in the town attending to a musical extravaganza. Being in the company of my senior friends, I drank so badly and danced as much as I could. I was almost down and by the time I woke up it was around 4.30 in the morning. I came out of the show premises heartbroken even without informing my friends. At that time there was no vehicle for me to go by. I kept running along the road while trying to get a vehicle stopped. Having run for about 03 kilometres, through the darkness I saw a van parked at the corner of the road. All the students were on the vehicle while the teacher was waiting for me. The teacher told “where had you been. Why did you get late? We all were frightened assuming that you would not come on the trip”. I had to be seated on the small seat between the driver and the teacher. Following my dance at the show among lot of people, my entire body was so dirty and full of dust. Since I broke rest for the entire night sooner than later I felt asleep. My teacher was so kind of me and asked me to have my head on his lap and sleep.

The teacher stroked my head and asked me to get up and told that we had reached Kandy. It was my first visit to Kandy which is also the second biggest city in Sri Lanka with a picturesque environment. Also my teacher peeped into my ear and said “you may go somewhere, wash yourself and comeback for your odour is not that pleasant”. I managed to find a nearby boutique where I had a cup of tea and simple ablution and came back searching for my friends. But I could not locate them among thousands of people though I went everywhere in the University. Therefore, I started to roam around in the University premises which have such an attractive look. I was still going ahead while looking at the students reading freely under shady trees. Also my eye saw the lovers going here and there along the flowery road hand in hand. The flowers blossomed on the top of the trees looked rather amazing and that caught the eye of the onlookers. The garlands of flowers blossomed on the big shady trees hanging down on to the ground painted a beautiful picture. I fell in love with this environment. I sat under a shady tree to quench my fatigue. Just at that time to my utter surprise an amazing thought invaded my mind and I really do not know from where it came. But it was such an absolutely amazing thought. I felt and I told myself that I should be back this place itself on one fine day. By the time I returned it was little late and everyone had got into the vehicle. The teacher asked “where did you go? The exhibition was so good. Did you see it? ”. Having said that it was beautiful I remained silent.

On our way back I spoke very little. Instead was in a deep thought. The children sang, laughed and cracked jokes and I heard them as if it was a song inviting me to come to the University. Having come home again I was into a deep thought. I did not know from where I got to initiate. Initially I decided to regain the knowledge which I could not receive since grade 05. I came across the books needed and started up the work. For some 03 months I continuously worked so hard and studied the books up to grade 11. Afterwards I started my studies targeting the A/L exam. There were only 10 months remaining. I slept only for 04 hours of the day. Most of my time was sacrificed on my studies. Though I closely learned the lessons taught in the school I kept a zero profile in answering the question. But the school librarian had felt the change in me. Those days I hated getting to the library. Now she found me borrowing books and spending most of my time at the reference section. Having seeing this development she started to helped me. Generally a student is permitted to borrow only two books at a time. But later on I was allowed to borrow more than two books and the teacher herself used to reserve some necessary books for me.

Those days there was no electricity in my house. I studied with the light of a bottle lamp. One day I was fallen asleep and the bottle lamp was overturned where I got my hair burnt. My mom rushed in and rescued me. I used to pen the answers for the pages and pages in my writing book for the questions in the model exam papers. I can still remember there were around 300 pens discarded which I used to write when the exam was at the corner. I kept a zero profile with my other work. I sacrificed my leisure and entertainment. Most of my time was spent on my studies. I was that skinny as the exam was nearing.

The day of the exam dawned. I left home for the exam being 100% confident of myself. The result was issued about 06 months after the exam. My mom was so emotional and she could not hide her tears. My dad was silently delighted. Having obtained the highest results I became the first in our district. Also during that year I had the privilege of becoming the only student of my school getting selected to the University of Peradeniya, the most beautiful University in Asia. I became the talk of the day. Since that day I found a lot of people trying to have a word with me; a pool of appreciation, a river of gifts. Some people could not believe this reality but that made me convinced of the enormous impact which education could have on your life.

This is just a single isolated story of a boy in a very tiny island in the world. All the people in the world have their own stories. I am always interested and willing to extend my helping hand for our next generation to pen their own unique stories of themselves. I always believe that it is my duty to help the young people in the community. There are many poor children whose parents struggle to find the basic needs for the education of their children. And also they are not well convinced of the significance of learning. In that light with the participation of my friends we carry on a program where we conduct educational workshops for the needy children living in remote villages in the island and make them aware of the opportunities available for them both locally and internationally.

Designed by me is a unique travel package which is different from an ordinary tour on which you visit places of significance and scenic beauty where you collect unforgettable memories while adding memorable snaps into your gallery. During this tour while enjoying your time at places of beautiful surroundings, you will be pleased to see some children living under sordid poverty studying in some schools in the country side where the infrastructure facilities are poorly available. I know for fact that those children will be so delighted to see you presence in their school where you can conduct short educational workshops. Those children would love to hear you talking to them in your native language. You can also sing a song where you will find them amidst a lot of funfair full of applause. You will also be able to see the beautiful smiles of those poor children as they receive your gifts.

In that context I believe that you all will make it a point being slightly philanthropic to participate in a workshop and teach them something remarkable while spending little time with those young students who will fall in love with the gifts that you would distribute among them and this kind of a generous gesture will help you to recollect your childhood memories. Therefore, in this tour package, while visiting the beautiful places in the island, you will get such a valuable opportunity in helping the poor and needy children to have a smile on their face.