The success story

Recognising excellence in A/L 2008 Examination:

By Harshini PERERA

Knowledge is the precious gift of a human being. It does not matter in what field one excelled in, but how effective could the knowledge of that person could be used so that the country will be rewarded in turn.

In that sense, students who received the highest marks in G.C.E A/L 2008, should also be appreciated for their performance at the examination.

Kaween Weerasinghe	Tharindu Salinda Bandara Adikari	Kasun Goonawardena	Jainulabdeen Fahima

Kaween Weerasinghe of Royal College, Colombo received the highest marks in the stream of Bio-science. He lives in Bokundara, Piliyandala. He received his primary education from Grade 1-5 at Thurstan College and passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination with 173 marks.

Thereafter, he attended Royal College, Colombo where he received highest grades in his G.C.E (O/L) examination with distinctions and continued studies in Bio-science.

“I followed Biology, Chemistry and Physics for the exam and received z-score of 3.0614. I am really happy to reach the goal my father had been dreaming of.” His father, P.D.G. Weerasinghe, who was a surveyor had died three months ago at the bomb blast in Verahera, Boralesgamuwa.

His mother, Naali Hemamala and brother, Lolitha Weerasinghe who is studying Software Engineering at Informatics Institute of Technology had been very cooperative in every possible way for what he had achieved, especially keeping the surrounding silent.

Tharindu Salinda Bandara Adikari, in Hasalaka is another brilliant student in the field of Mathematics who has scored a z-score of 3.2512 at the A/L examination.

He not only had made his family proud but also his school. He received his primary education from Gamini Dissanayake Model School, Pallewatta and passed his scholarship examination and later on attended Mahiyangana National College from where the foundation to his success was laid.

Tharindu elaborated, “My School, Bandarawela Central College was my path to success.

I did Combined Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I am very much satisfied with my results. My father, Sugath Saliya Adikari is an instructor in Sinhala and mother, Lalitha Kumari, is the Vice principal of Ranasinghe Premadasa National School.

They could not support me with their knowledge but managed to get me study material, including books and past papers from other provinces. My sister, Wasana is a student at Nursing School, Kandy.”

“I owe my heart-felt gratitude to the four teachers who taught me and my friend, Sajith Ruwantha Senevirathna and his family where I had resided. I did my studies on a daily basis and studied books especially those written by professors for A/L examination. If one aims at a particular goal and works towards that, there would not be any difficulty to reach the goal.” he said.

A long line of hurdles Kasun had to jump over, a smile of relief appears on his face.

Kasun Goonawardena, is a courageous student who came island’s first in Commerce stream. Kasun who was a student of Ibbagamuwa Central College, received his primary education from Dagama Primary School and Kumbukwewa Maha Vidyalaya. His z-score is 2.6314 marks and is immensely delighted about his achievement.

“I lost my father when I was small from then onwards my mother, Samanthilaka Chandrasekara was the one who supported me. My brother, Indika Goonawardana is a third year student in the University of Kelaniya and gave me courage to reach my goal. As a student I was a cadet and took part in athletics.

I have held prefectship in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Many teachers in my school, relatives and friends have helped me to be what I have achieved today. I have kept my goal to be a Chartered Accountant.

If I am to be honest, I did not work according to a timetable. But I did everything I have to do on a daily basis and my brother’s notes became very useful.” Kasun, said.

Despite the terror that engulfed the remote tiny village Kinniya in the Trincomalee area Jainulabdeen Fahima who is a student from Kinniya Girls’ School was able to score the highest marks in the arts stream at the GCE A/L examination of 2008.

Jainulabdeen Fahima’s z-score is 2.390 marks and this is the highest in the arts stream in the Island.

Despite her father’s demise when she was at grade 7, Fahima made it a point to do her best in her studies and make her family proud of her achievements.

“My father Jainulabdeen was a teacher and remained a tower of strength in my studies until his death. I lost him when I was at Grade 7.

However the encouragement and the advice he gave me when he was living had helped me in a big way in continuing with my studies. I was determined that I should do well in all examinations that I sat. So even at the last year’s GCE A/L examination I focused on scoring the best results.

My subjects were Geography, Economics and Political Science and I am very happy to see that I have scored A in all my three subjects getting the highest marks in the arts stream in the Island” Fahima said.

Elaborating further on her efforts she said that apart from her classroom work she allocated more time for her studies at home.

Her mother was right behind her giving all the necessary support to prepare for her examination.

“I look forward to enter the university and my intention is to excel academically and becoming a Professor. I believe that I could fulfil my father’s expectation by enhancing further my studies,” determined Fahima said.

Kinniya is a very small village in the Trincomalee district. Until recently the village was engulfed with LTTE terrorist menace. However it was with the military operations carried out last year to defeat the LTTE in the Eastern Province Kinniya also was liberated from the violent grip of the LTTE.

The performance of Fahima Jainulabdeen at her A/L examination has proved how the innocent civilians in the region living in peace, wished for peace to meet their ends.