High-flyers at 2012 GCE O/L examination

by Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Preparing for a crucial examination which could be a turning point in life is not an easy task. Hours and hours of study, commitment and dedication along with managing other activities is something which one should conduct with a balance to obtain top results. But for Dasun Oshada Jayasinghe, one of two students who came first at the G.C.E. O/L examination in 2012, this was not unexpected.

Dasun Oshada from Royal College, Colombo who became the island first with nine A passes for the O/L examination, studying was routine his mother Mrs. Jayasinghe told the Sunday Observer.

"My son is keen to study which he did with commitment. Most of the time he managed his studies by himself and always engaged in sports and other activities like playing computer games and practising the violin.

He had obtained good results at previous examinations and obtained an island rank of 16 in the grade five scholarship examination as well," she said.

According to her Dasun's favourite subjects were Mathematics and IT. He showed tremendous interest in these subjects and obtained good marks compared to other subjects.

Dasun speaking to the Sunday Observer said that he was expecting good results right from the start. "I did not dedicate my entire time to studies. I played cricket and badminton and enjoyed with my friends," he said.

Dasun Oshada Jayasinghe (Royal College, Colombo)	Madushani Chathurika Kulatunga (Sangamitta Girls' School, Galle)	Ayodya Gayathri Alwis (Sangamitta Girls' School, Galle)	Ama Madasmitha Ranawaka (Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo)

Another of Dasun's interests was playing the violin. According to his mother he enjoys playing the violin during his free time.

Dasun also took part in singing competitions and was eager to become an engineer one day after completing his higher studies.

Madushani Chathurika Kulatunga also scored high marks to come first. She is from Sangamitta Girls' School in Galle. Madushani also obtained nine A passes.

Expressing her views to the Sunday Observer, Madushani said that she was organised as far as school work was concerned from her tender years. "I work according to a timetable where time is allocated for studies, sports and other activities," she said.

Madushani did not to miss any classes or lessons in school and always prepared for the next day's lesson. She never delayed doing homework and her daily chores which eventually helped her to achieve this feat.

She praised her parents as well as her teachers and Principal of Sangamitta Girls' School for the enormous support rendered right throughout. Her ambition was to become a doctor. Madushani's advice to junior students is that any target can be achieved by following day-to-day lessons in school.

Meanwhile, Ayodya Gayathri Alwis obtained the second highest marks at the examination and is also from Sangamitta Girl's School in Galle. The third highest was obtained by Ama Madasmitha Ranawaka of Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo and is the daughter of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Lakshitha Wijewantha of St. Aloysius College in Ratnapura became the fourth highest ranking student while Thepuli Umesha of Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya earned the fifth place. The sixth place was obtained by Iranga Vithanage of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo, the seventh by Dulmini Vathsala of Ratnavali Balika and eighth is Lahiru Randula Kularatne from Trinity College, Kandy.

The ninth and tenth places were obtained by Nimasha Almeida of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo and Pipuni Tharushika of Sujatha Vidyalaya.