A. Karunarathna comes from Anuradhapura where her parents were farmers. She was educated at Saliyamala Vidyalaya and passed her Advanced Level examinations. This qualified her for admission to the University of Colombo.
H. Rathnayaka comes from a low income family, where both parents are farmers, in the village of Iththekatuwa in the Monaragala District, and has a younger sister and brother who are still in school.
Indika Rathnayaka comes from a low income family living in the village of Batugammana, a Plan supported community in Moneragala. His father is disabled, he has two younger sisters and a brother in school, and the family’s limited income from agriculture.
Social Science, History and Archeology
Ruhunu University
Kumara Dissanayake studied at Madulla Central College in Dambagolla in the Plan Program area of Monaragala. His father is disabled and therefore unable to help him financially. He has two younger brothers who are still at school.
M. Ekanayaka is from a Plan sponsored family in Anuradhapura. Her parents are both farmers. She has a sister in university and a brother in school, and her parent’s monthly income is insufficient to support a second child in university.
Mass Communication and Political Science
Rajarata University
M. Herath comes from the Plan Program area of Anuradhapura. Her family’s income is from agriculture, which is seasonal, and her parents are unable to afford the cost of further studies, particularly with two brothers who are still in school.
P. Muthunayake lost her father years ago, and her mother has had to educate her two children – a son and daughter, with the income from daily wages, which is insufficient to support her in university.
Rasika Weerakoon comes from a family where the mother is a laborer – the sole breadwinner, while the father suffers from a chronic illness and is unfortunately unemployable.
Social Science, Political Science, Mass Communication and English
University of Jayawardenapura
W. Indrawathi was educated at Ehiliwewa Vidyalaya in Wellawaya. Her father is 70 years old and unable to find employment, and her mother works as a laborer. She has two sisters and a brother. The older sister has completed her education and helps at home, while the other two are still in school.
