NEWS

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell what to see” Pasan Thilini Amarasinghe is an educator and an administration worker who works as the Headmistress of Royal Institute International School, Colombo. Apart from being an educator her portfolio consists of Singing, Song writer, writer and a researcher. She is a passionate human being who has excelled at teaching and empowering the younger generation. She completed her academic education to high school at Newstead Girls College, Negombo. Having completed her bachelor’s degree in Arts with first class honors from University of Kelaniya she exhibited outstanding performances in Mass communication and Sociology. Upon obtaining her degree, she pursued teaching for two years and then went on to earn her Master’s Degree from University of Kelaniya in the same stream.

In her 11 years of career in the field of education, she worked for several organizations in Sri Lanka and overseas. She participated in SSD Western Region Teachers Convention held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2013 and at a workshop on “Teaching and Learning” conducted by Dr. Wong and Mrs. Wong – director and director of Education – South East Asia union mission of SDA.  

She started her career as a teacher at Adventists International School, Negombo as a secondary teacher. After seeing her outstanding performance and work ethics she was awarded with a promotion as Department head – National Curriculum.  Apart from holding the above designation, she was in charge of the perfect body, Examination and Event coordination. Leaving Adventists School after five years of service, she joined NICE International School, Negombo as a Secondary teacher. This gave her the opportunity to work with students with different ethnicities. Her first international career began in the year 2017, where she was given the opportunity to work at Gateway College, Hulhumale, Maldives. With a combined experience in the main three curriculums (National, Edexcel and Cambridge) she was able to expand her portfolio in her line of work. 

After completing her overseas career she returned to Sri Lanka as Department head at Sussex College network. With excellence demonstrated at Sussex she was awarded as The Deputy Principal at a very young age. 

Playing a major role in the above, she was offered a chance to explore another salient aspect in her field in Early Childhood Education and Day Care Management. With this newly added exposure, she enhanced her portfolio as an educator with experience from Nursery to secondary education. 

Her extracurricular activities expand over to completing Bhathkande Sangeeth Vidyapeet Music Diploma for vocalist. She enabled herself to engage in many music related activities from high school to present. She participated in an all island singing competition twice in her school time and became the runner up. She also became the 1st runner up in the Music Festival organized by the University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka.

Her first debut in lyrics writing was presented to a Sri Lankan upcoming young artist in 2019 and she is currently working on few other new music projects which would showcase her talent. 

“To be the awardee for Asia’s outstanding personality in education administration and teaching 2021/2022, has broadened my horizon to achieve more in future to shape children’s minds and to set an example for younger generation, how far you can go with dedication, determination, positive mindset and right crowd around you to guide you and support you. I do not have enough words to express my heartfelt gratitude for being recognized globally by ASIA AWARDS and RULA AWARDS for my hard work and potential. It’s an absolute honor for my country, my family and friends, my teachers, my well-wishers and for myself. This award has motivated me in order to explore more in my field and to brush up on my long-lost skills as a writer. I’m eagerly waiting to write an article series to discuss the issues and trends to be included in the Sri Lankan Education system”.

“My parents are the pillars of my success. Though I was brought up in a traditional Eastern country set up, my parents had a unique parenting style. My sister and I were given freedom in life to choose our paths and surprisingly we both choose the same field: Education. With their tremendous assistance and blessings, I proudly accomplished a global award honoring my country. Nevertheless, I would love to remind all my teachers who taught me from the nursery to university level, which made me who I am today. My school time was the most wonderful period in my life. Newstead Girls College Negombo, which is one of the oldest Girls Schools in Asia, has produced many more outstanding personalities like me. The first outside person who identified my talents and skills apart from my family was my beloved principal Mrs. Senarathna. I could not thank her enough and my loving teachers for the number of chances they offered me to win the world like this. 

“I did not choose this field: Education as my career because of the free time, since it’s not a 9-5 job. I chose this field since it's one of the occupations which gives you self –satisfaction by helping a child to be reborn and to find their own way by trusting themselves”.

 “I feel blessed to be a woman to have achieved many prospects in life. A strong woman loves inherently; from the time she is a little girl to the days she passes. She is willing to take care of others while taking care of herself and striving for her personal and professional goals.” 

I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg. I believe there is more in the horizon to explore Pasan Thilini Amarasinghe signing out.