From a Village School to Software Engineering: My Journey

I grew up in Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka, where technology was more of a dream than a daily reality. At my village school, Andulupotha National School, we had a computer lab but I rarely got to use it. I still remember the day my teacher took us there for a session. Just as we were about to start, one student broke the rules, and the entire session was canceled. I walked out frustrated, still longing for the chance to touch a computer.

That longing became a spark that has carried me through my life.

The First Computer That Changed Everything

In Grade 5, I faced the Sri Lankan Scholarship Examination, a milestone for most students. My father promised me a computer if I passed. I scored 176 marks the highest in my school and true to his word, he brought home a computer.

It wasn't cutting-edge: 256 MB RAM, a Pentium 4 processor, and a casing with a "Samsung" logo that I thought meant it was a Samsung computer. To me, though, it was priceless.

Like most kids, I started with games like Age of Empires and IGI. But soon, curiosity took over. I experimented with Microsoft Paint and Movie Maker, stitching together crude frame-by-frame animations. Later, I discovered Photoshop and Anime Studio, which opened new doors for creativity.

That old computer wasn't just a machine it was my playground for imagination.

The Spark of Programming

By Grade 9, I stumbled upon a Grade 11 ICT textbook that introduced programming with Visual Basic. I couldn't resist.

My first project? A calculator for solving equations, complete with a custom UI background designed in Photoshop, of course. That moment hooked me.

I started exploring game development with GDevelop and slowly ventured deeper into programming. By Grade 10, ICT became a formal subject, and I embraced it wholeheartedly. I earned the highest marks at Dharmaraja College and even received the ICT prize. Instead of asking for a traditional gift, I requested an A/L ICT textbook to keep learning.

That book introduced me to Python, SQL, and general software development. ICT had stopped being just a subject it had become my passion.

A Detour Into Biology

Despite my love for ICT, I chose Biology for my A/Ls. I thought Science would be a stronger path, especially since I felt weaker in Mathematics, though I had scored well in it.

It was a decision I came to regret. I enjoyed Physics and Chemistry for their logical structure, but Biology never clicked with me. In the end, I earned A (Chemistry), A (Physics), and C (Biology).

While many encouraged me to retry for Medicine, deep down I knew it wasn't my calling. Around that time, I watched 3 Idiots, and Rancho's message struck me deeply: follow your passion. Mine was technology.

Reconnecting With Tech

Even before owning a proper laptop, I used my old 2GB RAM desktop to build my first WordPress websites. I bought domains, hosted them on Google Cloud, and experimented with development. That's how I saved money and eventually purchased my first laptop: an HP i5 10th Gen with 8GB RAM. It was powerful enough to let me explore freely. (I still use that laptop today, upgraded to 16GB RAM with an SSD.)

While waiting for university, I immersed myself in free Coursera courses through the Commonwealth Scholarship Program. I completed courses in:

Google Cloud Engineering & Cloud Architecture

Python and Java

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Development

My motivation was simple: I wanted to master the tools behind the websites I was building and the cloud services I relied on.

University: Building a Strong Foundation

My grades earned me admission to one of Sri Lanka's top programs: BSc (Hons) in Information Technology at the University of Moratuwa.

University broadened my technical and professional foundation far beyond coding. I studied:

Core computer science: C programming, algorithms, data structures, operating systems, networking, theory of computation.

Software engineering: OOP with Java, .NET, enterprise application development, databases, frameworks like React.

Hardware & electronics: Microcontrollers, digital systems, electronics fundamentals.

Emerging fields: AI, machine learning, and intelligent systems.

Professional growth: Management subjects, teamwork, leadership, and project management.

Every year brought group projects where I had to collaborate, brainstorm solutions, and deliver working systems. Often, I led these groups managing timelines, guiding teammates, mentoring juniors, and ensuring both technical and team success.

Beyond academics, I joined the Rotaract Club of the University of Moratuwa, where I eventually became Senior Director of IT and Digital Communication. I led digital initiatives, organized projects, and managed teams experiences that taught me the value of balancing technical execution with leadership and communication.

Professional Experience

In my third year, I joined hSenid Software Lanka, one of the country's leading software groups, as a Software Engineering Intern.

There, I primarily worked on Flutter and Dart for mobile applications. At the same time, I explored Spring Boot and Angular, building demos and experimenting with new tech stacks.

This experience showed me how professional software engineering combines coding, teamwork, and solving real-world problems.

Looking Back

From a boy in Mahiyangana who once wasn't even allowed to touch the computers in his school lab, to a Software Engineer leading projects and building real-world applications my journey has been shaped by curiosity, persistence, and passion.

I've learned that detours, like my years in Biology, aren't failures. They're reminders of what truly matters. And for me, what matters is creating, solving, and building with technology.

That spark that began with a Pentium 4 computer is still alive today and this journey is only just beginning.