I have loved art since I was a child. I often remember spending my childhood alone, deep in thought, and drawing. I soon realised that art in Sri Lanka is mostly focused in Colombo. Because I strongly wanted to become one of the best painters in the country, I moved from my remote village of Kuliyapitiya to the capital.  

When I moved to Colombo, I knew no one would help or support me. I knew achieving my dream would mean making very hard sacrifices. Living in Colombo is very expensive, art supplies are costly, and it is hard to stay positive and continue practising every day. Now that I am away from my village, I realise how peaceful and comforting life there was, even though it was poor. I stopped looking for village kindness in Colombo because people here are different. Now, I am 100% responsible for my own life. I know this was a risky and brave choice. In spite of these struggles, I refuse to give up on my dream of being an artist.