Visually impaired student from Kandy District secures first place in Arts stream

H.A. Thivanka Ranabahu from Gelioya who is visually impaired has won the first place in the Kandy District at the Advanced Level Examination in the Arts stream this year. Thivanka, who appeared for the subjects Sinhala, Buddhist Civilization, Mass Communication and Media Studies, has passed the examination with three A passes and is ranked 75th in the island.

Thivanka, who has been educated at Gelioya Sri Pragnarathana Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, became blind when he was studying in the third term of the 10th year. His father passed away due to a heart attack three months after his birth and since then, he is looked after by his mother who is 43.

Thivanka, who suddenly became blind at the age of 15, has since been educated with the help of his mother, Niroshani Sujiva Kumari who he says is like his shadow.

“I listened as my mother read the subject matter and questions. Then my mother wrote the answers that I gave to them. It was a challenge for me to write the GCE Ordinary Level Examination as I became blind all of a sudden whereas, I was able to see with both my eyes till then. In the Ordinary Level exam, two teachers read the question paper to me. When I answered after listening to them, another teacher wrote down the answers. After writing in that way, I got four As, three Bs and three Cs. I got As in Sinhala, History, Buddhism and Music.”

“Later, at the Advanced Level Examination, the subject matter was covered with great difficulty. It was difficult to go to school because I was getting treatment for my eyes. The subject matters were covered through online teaching programmes. Mother read the lectures given in those classes to me. After that she wrote the answers I would give. Actually, it is correct to say that my mother also enrolled in the GCE Advanced Level Exam together with me.”

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