J’PURA UNDERGRADUATE KASUN’S STORY

The sacrifice and dedication of parents of courageous son Kasun:

The scene of a courageous mother carrying her crippled and disabled son to the lecture hall of the Sri Jayewardenapura University hall is indeed a very pathetic sight. This scene had made those who witnessed it to shed tears with much grief. It is a very sorry scene for any person to witness. The undergraduate who had entered the Sri Jayewardenapura University is Kasun Charmara who had scored high marks at the university entrance examination from Rahula College, Matara.
He is a resident of Telijjawila. He had been born very weak as his muscles and the legs in particular had not been developed properly. His legs were very weak and he was crippled when born in addition to other deformities. When he grew up he could not stand up on his feet. According to his parents he was a very bright student who could remember his studies very well. His father was a driver attached to the Ruhuna University.
After gaining entrance to the University her mother had taken on rent a small annex very close to the university on a monthly rent of Rs 7500/-Both of them stay together. In addition they have two other younger sons who are also still studying .Their expenses too had to be borne by the father. All family expenses had to be met by the father’s meagre income.
The story as related by the mother is as........
“My son was born in the year 1990. He was our first child. He was born as a deformed baby. Even his neck was stiff and could not be moved. We took treatment from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s hospital in Borella. As travelling to and from Colombo was expensive we got him transferred to the Matara hospital. As he was having weak muscles he was advised to take physiotherapy exercises. This made him to make his neck move and rotate. From year one to year seven he studied at Dampella Junior School. Then up to the Advanced level he was educated at Rahula College, Matara. He did Commerce subjects for the Advanced level and was selected to enter the University. He was very thrilled by his feats when he heard that he was selected to the University.
My other two sons are younger. The next son is studying at Rahula College, Matara and is also in the advanced level class doing Maths. He is looked after by my parents. The youngest is studying at Royal College, Colombo in Grade 9 class. He is boarded in the College hostel. He got through the Grade 5 scholarship Examination and got entrance to Royal College. He became 12th in the Grade 5 scholarship examination from the Matara district. All three boys are very clever in their studies and are keen to study as well. My husband got a transfer to the Sri Jayewardenapura University as it is close for us to meet. All three are sons are living separately.
My son’s only problem now is that he cannot walk. I stay with him in a very small annex close to the campus .My husband lives in the campus itself. I carry Kasun to the lecture halls in the mornings. All his colleagues help him thereafter for his movements as and when needed. I have been granted permission to be in and out of the campus at anytime. The lecturers too help him. His earlier ambition was after passing out to join a bank as a career. Now he says he wants to get a first class honours degree and become initially a lecturer in the University itself.”

Kasun’s father Piyasiri had this to say.............
“From his younger days he was bright. From the Montessori class up to the Advanced level classes he excelled in his studies. We had to carry him to and from the school all these days. When he was selected to the University he was so happy that he thought he had conquered the whole world. Once he was selected to the University we thought of abandoning our residence in Telijjawila and come to live in Colombo. My wife and son live in a very small annex close to the University paying a rent of Rs 7500/-. I have no room there. I sleep on a bench in the campus premises itself. We searched for a place for three of us to live together. But as the rent of that annex was Rs 12000/- , it was beyond my means and hence gave up the idea. My youngest son who is at Royal College hostel I have to pay monthly a sum of Rs 3250/- as his hostel fees. All these and our living expenses have to be borne with my meagre salary of Rs 15000/- That is why my son and wife are living separately. What else could be done?. Our ambition is to see that our son completes his degree dedicating our lives and making all sacrifices. Only then we could be happy. Until then we are willing to sacrifice.”
Sampath Amaratunga, the chancellor in charge of Management activities of the Sri Jayewardenapura University had collaborated with the members of past lecturers Association and had raised a fund and had collected Rs one lack in cash and had donated to crippled and disabled undergraduate Kasun Charmara at a small ceremony to meet his expenses, the day before yesterday.
At that moment what Kasun had to tell the media personnel was this.............
“ I love to study. I was brought to this position by my father and mother after sacrificing a lot. My mother carries me to lecture hall every day. My colleague students in the batch help me thereafter. Despite my severe financial constraints I am determined to get a 1st class honours degree. Anyone who helps me will be blessed with a lot of merit.”
We have heard that owing to poverty and financial constraints many parents abandon their newly born babies. However it is very pleasant to hear that Kasun’s parents had done so much for him sacrificing all what they have amidst financial constraints to bring him up. They have dedicated a lot for him. To hear of such a story gives immense pleasure to one’s heart’



Photographs: Romesh Dhanushka Silva
Courtesy: www.lankadeepa.lk