HANDICAPPED YET DETERMINED SCHOOL GIRL IN DERANIYAGALA

A handicapped girl from a junior school devoid of both hands and a leg was the only girl who had passed the Grade 5 examination from the school:

Rashmi Nimesha had been born without both hand and a right leg. She is a pupil of Deloluwa Junior School in Deraniyagala. She sat for the Grade 5 scholarship examination and obtained the highest marks out of 14 students who sat for this exam from the same junior school. She had obtained 153 marks which is sufficient for her to gain entrance to a popular school. Rashmi Nimesha has been the only girl who had achieved this feat from the Deloluwa junior school for the past 10 years.
Rashmi Nimesha’s both parents are teachers. Her father is D.P.Sarath Gunawardena is a teacher at the same junior school where her daughter is a student. Her mother is R.M.Dhammika Podi Menike who is the music teacher the Avissawela Sithawaka Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. About their daughters success this is what they had to say:
“After her resounding success in the Grade 5 scholarship examination, We have to face very stiff challengers to face her in regard to her higher education. She cannot eat by herself. She does everything with the aid of her left leg only. When she wants to write something in school someone should remove her shoe. Initially our daughter went to the Sanasa preschool. The teacher there too sacrificed a lot for her. From the year one up to grade four all teachers had sacrificed a lot for her helping in her in all her activities. When students obtain good results all parents become so happy. We are not un happy, but when we think of stiff challenges ahead that we have to face we are helpless with regard to her higher education.
Hence we need advice and some strategies in order to overcome the challenges ahead. She needs to travel in a vehicle all the time. She goes to school in a hiring school van. She could not be taken even on a motor cycle. If an automatic arm could be fixed there is some hope for her future. Then we will end up victorious.”

Rashmi Nimesha daughter had this to say:

“Although nature had deprived me of my two arms and a right leg, I have never felt I was handicapped. Because of the assistance of my father and mother I did not feel sorry. My biggest ambition is to meet the President and to receive gifts like my other brothers and sisters got the opportunity. Will I be deprived of this opportunity?.I think because I cannot write speedily I may have received fewer marks. Nevertheless i like to stride forward in my higher education”.
Newspaper article by Somachandra Yakandawala.