“Keep dreaming, be curious, and don’t be in a hurry to grow up”: says top lady Educator Business Woman Olu Wimalasena Says Sri Lanka needs to shift the education system from ‘memory-based learning’ to ‘creative thinking’ to reach the country’s best potential.

Words : Aanya Wipulasena
Photos : Nirmala Dhananjaya

She adds, “nurturing curiosity at a young age is essential to developing well-rounded adults who can shape the community in which they live”. Ms. Wimalasena has a background in arts and education. A mother first, her chosen profession was teaching so that she would be able to spend more time with her sons during their formative years. Her interest in art began much earlier when she drew caricatures of her classmates and teachers to entertain her friends at school. Once her children grew up, she decided to put her love of drawing and creativity into creating dream-like baby nurseries and weaving stories - the rest, as they say, is history!

Tell us about your line of work? Why does it interest you?

The first five years of your baby’s life are the most magical. I remember how it was with my sons; reading to them and engaging with them during playtime helped them develop their interests and identities. My line of work lets me live vicariously through my clients and be a part of that unforgettable time in their lives. Additionally, that urge to nest during pregnancy remains true no matter which part of the world you live in or even to what species you belong to! We see examples of expectant mothers making a safe, cosy space for their little ones all around us in nature. No matter where you live or how far ahead in time, the work that I do will remain relevant. 

Excited to read more? Get Lanka Woman in Magzter for our latest Digital Issue!
www.magzter.com/.../Lanka.../Women's-Interest/530905
www.lw.lk