“My daughter was born on June 26, 1993, at 3.26 am at Gampaha General Hospital. At the time, I was working in Gampaha. After asking for some information from someone at the hospital, I went to a famous astrologer’s office in Gampaha town early that morning to find some auspicious letters for my daughter’s name.”
“There was a large crowd at the office, but as soon as I entered, the astrologer called me from the crowd and said, ‘A fortunate girl child has been born into your family, hasn’t she? She is a very good child according to all four horoscopes and will reach great heights.’ He wrote down four letters for me and didn’t even take any money.”
“On my way back to the hospital, I thought of a name for my daughter.
As she grew up, she didn’t like the name much, but I always told her, ‘You might think that name is unattractive, but if it becomes famous, it won’t be an ugly name to the world.’
I didn’t say that because I remembered the astrologer’s prophecy, but because of the hardships my daughter had to endure to achieve her success.”
Accolades achieved
These heartfelt words, mixed with tears of joy, come from a loving father. The daughter he named Udeni Kumudumali on that day is now known throughout the country as ‘Kumudumali W.U.’
On August 21, during the graduation ceremony at the University of Peradeniya, W.U. Udeni Kumudumali received her degree in Veterinary Medicine, recognised as the brightest student of the year and awarded multiple prestigious accolades. A video, lasting three minutes and 26 seconds, showing her going up to the stage eight times to receive gold medals and memorial awards, quickly went viral on social media, capturing the attention of many. W.U. Udeni Kumudumali, now 31 years old and a beautiful young woman, embarked on a life journey filled with unimaginable hardships and sorrow that no young woman of her age should have to endure.
“What matters is not the awards or the medals I received, or even the viral video on social media. What is important is the challenges I faced throughout this journey and how I overcame them. If my life story can inspire or strengthen someone who is struggling with challenges and obstacles, then that is my joy. To everyone working with clear goals and dedication, I say, love yourself, believe in yourself, and you will definitely win. Being a woman is a challenge, but if you wear that crown properly, you can win.”
Kumudumali’s story is not as beautiful as her smiling face. Born at Gampaha General Hospital, she was taken the next day by her parents to Seruwawila Serunuwara village, where they lived, then a border village in a war-torn area.
“At night, I used to ask my grandmother if we would have to run again. We trembled with fear at night, scared of the sound of bombs and gunfire, hiding under the wooden pallet in the house or running to the school auditorium to save our lives. Even as a little girl, I loved going to school. But when I was in 7th grade, the school was closed for an entire year.”
Fight for survival
“The school I attended was turned into a mass grave. I spent a year eating food at a refugee camp in Kantalai. It was during that time, when I had no hope in life, that the idea of becoming a scientist took root in my mind. I don’t know where I got the word ‘Einstein’ from, but from that young age, I dreamed of becoming a scientist one day.”
“The Mahaweligama Vidyalaya, where I studied from grade 1, opened my eyes and gave me the push I needed to survive. I passed the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam with 183 marks and passed the Ordinary Level Exam with eight distinctions and one credit. Although I dreamed of becoming a scientist by pursuing Mathematics at Advanced Level, my mother’s greatest wish was for me to become a doctor. So, I joined the Kantalai Agra Bodhi National School to pursue science for my Advanced Levels.”
“The school was about 60 kilometres from home. Back then, I spent 10 to 12 hours on the bus just to attend tuition classes for three or four hours, travelling from Trincomalee to Kurunegala. We suffered from both the war and the elephant encroachments. By the end of 2009, we had a chance to attend extra classes in the town, but by then, our family’s financial situation had deteriorated so much that I couldn’t afford tuition classes.”
“The school lacked teachers. Unable to attend proper tuition classes, I didn’t sit for the Advanced Level examination in 2012. I thought I would fail if I did. Not wanting to be a failure, I skipped the exam. At the time, I faced a lot of criticism from everyone for abandoning the exam despite having achieved excellent results at the Ordinary Level. But I had a strong determination that no matter what anyone said, I would show them who I really was. I was a bit of an arrogant character on my journey towards my goals.”
“After I passed the 2013 Advanced Level Examination, I was selected for the Science Faculty. Even then, I faced a lot of criticism. By that time, my friends had been selected for the Medical Faculty or the Engineering Faculty. Despite crying and lamenting in despair, I didn’t give up my fight. I sat for the exam again in 2014, but once again, I was selected for the Science Faculty. Even though I was mentally exhausted, I didn’t give up. But at one point, I felt like it was enough.”
“I realised that everything in this world is decided by money. I needed money to pay boarding fees and to attend tuition classes, so I decided to find a way to earn money first and then continue my studies. In 2015, I started a Pharmacy course. I worked at various pharmacies earning Rs. 8,000 per month while pursuing the course.” A significant turning point in Kumudumali’s life was marked by a person she met while working in one of those pharmacies.
“Dr. Kannangara was from our village. When he heard about my situation and found out about my A-Level results, he put his hand on his head in disbelief. I still remember his words as if it was today: ‘Don’t do this crazy thing, child. Please promise me that you won’t come back to the pharmacy. Please, sit for the exam again and go to university.”
W. U. Udeni Kumudumali
“I told the doctor that I needed to work and that I needed money. I told him I was working to get a Pharmacy licence. But the doctor explained three possible paths I could take, insisted I sit for the exam again, and gave me my salary for that month before sending me away, telling me not to come back. Out of fear, I didn’t go back. I didn’t have much time to prepare for the exam by then. In January 2015, I went to Kandy for tuition and prepared for the exam.”
“This time, I was selected for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. At that moment, I wondered why, despite all my hard work and abilities, I was not given the opportunity to become a doctor. I argued a lot with myself, questioning whether I was destined not to become a doctor. When I realised I had to go to the Veterinary Faculty, I felt very sad. I remembered the dream my mother had of me becoming a doctor and the freedom my father had given me to study.”
When I told my mother that I was going to the Veterinary Faculty, she asked if I would be a doctor and insert IV lines. My mother was that innocent. ‘Yes, mom, I can insert IV lines, but I will be treating animals,’ I replied. My mother said, ‘That’s okay, son, as long as you can insert IV lines.’ My parents were happy about it, so I decided to accept it as my last chance and made up my mind to go to the Veterinary Faculty. At that time, many people laughed at me. That’s when a new thought came to my mind. A doctor or an engineer has only one job, but I will become a superior character with four jobs.”
Pharmacy licence
“Before starting my university education, I completed the Pharmacy course and obtained the Pharmacy licence during my first year at the university. After that, I worked as a pharmacist during weekends, earning Rs. 14,000 per week. Gradually becoming financially stable, Kumudumali constantly explored the highest positions she could achieve in her field. Kumudumali, who was many years junior to Rumesha Siriwardhana, gained further knowledge about the Veterinary Medicine degree from her. Determined to achieve something that no one had ever accomplished in the history of the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Peradeniya, she set her sights high.”
“When I joined the university, my goal was not just to pass. I wanted to achieve something unique. I started working towards that goal from the very first year. I attended every lecture without fail, sitting in the front row, and studied all the notes. By the third year, I was ranked first in the class. The small girl from the border village had grown up. Now, her challenge was to secure first place in the final year as well. It was not easy.
Endless hardships
“My university life was full of hardships, including mental and financial challenges. But I faced it all with confidence. By the final year, I had started working for the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, where I was paid per assignment. All these achievements were a result of my dedication to working hard and persevering. In the final year, I was asked to lecture undergraduates about the food safety system in developed countries. I received high marks for my lectures, and I became the first female student in the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Peradeniya to receive the Best Student Award.”
“But the challenges didn’t end there. I had to face many financial difficulties while completing my final year. I had to work at a pharmaceutical company, which was 110 kilometres away from the university, and sometimes, I didn’t have enough money to buy food. But I didn’t give up. I focused on my studies and worked hard, and finally, I passed the final year exam, securing first place in the entire batch. I also received the Gold Medal for Best Performance in the final year, along with many other awards. Today, I work as a veterinarian, and I continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”
“I feel very fortunate that I can now give back to society. I have started several programs to help young people who are struggling with challenges like I did. I want to be a role model for them and show them that no matter how difficult life may seem, if you have the will to succeed and the determination to work hard, you can achieve your dreams. My ultimate goal is to use my knowledge and experience to serve the country and help others achieve their goals. My message to everyone is to believe in yourself, work hard, and never give up. You can overcome any challenge and achieve greatness.”
– The above article first appeared in the Silumina and was translated for the Sunday Observer by Dinuli Francisco.
