Supporting Early Childhood Wellbeing in Sri Lanka

Vision

Being a pioneer organization for offering the unique early childhood education, training and development for every child in Sri Lanka

Mission

Facilitating to strengthening & enhance the early childhood education by capacity building of ECD teachers and related officers. Improving & uplifting the knowledge, health, safety and nutrition of children & their families in the rural areas of Sri Lanka

Our Target

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Service title

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Nishandanee Samarakoon - Sri Lanka

From the earliest days of my life, I felt a gentle but persistent calling—a desire to touch lives, nurture young hearts, and guide children toward their full potential. I began my journey in teaching English as a second language, where I first discovered the joy of unlocking curiosity and experienced the spark of a child's eye.

Driven by an unwavering love for children, I pursued Early Childhood Education and Development, dedicating herself to creating spaces where young minds could flourish. In 1998, she founded her first Early Childhood Development center, transforming classrooms into safe havens of exploration, wonder, and learning. Every corner, every activity reflected her belief that children thrive best in environments that are caring, inspiring, and thoughtfully designed.

Through decades of dedication, Nishandanee’s vision blossomed. Her center became a model institution, recognized with Central Province Best Entrepreneur Awards and earning her the Justice of Peace designation—testaments to her innovation, leadership, and impact. She expanded her knowledge continually, earning certificates, diplomas, and advanced degrees in ECD, while also developing her leadership expertise with a Higher National Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Her gift lies not only in knowledge, but in the ability to inspire others—teachers, parents, and children alike. She has mentored countless educators, guided parents with patience and empathy, and created branch centers to extend her reach to more communities.

Even after 25 years of hands-on service, Nishandanee’s heart remains devoted to the children she serves. She believes deeply that investing in children and those who guide them is the most profound investment one can make in the future. Through her life’s work, Nishandanee continues to ignite curiosity, compassion, and confidence in every child, educator, and community she touches.

Director

Asanka Kuruppu - Sri Lanka

From his earliest days, Asanka Kuruppu carried an insatiable curiosity and a desire to understand the world around him. His fascination with automobiles became the gateway to a larger calling: teaching, guiding, and empowering others. While studying Automobile Engineering, he discovered a natural talent—he could explain, demonstrate, and inspire, helping his classmates grasp complex concepts with clarity and confidence.

This gift for teaching came to life at just 23, when Asanka was appointed as an Automotive Instructor, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey in education and training. Over the next decades, his work spanned schools, national vocational institutions, and international development projects, where he trained youth, mentored educators, and contributed to competency-based learning and entrepreneurship programs across Sri Lanka.

Parallel to his formal training career, Asanka cultivated a deep passion for early childhood development. Through years of hands-on engagement, he learned to see the world through the eyes of a child, integrating practical, competency-based approaches into child-centered learning. His methodology is rooted in the belief that learning is most powerful when children actively explore, experiment, and create.

Guided by compassion, curiosity, and dedication, Asanka has devoted his life to uplifting communities, supporting teachers, and creating opportunities for children to thrive. He believes that true education goes beyond knowledge—it shapes character, confidence, and the future of a nation.

Through the founding of Rokidmo International Foundation, Asanka has brought this vision to life, building a space where innovation, care, and hands-on learning meet to empower children, teachers, and communities across Sri Lanka.

Director

Lakii Liyanage - Sweden

From my first product launch in London to leading cross-continental teams in New York, Warsaw, Stockholm, and Singapore, my career has been defined by a passion for creating seamless, intuitive user experiences. I believe that great products aren’t just built—they’re designed with empathy, insight, and a relentless focus on the end user.

Over the past 12+ years, I’ve guided diverse teams—sometimes over 120 strong—through the complexities of building scalable platforms for both financial markets and consumer technology. Whether defining a product vision, orchestrating agile sprints, or centralizing UX standards, I’ve learned that the best solutions emerge when user needs drive every decision.

My leadership style blends data-driven strategy with hands-on collaboration. I thrive on bringing together engineers, designers, and business stakeholders to turn ambitious ideas into products that delight users and deliver measurable business impact. From integrating AI and analytics to streamlining operations and onboarding, I always keep the user journey at the heart of innovation.

Leveraging some of my transferrable skills from a tier one organisation I wanted to work with something I truely believe can change the mind one day at times

Professional Background

GoldmanSachs - Executive Director (2013-Current)

Product Manager defining the strategy and UX design of Post Trade workflows across OTC and Securities .

Funding Coordinator/Advisor

Weronika Orlowska - Poland

Qualified commercial and corporate lawyer with 9 + years of experience, providing strategic and commercially focused guidance and legal advice to business and senior stakeholders. Majority of my experience is focused in the highly regulated insurance market across multiple solution lines.

I have a strong commercial and business acumen, with the ability to take commercial considerations into account when providing legal advice. I am a motivated individual who demonstrates a can-do-attitude, proactivity and self-reliance, taking a solution-oriented view to commercial problems and risk mitigation.

Enthusiast of alternative dispute resolution. Certified mediator determined on strengthening functional competencies and improving professional skills. Partaker of numerous negotiation trainings and participant in international mediation competitions with unquestionable success.

Outside of the corporate world, I'm an integrative health coach and a license fitness instructor who helps career driven individuals transform their body/mind and improve their health.

Professional Background

AoN - Attoney at Law (2017-Current)

Providing risk assessment of number of data acquisitions and data analytics initiatives across the organisation along with providing legal, risk and compliance guidance to product and business owners on commercial risks, data use and its impact on Aon's global organisation

Advisor (Attoney-At-Law)

Dr. Chaminda Weerasiriwardana - Sri Lanka

Qualified commercial and corporate lawyer with 9 + years of experience, providing strategic and commercially focused guidance and legal advice to business and senior stakeholders. Majority of my experience is focused in the highly regulated insurance market across multiple solution lines.

I have a strong commercial and business acumen, with the ability to take commercial considerations into account when providing legal advice. I am a motivated individual who demonstrates a can-do-attitude, proactivity and self-reliance, taking a solution-oriented view to commercial problems and risk mitigation.

Enthusiast of alternative dispute resolution. Certified mediator determined on strengthening functional competencies and improving professional skills. Partaker of numerous negotiation trainings and participant in international mediation competitions with unquestionable success.

Outside of the corporate world, I'm an integrative health coach and a license fitness instructor who helps career driven individuals transform their body/mind and improve their health.

Experience

GoldmanSachs - Executive Director (2013-Current)

Product Manager defining the strategy and UX design of Post Trade workflows across OTC and Securities .

Psychologist/Foundation Consultant

Raween Kanishka - Sri Lanka

Raveen Kanishka is a celebrated musician, singer, actor, and TV presenter, whose journey has been guided by passion, perseverance, and a deep love for the arts. From a young age, Raveen was drawn to music, though his parents and teachers encouraged him to pursue other academic paths. Undeterred, he followed his heart in his twenties, participating in a national reality music competition in Sri Lanka, where he won 2nd place—marking the beginning of a remarkable musical career.

Over the years, Raveen has become a well-known singer, performing for audiences of all ages, and has built a reputation for his ability to sing any song flawlessly, capturing the hearts of listeners. His creative talents expanded into acting for television and films, TV presenting, and music direction for stage dramas. To date, he has composed over 40 original songs, continually inspiring through his artistry and dedication.

Beyond his professional achievements, Raveen is a person of generosity and compassion. He frequently donates his earnings to support children and underprivileged communities, demonstrating a strong philanthropic character. Aligning with the vision and mission of Rokidmo International Foundation, he voluntarily serves as a Program Ambassador, lending his voice, creativity, and influence to uplift children and communities across Sri Lanka—without any financial benefit.

Raveen’s journey reflects the power of following one’s passion while using talent to make a positive impact, inspiring young people to dream boldly, persevere, and give back to society.