Waratah Shanmuganathana loved studying since childhood, so when at age 85 she decided to go to the judiciary for the second time, her family was not surprised at all.
Recently, after two years of study, a woman officially received a master’s degree in political science from the University of York in England.
“It was my life’s dream to achieve something in the field of political science. It has been an incredible academic journey and I have enjoyed it, but now I have reached my destination,” says Waratah.
She said being on campus was like going to the temple, and she really enjoyed connecting with her classmates who treated her like a grandmother.
When the pandemic hit, Waratah, like the rest of the students, had to study remotely. The first three months of such a study were difficult, but in the end she settled in and even defended her thesis via Zoom.
“I advise the younger generation to study not only to have a career, but to be able to change your life,” advises the woman.
In the near future, Waratah will start writing a book on Sri Lanka. The book is based on research she did during her graduate studies.
