Winning his ultimate goal

By Tharangani Perera

Winner of the Man of the Year 2007 title, Amila Karunanayake believes in living life to the fullest. At the age of 25, Amila is a fashion designer for Union Apparel, a company which produces world-class garments to the international market.

Born in Kalutara, he attended Nalanda College, Colombo, where he was an athlete who held the all-island Long Jump record in the under-15 and under-17 age groups. Having studied mathematics during his A’Levels, he went on to pursue his dream of being a fashion designer. Amila’s father currently works for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, while his mother is the vice principal of the Roman Catholic School, Katukurunda for orphaned children.

“It was important for me to win this pageant, as I work hard to achieve my targets,” he said, adding, “Winning this pageant was my ultimate goal- a benchmark I had set for myself.” Amila feels that making friends with the contestants at the Man of the Year pageant was simple for him and hopes to maintain those relationships. “Relationships and friends are a very important part of my life,” he said.

Amila wishes to follow in his mother’s footsteps and help the orphaned children of Sri Lanka receive a better education and better standard of living. “Do not try to emulate anyone,” he advises the young generation of Sri Lanka, “be original and unique in your actions and adapt to society.”