Our Staff
Gayangi Liyanage
Aunty Gayangi joined Little Explorers in November 2020 after ten years of teaching Pre-school as well as Primary School students at Asian International School. We are pleased to have her on our team with her vast experience in teaching children from 2 ½ to 6 years.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (1999-2001).
- Certificate in Advanced English (2011 – 2012) From the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Shahama Kamil
Aunty Shahama, a parent who entrusted her son to our care in 2012, joined our team of Montessori teachers in 2022. Shahama has 8 ½ years of teaching experience from The Little Flowers AMI Montessori House of Children.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2003-2005)
Nishani Jayathissa
Aunty Nishani first joined Little Explorers in January 2018 and left for Canada in August 2020 where she worked at two schools. Richmond Montessori School in Winnipeg, MB (24th August 2020 to 2nd May 2022) and Montessori Academy in Winnipeg, MB (September 2022 to February 2023). She came back to us in May 2023.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2012-2014).
- Early Childhood and Primary Education Diploma, 2020 The Open University of Sri Lanka (2020)
- Certificate Course in Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities, from The Open University of Sri Lanka (2015)
- Currently following a part time “Caregiver Course” at Lanka Hospitals, Colombo
Khatija Kassim
Aunty Khatija joined us in August 2020, freshly graduated from the AMI Diploma Course. She has since obtained a Certificate in Personality Development Psychology and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. She is multilingual having learnt Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Basic Tamil. She has been an Album Reader at the Good Shepherd Training Centre Colombo since 2021.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2018-2020)
- Certificate in Personality Development and College Success Skills passed with distinction from American College of Higher Education (June to September 2021)
- Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Lincoln University Malaysia (2022-2023)
Ruvindya Suraweera
Aunty Ruvindya joined us in January 2023 after having gained teaching experience at Nest Montessori, Nawala (2020-2022). Her love for reading led her to volunteer at the library of The Overseas International School Battaramulla for 6 months after leaving school in 2017.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2018-2020)
- Certificate in Preschool Education at Open University of Sri Lanka (2018-2019).
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education awarded by Lincoln University Malaysia (2021-2022).
Piumi Wijesinghe
Aunty Piumi joined us in January 2022. She has interests in Human Resource Management, having gained some experience working in this field prior to embarking on her teaching career.
• Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2018-2020)
• Advance Certificate in Human Resource Management- NIBM – 2011
• Foundation Course in Human Resource Management- NIBM – 2009
• Business Diploma in ICT – IDM Computer Studies- Negombo-2007
Nuwakshi Perera
Aunty Nuwakshi is our latest recruit to the Montessori team of teachers, having graduated in May this year. In addition to her Montessori diploma she has qualifications in Elocution, Music and Speech and Drama. She is a talented singer and has interests in fashion designing.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2021-2023).
- Currently following the final year of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
Sasanka Medhavi Wekadapola
Aunty Medhavi joined us in September 2022, having had work experience from two Montessori schools on completion of the Montessori course. (Great Beginnings Montessori (2014-2015) and Little VIP’s AMI Montessori House of Children (2015 -2017). Medhavi apart from being interested in hair and beauty culture, is talented in Paper Tolling.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma course held at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2012-2014).
- Diploma in Pre-school Education from Faculty of Asian Vocational Education (2010)
Raemanthi Perera
Aunty Raemanthi assists Aunty Tareeka with our youngest group of children. Being the youngest member of our staff, she is musically talented and plays the piano for the children when the regular teacher is not available.
• Completed Diploma in English Literature at Aquinas College Colombo (2022/2023).
• Foundation programme for “Management” at the AIC (February 2023)
• Currently following Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
Special Education
Menaka Perera
Aunty Menaka joined us in October 2016. She has experience having worked as a Learning Support Teacher at “Room to Bloom” March 2010 to April 2012 and at “Avakasha Kendraya” April 2012 to August 2015. She also conducted private sessions with children with Special Needs from August 2015 to September 2016. From January 2004 to December 2010 she worked for Havelock Gardens Training Centre, preparing assignment books for teachers.
- Diploma in Montessori Method of Education” from Havelock Gardens Training Centre in 2004
- Diploma in Special Needs Education – pass with distinction (2010). Also awarded prize for Best Student.
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science (2017)
Sujitha Dissanayake
Aunty Sujitha joined us as a shadow teacher in 2022 and in April 2023 joined our team of Special Educators. Sujitha has prior experience working as a Shadow Teacher at ABC Preschool (2019).
• Foundation in Psychology (2015- 2016) from Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology.
• Foundation in Psychology (2015- 2016) from Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology
• Diploma in Special Needs Education from Ladies College Institute of Professional studies. (2022)
Lasni Gonaduwa
Aunty Lasni joined our team of Special Educators in December 2022. She is qualified in Special Needs Education and Computer System Design and talented in drawing. She has experience working and lecturing in the computer field (1994 to 2009) and teaching computer to children with learning disabilities.
- Diploma in Computer System Design from National Institute of Business Management (1992 – 1994)
- Diploma in Montessori Method of Education from Colombo Montessori Teacher Training Centre (2014 – 2015)
- Bachelor of Education Honours in Special Needs Education from Open University of Sri Lanka (2015 – 2019)
Learning Support
Pavithra Wijeratne
Aunty Pavithra has taught dancing to the children of Little Explorers since 2020. During the Covid Pandemic she conducted online sessions to keep the children active and engaged. In May 2022 Pavithra joined our team of Learning Support Staff. She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Visual & Performing Arts, Colombo.
- Diploma in Barathanatyam Dance Bhathkande sangit vidyapith in Lucknow, India (2016-2020)
- BPA (honors) degree with First class from University of Visual and Performing arts Colombo.(2016 – 2020)
(was awarded Kamala Jayathilaka scholarship for best marks in her third year) - Currently reading for Master of Philosophy Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya (2021/2022). Pavithra has chosen to use Dance Methodology to have a positive impact on the areas of behaviour and attention in children with special needs.
What We Offer
Montessori Education
Ages 2 ½ to 5 years
Toddler Education
Ages 1 ½ to 2 ½ years
After Care
Ages 2 ½ years upwards