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)
- Diploma in teaching Children with Special Education Needs (2025) Ladies College Vocational Training Institute, Colombo
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. Aunty Medhavi worked with us from September 2022 to August 2024. She rejoined us in November 2025.
- 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)
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)
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
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from American International Campus (2025-2026)
Nuwakshi Perera
Aunty Nuwakshi joined us in June 2023. She is talented in singing and sings professionally in her spare time.
- AMI Montessori Diploma course held at Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre (2021 to 2023)
- Bachelors in Early Childhood Education affiliated with Lincoln University.
- Masters in Education with Early Childhood affiliated with Plymouth Marjon University UK.
- Currently following the Licentiate in Solo Verse Speaking.
Tashiya Raban
Aunty Tashiya joined us in June 2024, after having completing her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is dedicated to implementing core Montessori principles to cultivate a lifelong love of learning in young minds. She is talented in baking and enjoys reading.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2022-2024)
Dinithi Chanuka
Aunty Dinithi is the newest member of our Montessori teaching team. She completed her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Diploma at the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo and is currently pursuing a course of study in Early Childhood Education.
- Montessori Diploma – A.M.I (Association Montessori Internationale) Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2023 -2025).
- Currently following a HND in Early Childhood Education.
Toddler Class
Bhagya Amerasinghe
Aunty Bhagya is a veteran at taking care of the youngest children at Little Explorers. She first worked for us from September 2014 to August 2023 and rejoined us in June 2025. She also has experience working as a shadow teacher, having worked at St. Nicholas International School, Colombo. from January 2025 to April 2025.
- Pre School Diploma from The Open University of Sri Lanka, Colombo (2007)
- Diploma in Child Psychology, London Business School Colombo (2005)
- ‘Teaching Children with Learning Difficulties’ The Open University of Sri Lanka (2025)
Hiranthi Dodanwela
Aunty Hiranthi joined us in January 2024. She has 17 years of work experience to look back on, having worked with preschool aged children at Wycherley international and Asian international School. She has a passion for art and spends her spare time being an “artist”.
- Diploma in the Montessori Method of Education (Havelock Gardens Training Centre Colombo 6)
- Certificate in Advanced English (Open University of Sri Lanka); Certificate in Advanced English (university of Cambridge Local examinations syndicate)
- Elocution (Spoken and Written English grade 12 IWMS )
Raemanthi Perera
Aunty Raemanthi joined us in June 2023. She is talented in singing and playing the piano and when required substitutes for the usual piano teacher.
- Foundation programme in Business Management.
- Diploma in English Language and Literature at Aquinas College of Higher Studies.
- Higher National Diploma in Early Childhood Education, affiliated with Lincoln University Malaysia.
- BA (Hons) in Early childhood Education, affiliated with Plymouth Marjon University in the UK.
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).
- Pre-degree foundation in Psychology (2015–2016) from Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology.
- Higher National Diploma in Psychology from Coventry University UK.
- Diploma in Special Needs Education from Ladies College Institute of Professional studies. (2022)
- BA (First Class Honours), Early Childhood Education and Care from Plymouth Marjon University UK.
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