Ashcharya Peiris
Ashcharya Peiris | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Devi Balika Vidyalaya |
| Alma mater | Warwick University |
| Occupation(s) | fashion designer, motivational speaker |
| Known for | first Sri Lankan blind fashion designer |
Nayana Ashcharya Peiris Jayakody (Sinhala: නයන අෂ්චර්යා පීරීස් ජයකොඩි) also known as Ashcharya Peiris, is a blind Sri Lankan fashion designer and motivational speaker.[1] She is the country's first visually impaired fashion designer and works for designer brand Christina Glory. She lost her eyesight in a suicide bomb blast in 2000.[2] She is regarded as the prominent disabled woman in the country.[clarification needed] She was the only Sri Lankan woman included in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019.[3][4]
Career
[edit]After completing her primary education at the Devi Balika Vidyalaya, she pursued Diploma in English language from Warwick University.[5] After her graduation, she worked as a banker at the HSBC Bank (Hong Kong & Shanghai Business Corporation).
Peiris' life dramatically changed after becoming a victim to a suicide bomb blast claimed by the LTTE in March 2000 in Rajagiriya, when she was on her way to her home from bank while driving the car.[6] She lost her eyesight in a blast where nearly 21 people were killed and 47 people were injured. However she narrowly survived from the blast.[7] She lost her job due to her visual impairment and was abandoned by her family and friends.[citation needed]
Peiris changed her career and started work as a fashion designer founding a designer brand, Christina Glory in 2016. The brand has also featured in Ceylon Fashion Week.[1] She entered Sri Lanka's UP and Coming Fashion Designer Competition in 2014 where she was one of the finalists.[8]
in 2017 she was listed in the Top 10 Most Remarkable Women of Sri Lanka by the Independent Television Network, coinciding with International Women's Day.[9] She works as a volunteer to assist Sri Lanka Army through Arya Foundation.[10] She gives motivational speeches and lectures to young women, children and disabled people.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ashcharya Peiris, la styliste non-voyante super inspirante". www.terrafemina.com (in French). Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Cette créatrice de mode non-voyante passionne par son histoire et sa détermination". The Body Optimist (in French). 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list?". 16 October 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ කුමාර, දැහැමි රණවීර සහ ෂර්ලි උපුල් (4 November 2019). "ලොව වඩාත්ම බලපෑම් සහගත කාන්තාවන් අතරට ගිය ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ආශ්චර්යා". Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Life Online - W@W - Ashcharya Peiris". www.life.lk. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "10 from South Asia figure in 2019 BBC list of 100 influential women". southasiamonitor.org. Retrieved 21 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Seeing colours and patterns in her mind | the Sundaytimes Sri Lanka".
- ^ "There comes a time when the cup overflows: Beauty is her forte". Sunday Observer. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ a b Economics |, Administrator Department of Business (3 July 2019). "Motivational Session "Dream it, Be it"". Department of Business Economics. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "'Salute You' at Gemunu Regiment". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 21 November 2019.