Brian Kingston has achieved outstanding academic excellence, obtaining the highest 9 A* in the 2020 GCE Ordinary Level examination. As a visually impaired student, 16-year-old Kingston stands as a source of inspiration to his peers to take the cue and learn how positive minds can overcome all obstacles ahead. Born as the second son to a family in Mattakuliya, Brian is visually impaired, yet his disability is never an obstacle to achieve his high ambitions. “I will exert my utmost efforts to make my mother happy and proud,” Brian says, adding, “My mother has been my biggest strength, my mentor and my everything. She guided me through each and every step of my journey and the faith she has in me has given me the strength to achieve my dreams and to make her the happiest mother on earth.” Brian, a student at the Ratmalana College for the Blind, made history as the first visually impaired student in the school to score 9 A’s in the GCE Ordinary Level Examination. Brian has never attended extra classes through his entire school life and he hopes to become a lawyer by pursuing a career in arts.
Brian Kingston who clinched 9 A’s at the GCE Ordinary Level exam in Braille:
“Specifically, it takes Two hours to travel to Rathmalana Blind School from here (Mattakkuliya). We spend almost four hours on travelling itself. I did not get an opportunity to go to tuition classes. Unlike in foreign countries, here in Sri Lanka writer machines are expensive due to exorbitant taxation. When I was sitting for grade 5 scholarship examinations, a writer machine was priced around Rs. 150,000/=, but now it costs around Rs. 250,000/-, and I was able to obtain a writer through a donation from a person named Rasika. It will be a great help if taxes are reduced or totally taken off on item which are useful for visually impaired and physically challenged people.”