Ceylon English Academy
Delivering free, English education in southern Sri Lanka and giving students the tools to access greater opportunities.
Based in Seenimodara, a small fishing village on Sri Lanka’s palm-fringed southern coast, the Ceylon English Academy (CEA) was founded in 2004 by writers Charlotte Breese and Irfan Hussain, alongside Headmistress Wasana Priyangani. Still run from Wasana’s garden, the academy has grown into a vital educational hub, equipping local students with essential English skills and access to greater opportunity.
As a small island nation, Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to the global decline in fish stocks and the resulting loss of coastal jobs and economies, a challenge worsened by the 2004 tsunami. Recognising the urgent need for better education, particularly in English, the CEA was born in Wasana’s back garden, starting with just a few students and a makeshift classroom.
Sri Lankan women remain severely underrepresented in senior leadership roles across both the private and public sectors. To help change this, the CEA has always prioritised girls’ education. Today, many of their brothers also attend, ensuring equal access for all children within local families.
Twenty years later, with Wasana still at the helm, the CEA continues to grow. We are proud to celebrate our first university graduates, a milestone that felt impossible when the academy first began, in a region where no young woman had ever gone to university. Today, that is beginning to change.
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The CEA provides a structured, community-led education programme that supports students from early primary school through to university. Through weekly lessons, consistent mentoring and a learning environment that is inclusive and supportive, the programme helps children develop confidence, language skills and academic success.
Student Selection
Wasana works closely with local state school teachers to identify their best and brightest students. All of them come from surrounding villages, and most are children of local fisher families who cannot afford any additional education costs.
Group Structure
Students are divided into four groups:
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Group 1: Sri Lankan School Grades 1–5 (ages 6–10)
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Group 2: Grades 6–11 (ages 11–15)
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Group 3: A-Level students
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Group 4: University students
Progression and Access
Progression through the programme is based on merit. Students must pass their Grade 11 exams to move on to the A-Level or University groups. However, younger students who do not pass their Grade 5 exams are not excluded. Factors like transport to exam centres often affect outcomes, and Wasana ensures no child is left behind because of barriers outside their control.
Students who pass their Grade 5 or Grade 11 exams may be admitted to better-resourced state schools, such as Maha Vidyalayas or Central Colleges. This is made possible through Sri Lanka’s national Scholarship Examination, which supports gifted students from rural areas in accessing higher-quality education.
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Beyond academics, the DHD Foundation supports a range of extracurricular activities to enrich students’ development.
Swimming lessons are a vital part of the programme, particularly in coastal communities where many children grow up near the water but never have the opportunity to learn to swim. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children in Sri Lanka. These lessons help build confidence and equip students with essential water safety skills that could one day save a life.
Kung Fu training develops discipline, resilience, and physical fitness. While both boys and girls take part, the programme was introduced with a focus on empowering girls through self-defence. It provides a sense of confidence and independence in a society where many young women continue to face social and structural challenges.
Together, these activities help students grow not just as learners, but as individuals. They become more confident, capable and prepared for life beyond the classroom.
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The Ceylon English Academy has transformed lives by providing high-quality English education and support to children from fishing communities in southern Sri Lanka. But there is still so much more we can do.
Many students face financial challenges that can prevent them from continuing their education, even when they have the ability and ambition to succeed.
Your support can help fund:
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Transport and accommodation for students attending higher education
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Learning materials and resources
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Extracurricular activities like swimming and self-defence
Whether through donations or simply spreading the word, every contribution helps empower the next generation.
If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can create opportunities that change lives.
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Projects and Programmes – Ceylon English Academy
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