Leading With Purpose: Dinadi Herath on Service, Discipline and the Making of a Young Leader
By Malinda Perera
At the 7th New Generation Youth Top40 Awards held at Shangri-La Colombo, Dinadi Herath, Head Prefect of Asian Grammar School, was recognized with the prestigious School Leadership Award for her exceptional contribution to student leadership, service, and personal excellence. A scholar who achieved 9 A’s at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, Dinadi represents a rare balance of academic achievement, creativity, sportsmanship, and community service. Beyond the classroom, she has earned recognition as a Senior Colours recipient in Wushu, a choir vocalist, debater, school compere, and passionate advocate of student involvement. Her leadership journey has been shaped not only by positions she has held, but by the values she believes define true leadership: humility, empathy, discipline, and selflessness. During her tenure as Interact Club Treasurer, she chaired “Miracle on Yule,” a December 2023 Christmas initiative that brought music, companionship, and donations to a local elders’ home. Her commitment to quiet acts of kindness also earned her the school’s Selfless Service Award during Grade 11. As one of the first female dual Head Prefects in Asian Grammar School’s history, Dinadi continues to inspire young students through her belief that leadership is not measured by titles, but by the impact one creates through actions.
1. You were honoured with the Selfless Service Award for your contributions to the school community in 2024/2025. Looking back at your time as Interact Club Secretary, Treasurer, and Prefect, which specific project or community service initiative felt the most meaningful to you, and why?
The most meaningful community service project to me is the project that I chaired as the Treasurer of the Interact Club back in December 2023. This was a Christmas project named “Miracle on Yule,” where we visited an elders’ home to share the joy of Christmas with our elderly community. During the programme, we sang Christmas carols for them while they enjoyed the refreshments we arranged, danced along to music with them for hours, and made some donations to the home at the end. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable event. What truly stuck with me were the big smiles and bright eyes of the elders as they danced along and eagerly engaged in conversations with all of us. One other thing that melted my heart was learning that, after hearing about our visit to their home, they had prepared some souvenirs for us to take back home. This being the first-ever project that I chaired is why it remains the most meaningful to me. After weeks and weeks of research, planning, fundraising, and organizing, we were able to pull off the event really smoothly. The happy faces that we saw when we waved goodbye to the lovely elders were what made me realise that all the effort we put into serving the community as a club was truly worthwhile. It was such a great honour for me to have organised this event with the help of our school and my fellow ExCo members.
2. Serving as the Head Prefect of Asian Grammar School for 2026 is a major responsibility, especially while balancing your A/L studies in the Commerce Stream. What is your core vision as Head Prefect, and how do you manage your time to fulfil this role effectively?
My core vision is to uphold the integrity of the Prefects’ Guild of Asian Grammar School as one of the first female dual Head Prefects in the history of the school. This year, as the Head Prefect, I have taken up a responsibility, so I have to fulfil it to my maximum capacity by all means. Talking about my time management regarding my role, if there is urgent work to be done, I will always make it my first priority. I also try to be as reachable as possible at all times so I can respond and take action regarding a specific issue or task without delay. So, when I study, I still keep my phone next to me on vibration mode. However, I do not let that distract me from my work either. This is the balance that I think everybody should find.
3. Achieving 9 A’s at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination while maintaining a Perfect Attendance Award requires exceptional consistency. What study habits or daily routines helped you stay disciplined and maintain top academic standards?
If I am going to be completely honest, I did not have any daily routines or specific study habits that I followed throughout the year. I only studied for the school term tests a few days before, but I always paid my full attention in class and actively participated when the teacher was teaching. I engaged in a lot of extracurricular activities even during my O/L year in 2024, so I only started studying for the G.C.E. O/L Examination three months prior to the exam. Rather than trying to memorise the entire textbook, my study technique was to do past papers, not just O/L papers but any that I could find. Because if you do a past paper and get an answer incorrect, it is more likely that you will not make the same mistake again. When I get a wrong answer, I search why the answer is wrong and how the correct answer is obtained. If it is a section of a lesson that I do not recall, I go back to the book and learn the entire section all over again. With this, over time, you can become familiar with questions and how to answer them.
4. In 2024, you secured 2nd Place in the ‘Wordy Muse’ poetry enactment at the International Children’s Olympiad in Lucknow, India, and represented Angola at Model UN. How have these international platforms shaped your confidence and global perspective?
City Montessori School in Lucknow has a huge auditorium that can hold an audience of around 3,500 people. Seeing the stage for the first time, all of us had a reasonable fear of it. But once we stepped onto the stage, I felt an unexplainable familiarity where the stage did not feel intimidating anymore but rather comfortable and easygoing. At the end of our week-long journey, I realised how much my confidence had grown through this experience because by the time it came for me to go up on stage alone to give a presentation, I felt so at ease, as if it was an everyday occurrence. The connections we made through ICO ’24 are noteworthy. We met many students from India and Nepal, and as the only Sri Lankan school to participate, they were very curious to learn about our culture and traditions, just as we were about theirs.
This whole experience truly opened me up to a broader perspective and mutual understanding.
5. Holding Senior Colours in Wushu and competing in Zonal Athletics shows a strong athletic side alongside your academic and artistic endeavours. What has martial arts taught you about resilience, physical discipline, and mental focus?
I first started Wushu when I was five years old, and it has defined a part of my life. Many people see martial arts as simply learning to fight or defend yourself, but to me, it is not just that. It is about resilience, discipline, and developing the right mindset. Wushu has taught me that progress comes from consistency. Mastering forms requires patience, repetitive practice, and the determination to keep improving, even when the process feels challenging. It has shown me that resilience is not just about recovering from setbacks but about continuing to put in the effort every single day. Beyond the physical aspect, Wushu has also shaped my character. It has taught me the importance of sportsmanship, and the friendships built through shared dedication and hard work. These lessons have strengthened my ability to stay focused under pressure and remain disciplined in my studies and other pursuits while approaching challenges with confidence and perseverance.
6. From leading your school team to the Championship in the AISL Sinhala Debate Competition to serving as a School Compere, public speaking is a major pillar of your success. What advice would you give to peers who feel nervous about speaking on stage or expressing their ideas?
My best advice is that if you get too anxious when you see the faces looking up at you from the audience, do not rush to start speaking. Take a minute and calm yourself down. Then think as if you are the only person in the room. With that in mind, stare at one specific point a little far off, like a pillar, and talk to that. Just like you would have a conversation with yourself in the comfort of your own bedroom. Giving yourself a small pep talk before going up on stage will also help calm your nerves down a bit.
7.What does winning the School Leadership Award at the New Generation 7th Youth Top40 Awards mean to you?
Winning this prestigious award means so much to me in ways that words cannot even explain. First of all, I am very honored to have been selected as the winner amongst various other talented applicants. Receiving such a nationally recognized award at this age is a milestone that validates all the achievements I have accomplished, from the School Level to All Island and International Platforms as well as my dedication to extracurricular activities. It inspires me to continue striving for excellence and making meaningful contributions in the future. This award is also a long-awaited achievement for my school and a dream that our Chairperson, Dr. Thushari Koralage had, so I am proud to have brought that honour to Asian Grammar School.
8.How would you encourage others to follow in your footsteps if they too wish to become a young leader?
I would encourage others to believe in their potential and never be afraid to take the initiative. Becoming a young leader is not about being the loudest voice or holding a title but about serving others with integrity, responsibility as well as compassion. I would advise them to work hard and embrace challenges as opportunities to grow and remain committed to continuous learning. Balancing academic excellence with extracurricular involvement and community service is equally important, as these experiences help develop their confidence and leadership skills. I would remind them that every small effort can make a meaningful difference and that true leadership is measured by the positive impact we have on others. By remaining grounded but also resilient and dedicated to their values, they too can inspire change and become leaders in their own communities.
