Life Story

‘From rags to riches,’ How a Sri Lankan worker became a millionaire in Australia at 25

Published

1 year ago

October 14, 2024

The story of a Sri Lankan worker, who migrated to Australia less than a decade ago and has become a millionaire now, has taken the internet by storm. At the age of 25, Vinul Karunaratne has made enough money to quit and shift full-time to doing gig jobs.

Karunaratne moved to Australia in 2015 and started working at 7-Eleven stores. But in 2019, he started taking on end-of-lease cleaning jobs on Airtasker. It’s a Sydney-based online marketplace that enables people to outsource everyday tasks – such as cleaning, assembling furniture, or yard work – for others to complete in exchange for cash.

Karunaratne told local news channel 7News that he didn’t have much resources and equipment when he started. “When I started, I didn’t even have much equipment. I had a vacuum, mop, bucket, and some rags,” he said, adding, “That was the stuff I had at home.”

His hard work eventually paid off and he was soon able to ditch his job at 7-Eleven to shift full-time to Airtasker.

According to the platform, Karunaratne is one of the top 10 earners on Airtasker. He manages to pocket an impressive $1,000 to $1,400 everyday. Dailymail reported that Karunaratne mainly performs bond cleans but also steams carpets and cleans offices.

Tim Fung, Airtasker founder and CEO said, referring to Karunaratne’s success on the platform that anyone can earn extra cash by working hard. Fung also termed Karunaratne’s story as ‘inspirational.’ Fung hoped that more work will be available on his platform in the coming days.

Karunaratne also shared his experience of working with the platform, saying it enabled him to be his ‘own boss.’

“It’s physical work, but it’s good money. I enjoy the flexibility and working on my own terms. I’m my own boss,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian media outlet. (WION)

Life Story

Sri Lankan-Born Dr. Ashani Weeraratna Appointed First Female Chair of Johns Hopkins Cancer Department

Published

1 month ago

January 28, 2026

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Dr. Ashani Weeraratna has risen to the forefront of global cancer research, specialising in melanoma and the effects of aging on cancer. She is the E.V. McCollum Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, and co-leader of the Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.

She also serves as a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joining the faculty in 2019. Her research focuses on the tumour microenvironment—the normal cells and structures surrounding a tumour—and its influence on metastasis and therapy resistance.

She was among the first to study how the aging microenvironment affects melanoma progression and treatment responses, examining biophysical changes that impact tumour and immune cell migration. Her work has revealed age-related differences in responses to targeted therapy and immunotherapy, insights that may inform future clinical practice.

Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Lesotho, Dr. Weeraratna moved to the United States in 1988 to study biology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Oncology at George Washington University Medical Center.

She currently serves as President of the Society for Melanoma Research and is a passionate mentor for junior faculty, women, and people of colour in STEM. Handpicked by President Joe Biden in 2021, she now chairs the top-ranked cancer department at Johns Hopkins University.

Life Story

Taavi Samaraweera wins gold at world youth table tennis event

Published

2 months ago

January 19, 2026

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Ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera of Sri Lanka continued his rapid rise in world table tennis by winning the Under-11 title at the World Youth Contender tournament in Bahrain, securing his first international gold medal of 2026.

The top-ranked Under-11 player in the world produced a calm and confident performance in the final, defeating Bahrain’s Yusuf Albanna to clinch the championship.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Samaraweera’s young career and further highlights his emergence as one of the sport’s most promising talents. Despite his age, he has gained international attention for his technical skill, discipline and maturity at the table.

Life Story

Sri Lankan-Born academic Knighted in King’s New Year honours

Published

2 months ago

January 8, 2026

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Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours.

Born in Jaffna and educated at St. John’s College, he moved to the UK on a scholarship to the University of Cambridge.

The honor recognizes his 30-year career and his leadership in making higher education more inclusive.

Under his guidance, the University of Leicester has become one of the UK’s most diverse institutions.

Reflecting on the honor, Professor Canagarajah described it as a “remarkable journey” for a boy from a once war-torn land, credited to the transformative power of education.