Back home recently for a fairytale wedding on the shores of the Bolgoda lake was Sarita Gunaratna, a remarkably accomplished young woman who in her own words was preparing ``for the real world’’ professionally as well as personally.

Sarita, the daughter of architect parents, took a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the highly prestigious Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, in May 2004 after a four-year program of undergraduate study as a scholarship student.

She then went on to the Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning in Columbia University in New York and in May this year was awarded a Master of Architecture (MArch) degree after three years of post-graduate study.

``I supposed I was destined to be an architect,’’ she smiled in a hurried interview amidst the hectic activity of preparing for her wedding and welcoming the groom’s family as well as numerous friends who flew in from abroad for the occasion. ``I used to accompany my parents to their office from my small days and architecture became a part of me.’’

An accomplished sportswoman, Sarita has thrice represented Sri Lanka in diving at the Asia Pacific Swimming and Diving Championship in Pusan, Korea, New Delhi and here in Colombo under different age categories and has won Sri Lanka Schools Colours.

A modest and unassuming personality, she talks little about herself but even a cursory run through her CV demonstrates Sarita’s versatility. She’s been into drama, winning awards, and has many achievements in fields as diverse as debating (again and award winner) and been into choral singing in her school’s Special Senior Choir which was placed first in the All Island Choir Competition in 1999.

While studying in the U.S. she’s done internships with architectural firms here and other projects as well being a summer intern with a company in Los Angeles. Her work here included a stint with an NGO working in under-served low income settlements in Colombo.

``Are you still into competitive diving?"

``No,’’ she answered. ``But I run a little and right now am training for a five kilometer run.’’

Leafing through her portfolio, her creative and practical bent becomes very visible. She said that work here that she admired included the Kandalama Hotel of Geoffrey Bawa, Boulder Gardens near Sinharaja (Lalin Collure) and the Asiri Surgical Hospital, which her father helped design.

Since graduating, she’s joined a teaching program in the U.S. ``It’s very exciting for us to learn how to teach. So I’ve put off the real world for now in favour of that program.’’