21-year-old Sri Lankan becomes world's youngest DBA holder

Vashinyaa Premanand, a young woman from the Nuwara Eliya region, has once again made headlines by becoming the youngest person in the world to be awarded a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the age of 21.

Her name now sits at the top of the local and international student roster for achieving this feat at the youngest age.

Vashinyaa's remarkable academic journey began at a very young age, demonstrating a rare talent for accelerated learning:

• Age 3: She independently created her own email address.

• Age 8: She sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level English paper, achieving an 'A' pass. At the same age, she began studying for the British Computer Society (BCS) Chartered Institute for IT Degree.

• Age 11: She completed the BCS Information Technology Degree, becoming the youngest person in the world at the time to achieve a B.Sc. equivalent in IT.

• Age 17: She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of West London, beating the previous record held by Harrison Show of the United States.

• Age 21: She obtained her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Lincoln University in Malaysia, setting a new global record for the youngest recipient of the degree.

Vashinyaa also obtained an International Computer Driving License (ICDL) and a Diploma in E-Commerce and Web Engineering before the age of 10, and designed a website before turning nine.

Her mother, Lakshi Premanand Shakthivel, a former computer instructor, became her full-time shadow and primary source of strength, noticing Vashinyaa's ability to grasp concepts instantaneously.

Vashinyaa's exceptional aptitude led to her being granted double promotions twice during her primary school years at Colombo International School in Kandy:

•  She was promoted from Grade 1 directly to Grade 3.


•  She received a second double promotion from Grade 4 to Grade 6.

This accelerated path allowed her to sit for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination at the age of 13, where she secured nine 'A' passes.

Vashinyaa currently serves as a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Management at the University of Peradeniya, First Friends University, and Imperial College.

She is also a talented musician, excelling in playing the organ and guitar, and has won numerous all-island awards for her extra-curricular talents.

At 14, she even flew an aircraft at 7,000 feet during a training session in Malaysia.

At the DBA conferment ceremony held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Vashinyaa was presented with a special recognition award for being the youngest person to complete a DBA.

Vashinyaa's parents, M. Premanand Nadarajah (a businessman) and Lakshi Premanand Shakthivel (both of whom later completed their own MBA degrees to support their daughter), have been the cornerstones of her success.

Vashinyaa, the only child, states that her commitment is to her country:

"I love my country. I receive many invitations from foreign universities, but I reject them all. That is because of the feeling that I need to use my knowledge to benefit the country. If educational activities are done properly with a plan, we can have a strong journey. Obstacles are normal on this journey, and we must have the strength to face them from a young age. There is nothing we cannot do if we put our minds to it; all it takes is dedication. Always strive to do good things that will amaze the world. Never lose the confidence that we can do it."

Her personal motto is: "Every barrier is a step to rise higher, and age can never hold us back," a statement Vashinyaa Premanand has proven true with multiple world records.