That belief would later define her career.
Born in Colombo in 1970 to a tea planter and a homemaker, her early years were shaped by the fractures and fissures of post-colonial Sri Lanka. She studied across continents earning degrees in sociology, development studies, and a PhD in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, where her research focused on child protection.
Before entering politics, she spent over a decade as a lecturer at the Open University of Sri Lanka, combining academic rigour with grassroots activism. Her work on human rights, gender justice, and youth development placed her at the heart of several national reform efforts.
Yet she remained grounded, serving on the boards of organisations such as NEST and the Law and Society Trust, always focusing on the voices of the marginalised.
In 2022, as Sri Lanka teetered on the brink of an economic collapse and political uncertainty, Amarasuriya emerged as a key voice of reason amid the chaos. The protests that rocked the country, fuelled by inflation, blackouts, and sense of political betrayal reshaped its political fabric.
Her election to Parliament came soon after, and in 2024, she was appointed Prime Minister by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. She also holds the education, higher education, and vocational training portfolios apt for someone who has long championed learning as a vehicle for change.