A Biography of Curiosity, Innovation, and Accessible Technology
Introduction
Hiruja Edurapola, widely known as SJ, is a Sri Lankan student, programmer, researcher, astronomer, photographer, designer, aspiring engineer, and technology innovator whose work is centered around a simple but powerful idea:
Technology should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial status or hardware limitations.
Born on October 2, 2010, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and raised in Panadura, Hiruja represents a generation of self-taught creators who grew up with the internet as their classroom. Unlike many students who discover their passions through formal education, Hiruja's interests emerged naturally from curiosity, experimentation, and a constant desire to understand how things work. His journey has taken him from building simple traffic-light models as a child to publishing scientific research, winning national competitions, leading school organizations, developing software systems, conducting independent research, and creating solutions intended to benefit society. Although still a student, he has already established himself in multiple fields including software development, web development, game development, astrophotography research, astronomy education, graphic design, photography, machine learning experimentation, and scientific innovation. Throughout all these areas, one theme remains constant: the desire to learn, create, improve, and make technology available to everyone.
Early Life
Hiruja Edurapola was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on October 2, 2010. He grew up in a middle-class family consisting of four members: his mother, father, younger sister, and himself. His childhood was generally happy and stable, providing him with the freedom to explore his interests and curiosity. One of his earliest memories dates back to when he was approximately two years old. While still using a playpen, he discovered that by stacking pillows, he could climb out of it. During his first attempt, he placed pillows only inside the playpen and promptly fell onto the floor after escaping. Learning from the experience, he later placed pillows on both sides before attempting the stunt again. Even at a very young age, curiosity was one of his defining characteristics. Rather than simply accepting how things worked, he wanted to understand them. This curiosity would eventually become the driving force behind nearly every achievement in his life.
The Influence of His Grandfather
Perhaps no individual had a greater influence on Hiruja's early development than his grandfather. His grandfather worked for the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) as a mechanic engineer. Despite having limited formal education and leaving school around the age of thirteen to work in a garage, he possessed an extraordinary range of practical knowledge. To young Hiruja, his grandfather seemed capable of fixing almost anything. Electrical equipment, vehicles, plumbing systems, wooden furniture, household appliances, gardening problems, mechanical systems—nothing appeared beyond his abilities. Whenever something broke in the household, the common response was not to replace it or call a technician. Instead, the family would simply say: "Grandpa is coming next week. He'll fix it." Beyond repairing things, he also possessed a remarkable ability to explain how things worked. Every question received not only an answer but often a story based on personal experience. This combination of practical skill, engineering knowledge, storytelling, and curiosity profoundly shaped Hiruja's worldview. Many of the values he later developed as a programmer, researcher, and problem-solver can be traced directly back to these experiences. Even today, although age and health challenges have reduced his grandfather's ability to perform precision work, his influence remains deeply embedded in Hiruja's personality.
Trains, Beaches, and Electronics
During his early childhood, Hiruja developed two major obsessions. The first was trains. His grandfather frequently took him to a railway line located near their home. Together, they would spend time watching trains pass by before walking to the nearby beach to collect seashells. What began as a simple activity eventually turned into a substantial seashell collection and a growing fascination with engineering systems. The second obsession—and arguably the more important one—was electronics. By the age of four or five, Hiruja had already begun experimenting with batteries, LEDs, and small electric motors. While many children his age viewed technology as mysterious, he was learning how it actually worked. Encouraged by his grandfather, he explored circuits, electrical components, and basic engineering principles. One of the earliest projects he remembers building was a simple traffic-light system. At an age when many children imagined there were people physically operating traffic lights from inside, Hiruja was constructing his own working model. This project became one of the earliest indicators of the technical interests that would later define his life.
Education
Hiruja is a student of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. Throughout his academic career, he has demonstrated strong performance across a wide range of subjects. Unlike many students who strongly favor certain subjects while disliking others, Hiruja enjoys nearly every subject. If he dislikes a class, he jokes that it is usually because of the teacher rather than the subject itself. Mathematics remains his favorite discipline. Its logical nature, structured problem-solving approach, and connection to engineering align perfectly with his interests. He plans to pursue the Mathematics stream for Advanced Level studies before entering the engineering field. His long-term academic ambition includes studying software engineering or aerospace engineering, with Stanford University representing a dream destination while also remaining open to opportunities within Sri Lanka's state university system.
Leadership and School Activities
Beyond academics, Hiruja actively participates in leadership and extracurricular activities. His roles include:
• School Prefect
• Editor – Astronomical Society
• Editor – Environment Society
• Vice Secretary – Leo Club
• Editorial Panel Member – Aeronautical Society
• Highly Notable Member – ICT Society
• Member – Graphistics Society
These responsibilities demonstrate not only technical competence but also leadership, communication, and service. He believes that true leadership comes not from authority but from earned respect. In his own words:
"A leader with earned respect is a good leader."
This principle forms the foundation of his leadership philosophy.
Competitive Achievements
Over the years, Hiruja has earned recognition across technology, programming, science, languages, and chess. Notable achievements include:
• 1st Place – Web Development, BTUI 2024 (Royal College Colombo)
• 1st Place – Python Programming Competition, Prince of Wales College
• District 1st Place – Sri Lanka School Chess Individual Championship 2024 (U17 Boys)
• Kalutara District 1st Place – ICT Competitions
• Recognition in English Competitions
• Recognition in French Language Competitions
• Recognition in Sinhala Literacy Competitions
• 2nd Runner-Up – National Game Development Competition (Exe 2025)
• 2nd Runner-Up – National Science Week Competition 2026
• 2nd Runner-Up – Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies Ruby Jubilee Exhibition
These accomplishments reflect a rare ability to excel across multiple disciplines rather than specializing narrowly in a single area.
Programming Journey
Hiruja's programming journey began around the age of eight through Scratch. What started as experimentation with visual programming gradually evolved into web development, software engineering, and research-oriented computing. By the age of eleven, he had entered web development. Over time, he taught himself increasingly advanced technologies and frameworks. His skills now include:
• Python
• JavaScript
• C# •
C++
• HTML
• CSS
• React
• Linux
• Arduino
• Unity
• Godot
• Blender
• Photoshop
• DaVinci Resolve
• Mathematical Algorithm Development
• Web Analytics
Among all the technologies he learned, C++ stands out as the most difficult. When asked what the hardest thing he taught himself was, his answer was immediate:
"One word. C++."
First Projects
Like many young developers, Hiruja began by creating games. His earliest successful projects were developed using Scratch. Later, he built one of his first substantial websites: a multi-page informational website about Rama and Ravana. However, he considers his first truly successful software project to be a Number Guessing web game created in 2021. Although simple, it was fully functional, complete with graphics, music, gameplay systems, and very few bugs. For him, it represented something important: A complete project. It worked. People could use it. And it proved he could transform ideas into reality.
Hiruja Studios
In 2020, Hiruja founded Hiruja Studios. Initially focused on small web-based games and experimental projects, it gradually evolved into the umbrella under which many of his creations were developed. Today, Hiruja Studios serves as the home of projects ranging from simple experiments to significant research-oriented work. Many of his most notable creations have emerged through this initiative.
SJ Research Labs
In 2022, Hiruja established SJ Research Labs. Unlike Hiruja Studios, which serves as a broader project platform, SJ Research Labs focuses specifically on experimentation and research. Projects include:
• Human decision-making analysis through Tic-Tac-Toe gameplay
• Chess machine learning experiments
• Data collection and behavioral analysis
• Computational image processing
• Astrophotography enhancement systems
The laboratory reflects his passion for understanding systems through observation, experimentation, and mathematics.
Skyora
Among all of Hiruja's projects, one stands above the rest. Skyora. The idea originated after observing controversy surrounding modern smartphone moon photography systems. While flagship devices could produce impressive lunar images, many people using older or cheaper devices were left behind. As a senior lecturer in his school's Astronomical Society, Hiruja noticed something troubling. Many beginner stargazers could see celestial objects with their own eyes but could not capture photographs of them. This often discouraged them from continuing their interest in astronomy. He found this unfair. So he decided to solve the problem. Skyora was designed as an astrophotography image enhancement system capable of running efficiently on extremely low-end hardware. Unlike many modern solutions, it avoids heavy AI dependence and instead relies on mathematical techniques optimized for performance and accessibility. The project eventually became his first research paper: "A Mathematics-Based Astrophotography Image Enhancement Method for Low-End Devices and Embedded Camera Systems."
Skyora represents more than software. It represents his philosophy: Technology should not be reserved for people with expensive hardware. Technology should be available to everyone.
Photography
Professional photography became a serious interest around age fourteen. Currently working primarily with an iPhone 14, Hiruja specializes in:
• Aesthetic photography
• Macro photography
• Astrophotography
He enjoys photography because it creates tangible evidence of his work. It allows him to create something beautiful and preserve moments in time. One of his favorite achievements is seeing people choose his photographs as their profile pictures. For him, that represents genuine appreciation of his work.
Astronomy
Astronomy remains one of Hiruja's strongest passions. His interest developed through stargazing experiences and eventually evolved into active participation in astronomy education and competitions. Within competition teams, he frequently achieved the highest score among his teammates. He is particularly interested in:
• Space exploration
• Planetary science
• Astrophotography
• Rocketry
• Astronomy education
His work through Skyora demonstrates the intersection of astronomy and technology that continues to inspire him.
Aviation and Aerospace
Another major passion is aviation. Inspired by years of watching aircraft and aviation content, Hiruja developed a fascination with aerospace engineering. Favorite aircraft include:
• Sukhoi Su-57
• Boeing 747 He dreams of working in aerospace or software engineering and hopes one day to contribute to missions involving extraterrestrial life or human exploration of Mars.
Philosophy of Technology
Perhaps the most defining aspect of Hiruja's worldview is his commitment to accessibility. He consistently focuses on creating solutions that:
• Run on low-end hardware
• Cost little or nothing
• Remain available to everyone
• Reduce technological barriers
His projects are designed not for exclusivity but for inclusion. This principle influences nearly every decision he makes as a creator.
Personal Philosophy
One of the most important philosophies in Hiruja's life is expressed through a quote he created himself:
"Imagine every scenario like randomly finding a Rs. 5000 note while you are walking home. You'd be hella happy if you find it, but if you don't, it wouldn't make any difference."
This idea forms the foundation of his approach to success. Rather than attaching happiness entirely to achieving a specific goal, he focuses on appreciating progress. If he achieves first place, he celebrates. If he achieves third place, he celebrates reaching the podium. If he finishes in the top ten, he celebrates being among the best. If he improves compared to the previous attempt, he celebrates growth. This mindset allows him to remain motivated without becoming trapped by unrealistic expectations.
Beliefs About Life
Hiruja believes that the purpose of life is to live the life you want, earn honestly, avoid wrongdoing, help others, and leave a positive impact. Despite his strong interests in mathematics, science, and engineering, he maintains a belief in God and the existence of an afterlife. He believes people should be judged not merely by achievement, but by the good they do throughout their lives.
Future Vision
Looking ahead, Hiruja hopes to:
• Achieve outstanding results in his O/L examinations
• Enter the engineering field
• Pursue aerospace or software engineering
• Continue research and innovation
• Expand Skyora and future projects
• Make technology free and accessible
• Build a legacy that outlives him
When asked what he wants people to remember him for, his answer is simple:
Innovation. Service. Research.
And perhaps more importantly: Helping ordinary people gain access to technology that they otherwise could not afford. For Hiruja Edurapola, success is not merely about building software. It is about building solutions that matter. His story is still only beginning.
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