Modern athlete-engineer

Building systems with the discipline of a competitor.

I'm Manula Cooray, a computer science student, engineering learner, swimmer, and student leader. I bring structure, calm, and competitive focus to every team and every product I help build.

3

Disciplines

Code, engineering, swimming

4+

Leadership

Captaining teams and councils

100%

Mindset

Built on consistency and discipline

Portrait of Manula Cooray

Current focus

Software systems, embedded thinking, and leadership shaped through high-performance sport.

Approach

Train hard, think clearly, execute with intent, and keep standards high.

Profile

Engineered with discipline. Led with intent.

I come from two environments that both demand precision: engineering and competitive sport. That combination shaped how I work today. I value structure, resilience, accountability, and the ability to stay composed while building toward ambitious goals.

Systems thinking

I like turning complexity into dependable systems, whether that means backend architecture, embedded workflows, or structured product thinking.

Competitive discipline

Competitive swimming shaped my discipline, composure under pressure, and respect for the standards built through repetition.

Leadership in motion

From captaining teams to leading the SLIIT Sports Council, I care about building momentum around people as much as around results.

Academic route

Cross-disciplinary by choice

My path spans computer science, electrical and electronic engineering, and postgraduate study in AI, giving me a practical foundation across software, hardware, and intelligent systems.

2023 - Present

BSc (Hons) in Computer Science

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT)

Completed

BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

University of the West of England — Second Lower division

2025 - 2026

MSc in Artificial Intelligence

Anglia Ruskin University

Tools and strengths

Technical and human skills

C / C++JavaReact / Next.jsSpring BootPostgreSQL / MySQLAWS / SSH toolingEmbedded systemsSignal processingProblem solvingPublic speakingTeam leadership
Story

A timeline shaped by discipline, leadership, and technical ambition.

My journey has never been only about one lane. It has been built through long-term commitment to sport, growing responsibility in leadership, and a steady move toward engineering, computing, and AI.

The through-line

The same mindset shows up across everything I do: train consistently, raise the standard, and take responsibility when it matters most.

Sport

Competitive swimming built the discipline, patience, and resilience behind my work ethic.

Leadership

From junior leadership roles to university sports leadership, I learned how to represent people, not just positions.

Technology

My technical path grew from engineering fundamentals into software systems and now toward AI-driven work.

2002

Born on December 25

Born in Sri Lanka, Manula grew up with a curiosity for technology, a drive for leadership, and an early commitment to sport.

2008 - 2022

Ananda College

Spent 14 formative years at one of Sri Lanka’s most respected schools, building discipline across academics, sport, and leadership.

2012

Junior Prefect

Recognized early for responsibility, discipline, and leadership potential while still in primary school.

2019

Swimming Junior Vice Captain

Began leading within the school swimming structure while supporting younger swimmers and team coordination.

2020

Swimming Captain

Led the Ananda College swimming team, taking responsibility for standards, team morale, and representation.

2024

SLIIT Swimming Vice Captain

Continued his leadership journey in university sport, carrying school-level competitive discipline into a new environment.

2025

SLIIT Swimming Captain

Took full leadership of the university swimming team while balancing academic and technical growth.

2025

SLIIT Sports Council President

Expanded from team leadership into broader sports leadership, representing the university sports community and helping guide key initiatives.

2025 - 2026

MSc in Artificial Intelligence

Began postgraduate study in AI while building on foundations in computer science and electrical and electronic engineering.

Selected work

Systems built with structure and intent.

These projects reflect the kind of work I enjoy most: solving practical problems, blending technical depth with usability, and building things that stay reliable under pressure.

Manula competing in swimming
Results and leadership

Performance built long before race day.

Sport gave me more than medals. It taught me pacing, standards, recovery, and the responsibility of leading by example. That same mindset shapes how I learn, build, and collaborate.

Swimming

South Asian Age Group Championship 2016, 3rd place

Selected for Asian Age Groups in Uzbekistan, 2017

Competed in Princess Chulabhorn Swimming Championship, Thailand, 2017

Competed in Milo Malaysia Invitational Age Group Championship, 2018

National pool competition experience, 2019

Multiple colours and merits earned across 2016 to 2024

Leadership

Sport Council President at SLIIT

Captain of the SLIIT Swimming Team

Vice Captain of the SLIIT Swimming Team in 2024

Junior Vice Captain in 2019 and Captain in 2020 at Ananda College Swimming Team

Contact

Let's build something with standards.

I'm open to conversations around software engineering, embedded systems, product building, and collaborative opportunities where discipline and execution matter.

Email

manulacooray@gmail.com

Phone

+94 70 255 7227

LinkedIn

View LinkedIn profile
Open

@manula-cooray-b5bb862b2

Languages

English / Sinhala

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