Rukshan Perera is no stranger to Sri Lanka’s music scene and
every year this amazing musician dedicates his concert to a worthy cause. As he
prepares to enthrall audiences this year, he took time out to speak to Esteem
about life, music and his love for humanity.
How would you define your connection with music?
I was blessed to be born to a musical family in the musical
town of Moratuwa. My mother Mrs. Trilla Perera was the music teacher at
Princess of Wales College Moratuwa and a church organist for almost 50 years.
Music has been a big part of my life since I was a child and my mother is the
reason for all what I do in music.
As a musician you not only sing, but also play instruments,
compose and even do a little bit of acting. What made you get in to being a
musician or what inspired the spark?
I had my first piano lesson at the age of five from my
mother. Since guitar bands were becoming popular at the time, I quickly
switched to playing guitar. With the little music I knew at the time, I formed
my first family band at the age of ten, composed our originals, and performed
our songs at a musical program at Radio Ceylon with Dr. Vijaya Corea at the age
of 12. While still schooling at Royal College, I performed for the popular 70’s
bands “The Golden Chimes” as the guitarist under Chanaka and Lankika Perera and
with “The Super Golden Chimes” as the keyboardist under Clarence Wijewardena
and Annesley Malawana, and then toured Asia and Europe with the bands “Esquire
Set” and “Serendib” with Raj Seneviratne and Indra Raj. I was able to manage
other instruments and in most bands I was in charge of arranging music and
harmony for the western songs.
I took a break from professional music and relocated to the
United States to continue higher studies and completed a Bachelor’s degree in
Information Systems, and an MBA in Management at City University of New York.
While in the university I joined the Jazz Band as the Lead Guitarist/Vocalist
and studied under Milt Hinton, a famous African American Jazz musician in the
US. After adding Jazz to my repertoire, I performed a series of jazz concerts
at the Whitney Museum of New York for 5 consecutive years. After my graduation
I worked with Philip Morris International for 20 years at the International
Headquarters in New York and in Switzerland as a Manager Systems Development,
travelling extensively in Latin America and Europe.
What made you return to Sri Lanka?
I left Sri Lanka early and have lived abroad more than half
of my life. When I retired early from my IT career in the US, my wife and I
decided to come back to Sri Lanka to make a difference in our homeland. When we
decided to return to Sri Lanka, I also wrote a song titled “Coming Home To
You”, and you meaning Sri Lanka. In the lyrics there’s a line, “give me a
chance to lend my hand, Sri Lanka I’m coming home to you”, and this is
precisely what we started doing in Sri Lanka. We go back to the US every year
for a family reunion with our children and grandchildren.
Why do you always connect your concerts with a charity and
why the Celebral Palsy Centers this year?
We cannot expect the government alone to take care of all
the special needs in Sri Lanka supporting the sick, poor, differently abled,
mentally challenged…etc. To bridge that gap, several charities and service
organizations have come forward doing marvellous work helping in several areas
– cancer hospitals, differently abled children, underprivileged, promoting
peace and reconciliation, teaching ethics and values, road safety, water and
sanitation….and the list goes on. I am a past president of the Rotary Club of
Colombo Metropolitan that does fabulous work in several communities and also a
trustee with Unity Mission Trust that promotes peace and reconciliation
throughout Sri Lanka. I feel it is our duty to support such charities if we
have the ability and if we have talents – be it music, art, acting, sports…etc.
I am blessed that I am in a position to help such charities in a small way
through my music and otherwise. Every year I raise funds at my concerts for a
deserving charity and also perform at various other concerts, sing alongs and
other events for dozens of charities as well. Cerebral Palsy is not well known
in our country and there are 40,000 people affected in Sri Lanka. While raising
funds for the Cerebral Palsy Centers in Jaffna and Kurunegala, the concert will
also raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy.
What is your opinion on the music industry in Sri Lanka?
What do we need to do to make it better?
Sri Lanka has produced several talented musicians, composers
and singers. Every generation produces fabulous musicians/singers, and it only
gets better. Though the Sri Lankan market is small compared to the US, India
and several other countries, our musicians are passionate in what they do and
always try to achieve the best. I would like to see more composers of English
music in the future.
How can music be used to take Sri Lanka to the world?
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is behind other countries promoting
English originals that can be aired internationally. We need several parties to
work together to make this happen. Radio stations need to promote local English
originals and audiences need to appreciate local English originals at concerts
and on radio. If this is promoted, I am sure more Sri Lankan composers will
come forward with their English originals that can go international. Currently,
since originals are not promoted, the musicians take a back seat on originals
and continue to entertain audiences with cover songs at night clubs, lobbies,
concerts and dances. I hope this will change soon and give the younger generation
the boost they need to go international.
In this regard, I decided to promote English originals in
Sri Lanka and began my concert series “Rukshan Perera Live In Concert” 10 years
ago and I do ONLY my originals, all English except for a few Sinhala songs
thrown in every year. My originals come in various forms, pop, jazz, blues,
acapella and fusion and with this variety of styles of music, I entertain the
audience who also have grown a liking to my songs. This is my 10th year concert
doing all originals, and yes there are audiences who appreciate originals and I
hope the youngsters will do more in the future.
So, to answer the question, we must encourage the youngsters
to compose songs, radio stations must promote those songs for the audiences to
familiarize with the songs and watch them perform live at concerts. The next
step is to take the good songs to the international market.
Quick Fire:
Favourite Song to Perform: I enjoy performing Mr. George
Benson’s songs because I like scatting with my guitar – a jazz skill for jazz
singers/guitarists.
Favourite Singer (International): George Benson, Stevie
Wonder, Billy Joel.
Favourite Singer: (Local) Natasha Rathnayake, Kevin Almeida
Dream Concert Venue: Madison Square Gardens (New York)
Motto in Life: Find the satisfaction in helping others.
Written by Nishu Gunawardana
A lonely elephant, his mighty head downcast, sways in an age
old rhythm of stress and unhappiness as he strains against shackles that bind
him to a tree in a backyard of a temple. He longs for his jungle home,
remembers the long walks with his herd, the mud baths that soothe but mostly he
remembers his freedom. This temple is not where he is meant to be. In a
travesty of their natural movement, elephants parade around holding each others
tails, amble ungainly on three legs and sit on ridiculously small stools to the
applause of patrons at the national zoological gardens in Dehiwala. One can
only wonder at the amount of pain the mahouts bull hook would have caused these
animals to bring them to this level of docility. This zoo is not where they are
meant to be.
Yet another elephant, bedecked with glittering cloth, runs
amok at a perehera, frightened by the blinding lights, the fire that sprouts
and the deafening drums. Her fear inadvertently causes injury to people who
directly or indirectly put her in this situation. This perehera is not where
she is meant to be.
In a remote jungle in Habarana, a baby elephant tentatively
prods his mother’s lifeless body with mounting alarm while in the vicinity lie
six other bodies of once majestic female elephants, their carcasses a testimony
to the evil that is man.
Sri Lanka’s domestication of wild elephants goes back all
the way to the time of our kings who used elephants as a mark of prestige and
for military might; this trend of domestication continues to the present due to
cultural norms and monetary gain.
According to statistics, there are over 230 captive
elephants in Sri Lanka. Even though this figure may not seem substantial in the
face of an estimated 5800 wild elephant population in our country, elephants
are not meant to be domesticated, paraded in cultural pageants not ridden for
pleasure. Nor are they meant to be brutally slaughtered due to an ever
escalating human elephant conflict that has largely arisen due to humans
encroaching on their habitat. It is a gut wrenching fact that approximately a
hundred years ago, more than 20,000 wild elephants have freely roamed our land.
The relatively good news however, is that not everyone is
their enemy. The Department of Wildlife conservation (DWLC) and the
Non-Government Organisation Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS)
work toward protecting these gentle giants despite numerous social and
political hindrances. Over the years, DWLC has adopted and developed
conservation methods such as electric fences, use of deterrents, establishment
of new national parks and elephant corridors and habitat enrichment of current
elephant regions.
The SLWCS has introduced a simple yet effective method of
keeping elephants away from cultivating areas thus mitigating the human elephant
conflict to an extent. Through the “Project Orange Elephant”, the SLWCS has
planted orange trees in several villages in the Wasgamuwa area and the citrus
smell – to which the elephants are naturally averse to – has worked well to
protect home gardens.
The elephant transit home in the Udawalawe National Park was
established by the DWC in 1995. This jungle sanctuary is a haven to orphaned
baby elephants until they are strong enough to be released back to the wild. It
is indeed heartening to seeing these young ones jostle each other and hurry on
chubby legs to where the staff await with bottles of milk.
So it seems in theory that much is being done to protect the
Sri Lankan elephant. But the sad truth is that it is not enough, not by a long
shot, as reports reveal that Sri Lanka recorded the highest deaths due to the
human elephant conflict this year.
If you would like to learn about them and help in
conservation efforts, a place to start is ‘Volunteering journeys’ where
volunteers can participate in activities such as monitoring elephants in the
wild, building sanctuaries and managing the human elephant conflict.
As a mother, I have taken my children to the zoo, watched
the elephants ‘dance’ and taken them on elephant rides and watched the perehera
with them. But I have learnt that inadvertently, our actions aimed at making
our children’s eyes widen with pleasure, bring tears to the eyes of these
gentle creatures we love. So I am doing my part by teaching them today that it
is not right to watch our elephants caged or paraded around for our pleasure.
If we can do this collectively, if we do not visit places that have elephants
in captivity, we can make a difference to the plight of the elephant in our
country. As animal lovers and concerned citizens, we can do our part to add to
the efforts taken by the DWC and the SLWCS.
The legendary memory of an elephant, a vital aspect in their
lives, is also a deterrent in the efforts to curb the human elephant conflict.
In the Minneriya National Park, we encountered an elephant they call ‘Bonnet’
who charges most vehicles and has injured many. Her baby was run over by a park
vehicle and killed. There will be many, many more stories like this. There
already are many, many stories like this. It seems an uphill task but love and
compassion should overcome even the anger of a wounded animal if given
ceaselessly. Let us love them and if that does not come naturally, let us let
them live.
No, it’s not about the song
“ready for the victory” by the German duo Modern Talking, but about a more
special individual, a legend, who has brought honor and glory to the paradise
island, and has made his mark in the international sports arena, and the passion
and commitment he had for the sport has brought him to a position which is
unbeatable, and no Sri Lankan would achieve for a long time. No, it’s not about
the song “ready for the victory” by the German duo Modern Talking, but about a
more special individual, a legend, who has brought honor and glory to the
paradise island, and has made his mark in the international sports arena, and
the passion and commitment he had for the sport has brought him to a position
which is unbeatable, and no Sri Lankan would achieve for a long time. The pride
and glory he has gained are not only for himself, but also for the country.
Having the Sri Lankan flag displayed on his Lamborghini in all the races where
he participates, he is the proud ambassador and representative of this
beautiful island, to show the rest of the world that the “Sri Lankan spirit“
dazzles as always. The pride he has brought this tiny island is endless, and he
is proud that he was able to bring all that prestige on his own. His
achievements, were not offered to him on a silver plate, it was all about hard
work and commitment. His only ambition is to bring more prestige to the country
and more fame. Those in the motor racing arena will definitely know his name,
since he has become the number one brand ambassador in motor racing, and a
proud son of mother Lanka. Needless to say, our guest is none other else than
the legendary Dilantha Malagamuwa, the number one motor legend if there ever
was in Sri Lanka. Racing is his whole life, and his passion. The way he entered
the motor racing arena is one fascinating story, and there’s so much one can
learn. No other Sri Lankan has been able to break his record up to now, or even
in the world, and he still rocks on, and will continue till the end.
Born in Kurunegala, Dilantha
completed his primary education at St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala and Trinity
College, Kandy. From his younger days he showed signs of being a motor racing
champion, starting racing at the age of 16 and winning a motorcycle race. His
two sisters encouraged him and persuaded his father to buy a Yamaha TZ 350. In
1983, Dilantha participated in his first international race in Calcutta,
securing the 6th place and at that race he Matsumoto Kenmei, a Japanese
motorbike racer, who invited him to come to Japan, to develop his motor racing
skills, which was the turning point of his motor racing career. In 1985, he
went to Japan, and some years later became the first non-Japanese Asian to
compete in the Japan top level formula Nippon (F3000). Up to now, he has won
numerous awards and achievements, and has been highly praised in both
international and local media as one of the best motor racing drivers Sri Lanka
had ever produced. Some of his achievements include, Champion of the N1 Championship
in Japan 1995, Champion, Malaysia Super car series 2006, 1st runner up, Aston
Martin Asia cup 2008/2009, Champion, GT Asia, 2010, 1st runner up, Lamborghini
Super Trofeo Asian series 2014, Champion, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asian series
2015, Champion, NGK Enduro 3 hour endurance race, Dubai, and winning the 3rd
place at the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals, Imola, Italy, 2017, and AM
Class, 5th place overall. These are only a few of those achievements he has won
throughout the years, and the list goes on. In 1997, after competing in Japan’s
top level Formula Nippon, the Prime Minister of Japan, Keizo Obuchi,
felicitated Dilantha for his effort in becoming the first Non – Japanese Asian
to achieve this feat. In 2012, Dilantha was awarded the national colors and a
special recognition by the Sri Lanka Auto Sports Association in 2012, and was
selected as the Brand Ambassador for the SLIM 14th Brand Excellence awards with
an attractive theme titled as “Will you race ahead of the rest?”. His racing
school, “Dilango Racing“ which was established in 2009 was given the Runner Up
Presidential Award for being the “Most Outstanding Leisure Sports Provider of
the Year 2015“ and also another runner up Presidential Award to Dilantha
himself, for being the “Most Outstanding Standing Sportsman of the year 2015”.
He again bagged two awards at the Sports First Platinum Award 2016, as the
“Best Motor Sport Athlete of the Year“ and “Most Popular Player of the Year”.
Dilantha also received the Sri Lankan of the Year award in 2018 in the sports
category, for his contribution towards motor racing in Sri Lanka. The event was
hosted by Ada Derana, at a gala event which was held at the Hilton Colombo.
This Motor Racing legend, who has
a friendly and a down to earth personality joined me for a brief chat at his
residence, on his motor racing career, achievements, experiences and best
moments, which I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, for it was so interesting.
Q: So Dilantha, how are things
going on with your Motor racing career these days?
A: It’s good. The new
championships start in March and goes on till November. I’m getting ready for
that and trying to find sponsors etc. Sometimes it could be two championships.
I’m not sure if I can do both, but one championship is confirmed, which is the
GT Sports club. The testing is on the second week of March and first race is
also in the second week of April.
Q: Who, or what influenced you to
start your racing career?
A: Actually I had the passion for
cars and bikes, but what inspired me was film! That was what inspired me to
become a racing driver.
Q: What were the challenges you
had to face when you first started racing?
A: I don’t think nobody has ever
been through the challenges which I had to go through. My first race was when I
was 16, and my father was against my racing but they didn’t know my first race,
which I took part and he only got to know after the race. I won the first race,
on a 5060 when I was 16, and then I immediately wanted to get on to a TZ 350.
Because 5060 was too slow for me. My father was against it but my two sisters
somehow influenced him and made him buy me the bike. But he said, if there’s
one accident, I have to give up, and I had to promise. I just made a false
promise, but I had my own way. So the first race was in Kurunegala, I won the
third place there. And from 5060 I went straight on to the 350, in the second
race I had a fall and broke my leg, and my father said don’t race, but I never
gave up. I really wanted to go for international races. So when I was 19, in
1983, I went to India. That also my father did not know. I took my bike from
Kurunegala to Thalaimannar, from there to Rameshwaram on a ferry, and then to
Madras. But I was not allowed to race in Madras because Sri Lankan officials
objected because I went on a private entry, because they didn’t give me the
official entry. So they didn’t allow me, but the next race was after a week in
Calcutta so I raced there and came back. My father came to know after that and
went to India to bring me back, and in India, I met this Japanese person named
Matsumoto Kenmei, and at that time I was trying to go to Europe or the States
to race, but then he was very kind to me and he said that I should come to
Japan, if you really want to become a champion. He was fooling with me the
whole time because I had the oldest bike, and I was also the youngest guy. He
never thought I’ll come to Japan, so he said Japan is a better country. I told
him one day I want to become a world champion. He knew it would never happen,
he underestimated me at that time, but then he gave me his address, and when I
was coming back to Sri Lanka I lost my wallet, and lost his address, and after
I came to Sri Lanka I told my father I want to go to Japan. He didn’t allow it,
and after around one and a half years, I sold my car, bought a one-way ticket,
and with Rs.4000 I went to Japan, and I raced there and had to live in a van
for the first 6 months. My parents did not know for a while where I was. It
took me two years to buy my first bike. I tried to meet Matsumoto, I went to
circuits many times, but I was not allowed to go and see him because I didn’t
have a pass, and when I told people that He was a friend of mine, no one
believed me. Anyway after a while I realized everything was very tough. I thought
everything was easy, but motor racing is very expensive. So after an year, I
started my own business exporting bikes and all that, because I wanted to find
the funds to race, and then in 1987, I went to Japan again, and that was the
year I bought my first bike, and I started racing bikes, then I started racing
cars from 1989, and I became the first Non – Japanese Asian to win a
championship in Japan, in 1995, and in 1997, I became the first Non –Japanese
Asian to reach the highest level of motorsports in Japan. I was felicitated by
the Prime Minister of Japan at that time, and the national television, NHK
wanted to do my documentary. First I didn’t want them to know, because
motorsports is a very glamourous sport. Everyone is very wealthy. And they didn’t
know that I was working 22 hours to race, you know. I bring motor cycles, I
wash them, I clean them and do the paper work, I did everything by myself. So I
didn’t want anyone to see this on TV because no one would believe it. Anyway
the NHK Director invited me to the programme which was called “Hello Nippon”
.He said, “Dilantha, you were inspired by films, and if people see your
documentary, they’ll be inspired” and that I should do it. So I finally agreed
and we did the documentary and the last shooting was at the Fuji circuit, and
they didn’t tell me that this is the last shooting and they said “cameras on“
and lo behold, Matsumoto, the guy I met walks in after 14 years! and the first
thing he asked me was, “how did you do this?” we were both emotional, and our
eyes were full of tears, and the first thing he said was, I learnt never to
underestimate any person thereafter in life. Everything was tough, every day is
tough, but I never take it as being tough because it’s my passion, and I
challenge myself every day. After that I wanted to race in many championships,
including European championships, and am still going on.
Q: We do get local motor races
such as the Fox Hill super cross, Katukurunda motor races etc, but do you think
these are enough?
A: Compared to what you do
overseas, we don’t even run a single race that is parallel to international
racing. If you see the formulas we run, it’s pre- 1985. So it’s like, its
almost 30 year old cars we are still using. We don’t have proper gear, we
haven’t properly prepared those cars, no proper racing track, and if you see in
any part of the world, even in a national championship the least is about 30
minutes. Here it lasts only for 5 or 10 minutes maximum. And in this super
cross, they run together. In other countries, they send one car after the
other. Here you can’t see because of the dust and the person from behind can’t
see. Autocross is different because you don’t that kind of dust. Even on the
cars there’s no safety. Racing was started in Sri Lanka in 1934, if I’m not
mistaken, and we were the first in Asia to start racing. We used to beat India
because they didn’t have the motorcycles that we had. Now they have three
circuits, Formula One circuit, even in Japan, China, Singapore, it’s the same.
But still we don’t even have our own tracks, it’s the same situation with the
races we run. And they run on the same track, motorcycles, cars on the same
day, nowhere in the world they do that you know. So they have messed up
everything and they will never change it. Now see, I’m racing internationally,
David Peiris’s son is racing because he can afford it, and then Ashan is racing
in Dubai and trying to do something, but where are we really? We have to run a
championship parallel to other championships in the world. Their systems are
also totally different, and just a bunch of people, they decide the rules, and
running them. Now, we have Niroshan Perera, he’s the FIA Asia zone head, and we
don’t even use him. So he goes to other countries. To do anything we have to have
a proper circuit here, and run it with proper rules and regulations. Most of
the racing cars we use are over 20 years. The rules and regulations keep on
changing, so it’s not properly done like any other sport here.
Q: Motor sports are popular all
across the world. However, Motor racing is considered as a risky sport. What’s
your opinion on this?
A: Any sport is risky. But this
is more risky because of the speed and accidents etc. I think the most popular
are football and motorsports. Cricket they say, is popular, but motor sports
are popular over 100 countries. Giants like America, Japan, China, Germany and
all these European countries, they don’t have cricket, but as I said
motorsports is a glamorous sport that is competed within the prestigious companies,
so it’s “a battle for prestige” They spend billions and billions but then, I
could go and beat all of them! The difference in motor sports is, it’s not only
yourself. You need a car, tyres, brakes, in cricket you only need a bat and a
ball. But here its technique is not enough. You got to have the funds, you got
to have the proper machine, and you have to compete with the most powerful,
prestigious companies in the world. I think they spend about 18-20 billion an
year for this sport. So it’s totally different. But still, I could go and hang
on with them, still beat them. And then I have all the Asian records where I
won 8 or 9 championships and also several first runner up championships. In
motorsports, a championship goes on for a year. During each race you have to
collect points, so the whole year is a championship. So you have to be very
consistent and everything has to be perfect. So winning a championship is very
difficult. I won mostly Asian championships, because I went to Europe only in
2017 to race. Though they call it the Asian championships, people from all over
the world come and compete because it’s held in Asia. Motor sports are not
restricted to one particular area like games like cricket, etc. So in that way,
it’s not just an Asia championship. So, all that was done!
Q: Speaking about Dilango Racing,
which was established in 2009, what’s your progress from that end? Can you tell
us about it?
A: The reason why I decided to
have my own thing was, every day I was driving for other teams and they control
you. When someone controls you, you can’t give 100% performance. Because
sometimes in races they say over the radio, “don’t overtake, don’t do this,
don’t do that” so they control me and I ant run the race the way I want. So in
2009 I thought that I’ll start my own racing team, and then we started Dilango
racing. And that’s the time we won most of the championships, from 2009
onwards, because it was controlled by me. There was no controller and I checked
everything. Everyone around the world now knows Dilango racing, on the world
championships we were third, but in the coming years we’ll win 2,3 world
championships for Sri Lanka. So we were able to build that brand, “Dilango”
because one thing is, TV coverage is very high on racing, there’s about 1.4
billion viewers watching, so I think all the manufacturers, when you say
“Dilango racing” although it’s small, everyone knows, because at the end of the
day, it’s the results. So we have proven and got good results, and the best
results.
Q: What do you think of the
sports field in Sri Lanka in general?
A: I think except for cricketers,
everyone else is struggling you know. There are no professionals. When you say
a “professional driver” although they call me a professional driver, I’m not a
professional driver because I’m not paid. I have to find my own funds. So the
only “paid” sport in Sri Lanka is cricket. Everyone else is struggling. So in a
way it’s very unfair, not being fair to other sports be it chess, basketball,
netball carom or any other sport, they are not being looked after. So in that
way I feel it’s very unfair, but still with all that, compared to cricket, they
don’t even get 1% of what cricket gets. Not even media coverage. But with all
that, there are a lot of athletes, sports people who bring fame For Sri Lanka.
At least when they are competing, they should be looked after. The problem is,
the officials don’t know what they are doing, and they take all the benefits
from what should go to the sportsmen or sports women, but I think most of the
funds go to the federations, so I feel very sad. They are talking about
promoting sports in Sri Lanka, but the first thing they should do is to build
the grounds! Some grounds have grass and some are just sand. In other stadiums,
they don’t have a proper running track. They should do the basics and it’s not
done. Sometimes when I go to these grounds I feel very sorry, because some are
running with shoes and some are not. How can you have a race even? So it’s very
unfair. The infrastructure has to be done immediately.
Q: As a seasoned Motor racer,
what’s the advice you can give to newcomers?
A: A good thing which has
happened in Sri Lanka is that Mr. David Peiris has put up the Bandaragama
Carting Centre on his own expense. That is the best place for a starter. Even
for top proper drivers, to practice go carts etc, this is one of the best
places. So, hats off to him, he has done that. If anyone wants to start proper
racing, they should go to this Go Cart track, and they have these basic Go
Carts, but then you can buy a higher performance one and they can practice
there. Unfortunately we don’t have a circuit here, but you can go to
Katukurunda and start practicing, because everyone asks me “how can I go
overseas and race, I want to race, can you support” etc. Financially I can’t
support, when they ask how to do this and that, I know they’ll never do it,
because when I didn’t have even email or internet, I still found my way,
physically going there and finding things, so I know they are just dreaming!
They don’t have the commitment, if they have the commitment they should know by
themselves. So they don’t have that. They all want to be in the comfort zone.
They just want to go to Katukurunda, do 1 or 2 races, they have no dreams of
going overseas and winning championships, but there are some good riders who go
to these Asian championships, so we have to support them. For me, I knew I
won’t get any support, so I went and worked 22 hours, to do it. I’m trying to
do a venture called “Dilango Taxis” like Uber and Pickme, and we’re going to
launch it in another two weeks. What I want to do is, out of the profits we
want to help athletes. Because other than the cricketers, they all have to
borrow money. We have to help these people, that’s how they bring fame to Sri Lanka,
in any part of the world, they respect sportsmen and sportswomen. They are
considered as heroes. You don’t call a politician or an artist a hero, but
sports people are heroes. So if you see the top countries in the world, they
spend so much money on sports to bring fame to their country. So it’s pride.
People who bring pride is doing on their own. They are not supported. That’s
very unfortunate, you know.
Q: Do you have any role models in
life? And what’s your motto in life?
A: I never had role models. I
think if you have a role model, there would have been barriers. You might
imitate someone else. I learnt things from others you know, if someone said
something good and if someone did something good, I tried to learn from that.
But I never had role models. I just follow myself. And my motto in life will
be, “nothing is impossible!”
Q: What’s the car model you are
using right now?
A: For the last ten years I have
been driving Lamborghini. In 2009, I was driving Porsche and Aston Martin both,
but in 2009, Lamborghini approached me and asked me if I would like to race a
Lamborghini. Although the Lamborghini was very popular among people, they
didn’t have the proper race cars. So nobody paid much attention, but I said
I’ll give it a try, and then in 2010, I started racing a Lamborghini, and I won
the Asian championship. That was the first time, I think, that Lamborghini won
a GT championship in Asia. From that day onwards, we have a very close
relationship. Without factory support, it’s not easy to win. And to get factory
support, you have to be a top driver in the world, but because of our
connection, they treat me very well and maybe until I retire, I might be with
Lamborghini.
Q: Looking back at your journey
through out these years, how do you feel?
A: I think I’m very proud, you know, because, no one knows my story other than myself. I should say, very proudly, no Sri Lankan has ever, either businessman or sportsperson or anyone, has spent his own money and brought fame for Sri Lanka. No one has even come close to what I have done for Sri Lanka. So I’m very proud of that, and I’m doing it because I love this country and it’s my passion, and always challenge myself, and I always want to become a better person every day, so I keep challenging myself. That’s why I don’t have a role model; I want to be better than me every day. So that’s how I keep winning. So I’m very proud because now it’s almost 36 years since I have been in the international races, as I told there’s no one in Sri Lanka who has ever done it. Not that I’m trying to boast, but I’m very proud of it. And I want someone else also to do the same thing. I haven’t saved money, but I have best glory to Sri Lanka, and no one has ever, even in the racing history has put up their own country flag with their own expenses, to bring fame for their country. When I think about it, I feel very proud.
Property development makes a critical contribution in
ensuring Sri Lanka maintains itself as an attractive emerging market,
particularly to secure FDIs essential for the country’s development.
Sri Lanka has a considerable number of local developers
and international partnerships that continues to change the skyline of Colombo.
However, few of these have dared challenge convention in venturing out beyond
Colombo. Enter Provident Capital, a property development company and strategic
partner meant for today’s prudent investor and discerning home owner alike.
Driven by innovation, professionalism and its core
ambition to reimagine Sri Lanka as a world leader in sustainable development,
Provident Capital intends to introduce a ground breaking series of developments
that offer unmatched investment opportunities for Sri Lankans and foreign
nationals.
With the collective experience of over two decades
available at Provident Capital in real estate investments, development, banking
and finance, all projects are meticulously planned based on a very specialised
knowledge and expertise in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector, tourism and emerging
trends.
Having formed collaborations with some of the best
architects, structural engineers and building contractors in the country,
Provident Capital has a series of developments in the pipeline.
The first among these and as a testament to its stated
intention is ‘The Loft’ Mirissa. An
architectural marvel in the making, The Loft Mirissa is a resort-style
condominium project developed for those interested in owning an ocean side
apartment of their own in the iconic coastal town of Mirissa. An exclusive,
holiday home of your own, completely hassle and cost free with a guaranteed
income unlike anything seen before. Furthermore the units are offered fully
furnished, equipped and ready to move in immediately upon completion. Plans are
already underway to introduce an exquisitely designed, environmentally
sustainable project in Ella that hosts just 10 private villas on a mesmerizing
05 acre property replete with the finest furnishings possible.
Provident Capital is also open to form strategic
partnerships with select and reputable international and local property
developers and investors. Provident Capital has garnered a great deal of
credibility, and this can be showcased via a number of international awards
that they have won. One such award is the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2019,
where they were a Five Star Award Winner for The LOFT, Mirissa, which was
regarded as the Best Leisure Development in Sri Lanka. Another award worth
mentioning is how Provident Capital has been named as the Emerging Developer
for the year 2019/2020 by the South Asian Business Excellence Awards.
Provident Capital is spearheaded by CEO Chaminda
Banduthilake, CMO Huzaik Ismeth, COO Rikaz Imtiaz and Director Strategy and
Business Development Jeevan Amarasingham. For more information on Provident
Capital’s projects and service please call 0117 449556 or email info@providentcapital.lk.
Instagram: @loftmirissa
Address: No.11 Kirimandala Mawatha, Nawala, Sri Lanka
The 21st century is
turning out to be quite a bewildering era with technological disruption
affecting all aspects of life. Education is certainly something that is being
affected, and for a generation of millennials the advent of new and futuristic
trends in the social, technological and economic landscape is shaping their
future careers drastically.
The paragraph above
seems to have the same vibes relevant to Yuval Noah Harari’s book 21 Lessons
for the 21st century. I’ve realized how apt such an introduction is when you
consider UTS Insearch, and how relevant its education programmes are for the
current period we are living in, especially given the fact that this is a
university that prides itself in staying ahead of the competition.
I had an opportunity
to talk with Alison Hiscox — the Principal of the University of Technology
Sydney Insearch’s campus in Sri Lanka — who is an education management
professional with over 20 years’ experience in transnational education. Speaking
fondly of Sri Lanka she talks about how at home she feels in this island nation
and appreciates the hunger and thirst Lankan students have for education.
With a rich and
rewarding career that spans 30 years in education, Alison has a vast degree of
significant experience in managing university pathway programs and has
previously held Principal and Academic Director positions in Kenya, Zambia and
Australia and has managed and developed pathway programs in China and Myanmar.
Alison went on to
acknowledge the fact that education has changed quite a bit throughout the last
few decades. The main reason for this is that there are new jobs and job roles
popping up in all industries across the board with IT being one of the main
industries to face this role expansion of sorts. Thus, the relevance and quality of the learning
process to meet ongoing changes is integral to helping students survive and
thrive in the world outside.
When it comes to
academia in the past there was too much of a focus on books and little else.
Alison is a firm believer in emotional intelligence and how such a skill can be
beneficial when it comes to choosing and sustaining a career in the long term.
She also spoke about how practical skills and independent learning is something
that is fostered at UTS, and how self-learning is a key attribute of how
education is disseminated to their students.
In terms of raw
numbers, UTS boasts 44,000 students, has 500 courses, and enjoys a ranking
inside the best 150 universities across the world. Business, IT, and
Engineering diplomas will be the main courses on offer in Sri Lanka while this
offering will be expanded to include others based on demand in the near
future.
What most parents who
do invest in their children’s education would want to know is how effective an
education they will get. UTS is well-known for its employability outcomes, and
this is a reputation that is well-deserved. Education here takes on a very
holistic approach where students are taught a sense of resilience and how to survive
in the workplace while also being integrated into society where a social
contribution is made.
There’s another
economic reason why UTS Insearch has landed in Sri Lanka and this is because of
the economic expansion that is currently happening. Consider it almost an
investment in the local student capital where proper and forward-thinking
education is offered in a way where future alumni will return and contribute to
the Sri Lankan economy.
A prime example of
this phenomena could be witnessed in the early 2000 era where Indian students returned
to their country after gaining the right education abroad to start up
profitable businesses and thereby putting India on the map from a highly
commercial perspective.
Lastly, from a competitive perspective, the Sri
Lankan education system will only benefit immensely from a world-class
university where the ceiling on excellence will surely be raised to superlative
standards. Competition, as we all know, will only serve to push the envelope
when it comes to economic development and social contribution.
Tayo Bear is a much loved and reputed brand
for diverse, yummy, nutritious dog treats and meals grabbing the country by its
proverbial tail! Since its launch a little over a year ago Tayo Bear has
swiftly become a household name for safe and organic, homemade pet food for k9s
in a short span of time. Tayo’s fabulous range of high-quality treats and meals
in a variety of flavours has become a staple in every doggy parents’ home now.
The impressive and intriguing social media platforms on Instagram and Facebook
of Tayo Bear ensures through funny and unique posts that patrons and a legion
of clients are kept informed of the latest thanks to engaging and enlightening
updates made regularly.
“I’ve
been a loyal customer of Tayo bear since Simba’s first birthday. Ever since the
first cake I’ve gotten from the lovely adorable doggo lover with her mission to
spread love for doggos all around. I simply joined on board. Not to mention the
delicious cakes, to cookies which all my doggos fell in love with instantly to
the paw soothers (which works like a charm to heal paw cracks). Her recipes
along with passion and love for dogs is the winning combo and the goodies won’t
disappoint your doggos, instead make them yummy in the tummy wanting more love
and treats. I sincerely with all my heart recommend Tayo bear
goodies which has been my one stop shop for doggo goodies and treats”,
said Thiran Ranatunga Business partner at RCRMOTOWORLD.
However it’s Tayo Bear’s latest venture which
is the talk of the city right now. Your doggies will now have their own
exclusive, spacious and fabulous dog café opened on the 1st of
October, 2019 at 71/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. For the first time in Sri
Lanka an atmospheric, hangout for every type and tribe of dog was finally
launched where your pooches can mingle and make new friends, celebrate special
occasions and birthdays, have a place to spend time while their mistresses and
masters are away on errands but mostly at long last have a place that all furry
delights can call their own.
Tayo Bear’s Doggy Café is the ideal retreat
for all furry kids to socialize, spend quality doggy time and enjoy all the
Tayo treats and meals while patronizing the café.
Proprietor,
founder and doggy mom Shanaz Fouze had this to say when asked why she wanted to
open a café exclusively for dogs: “Us doggy parents have always wondered where
we could take our doggies. Even if they say pet friendly they don’t really
allow the kids to actually go inside the space. My goal was to open a fancy
place where you can have your dog’s birthday party or your birthday party with
your dog or even if you want to leave your doggy for a few hours till you run
your errands, your dog can hangout with the other dogs at the café. We have
some amazing plans for the cafe but for now I wanted to keep it simple, giving
the warmth and environment that I give my own furry kids”.
Tayo Bear continues to innovate the pet industry
with unique ideas and special one of a kind ventures and the Doggy Café is
right on top. Dog owners be glad, because your best furry friends finally have
a haven that’s made just for them.
Anyone who watches The School of Life on YouTube would
know how Alain de Botton is a serious proponent of art as a therapeutic medium.
He talks of how art can indeed make us better lovers by teaching us patience,
curiosity and generosity; and even prepare us for loneliness, old age, and
unrequited love.
Allow me to just propose one example of this: Alain de
Botton believes that we harbour a great deal of darkness in our hearts, which
is why art gives us hope with its simple images of happiness. Consider the
painting known as Usherette by Edward Hopper, which shows the usherette bathed
in light yet with melancholic sadness. She is the suffering soul in a
superficial world. She is us. Hopper invites us to sympathize, empathize, and
indeed identify with her.
The above two paragraphs serve as a conversation starter
of the subject of this 4-page spread — Crimson Spaces. Their story, which is a
saturation of ups and downs, reminds me of an art space in its entirety, and
how art is extremely diverse with each exhibition being quite possibly a
reflection of one of the many facets of an artist’s personality, and how they
seek a sense of balance and harmony in their lives.
What is rewarding in a sense is how Crimson Spaces has
filled a void in the art industry — A place where established and emerging
artists that fosters their artistry and brings them to the limelight.
Opportunities are provided via exhibitions and internships. This is the
changing face of the art industry in Sri Lanka, and Crimson Spaces is
indubitably leading the pack.
Let’s talk about Kamilka Perera and Dananjaya Edirisinghe;
two artists who are fronting the very first exhibition at Crimson Spaces. With
so much of raw talent being sharpened and honed, one would feel that Kamilka
Perera, in her paintings touches on the moods of the Garden of Eden, where Eden
is treated as a life form herself, a rich tapestry on which Adam and Eve find
and blossom in love. She imbibes her creations with a sense of purpose that is
almost therapeutic to the spirit and soul.
We all know that art per se is an experience, and
Danajaya Edirisinghe’s sculptures, which mainly focuses on pieces that embody
the evil that is Satan, the glory that is God, and the purity and innocence
that are the hearts of Adam and Eve. It is certainly an experience in itself.
With a frown and the sun dappling his arms, what serves to be a humble panel of
metal is turned into something pseudo-erotic and relatable.
Intense in personality, despite the offering of a bright sunny smile, you’d be caught unawares of his dark brooding persona as he designs, crafts and morphs whatever darkness he feels into a work of art that is either 2D or 3D.
Simple and yet crafted to perfection possibly thanks to
Danajaya Edirisinghe’s experience as a doyen of handcrafted art, his
workstation is a cacophony of pliers, wires, sweat, fingers, and a desire to
just create.
I’ll admit as should you: we are all unhinged and missing
something in life. And this is what a work of art attracts us to; in other
words, we are attracted to something that we miss in life and within ourselves.
This is why we have different tastes in art simply because we are missing
different things.
Until the end of December, you and I are sure to witness
an artistic spread of inimitable designs, which will be an Art Exhibition by
Kamilka Perera and Danajaya Edirisinghe at Crimson Spaces. While the artistic
aficionado would ask questions related to price etc., I’d urge you to traverse
a different line of questioning: one which touches on the aspects of
spirituality, and, dare I say, existential, too.
And, this is quite possibly the question — if I may paraphrase Alain de Botton — you should ask should you ever come across these inimitable designs handcrafted by artists across the board: What bit of myself is missing that I find in this object of art that I find so beautiful?
Eden; Crimson Spaces 2019: Art Exhibition by Kamilka
Perera and Danajaya Edirisinghe is open for viewing until the 31st of December
2019, at the Crimson Spaces Gallery,32A, Horton Place, Colombo 07 from Monday
to Saturday 10am-5pm and on Sundays from 10am-1pm.
When it comes to the art of spa treatments, one of the
newest kids on the block is Spa Global. What is interesting is that this hidden
gem is actually a spa, a salon and also a sheisha lounge with a cafe also
thrown in for good measure. This seems to be an all-in-one solution for a list
of discerning individuals who want the best possible quality treatments. The
best part here is that the menu of treatments seem to be ever-evolving and does
include some of the latest beauty treatments using international potions and
lotions that promise exceptional quality.
I had the opportunity to enjoy one of many thorough
Swedish massages, which was of an exemplary standard. Moreover, believing in a
sense of absolute professionalism, all therapists have gone through a stringent
process of training, which is easily reflected in how well they deliver
treatments. A foot massage area lit
softly with ambient lighting promises absolute rest and comfort.
What is also impressive is also how welcome you feel when
you walk into this property which is quite large. I’ve also enjoyed their
extensive food and beverage menu, which is somewhat of a revelation. The
burgers are on point and are truly a mouthful of heaven on a plate. The use of
mayo and sauces are just right and not an over-explosion of taste. The use of
meat is generous and speaks of quality.
Expect some of the latest pop tunes to greet you while
you are there. Very chic and impressive when it comes to ambience this is
legitimately the first time I’ve ever come across a place that offers a sheisha
lounge aswell. From what I know this seems to be a real hit with most clients,
and the sheisha lounge at Spa Global is open till 11.30 pm, which is quite
late.
I had the opportunity to speak to Fathima Zahawa Nawaz,
and she ran me through the comprehensive list of facilities that are present
here. They include a well-facilitated nail bar, hair design, hair texture
treatments, hair extensions, waxing, party makeovers, and face and foot
therapy. The salon looks very modern and classy, and this is certainly one
facility that I plan on trying out when it comes to haircuts and hair styles.
Spa Global was opened in November of 2018, and is already
enjoying a steady stream of clients with a minimum level of marketing effort
being exerted. Largely relying on word of mouth, Spa Global is guaranteed to be
thriving while enjoying a sense of customer loyalty that is sure to be welcome.
Fathima Zahawa Nawaz (who is more fondly known as Fathi)
started this as an initial concept that was initiated with Sanjeewani
Embuldeniya; both individuals enjoy a track record in the beauty industry and
have a list of accolades, which showcase their expertise and experience. While
Sanjeewani is process-driven and is a well-known makeup artist who has spent
many years in the film industry in Sri Lanka, Fathi is well-qualified in the
art of beauty and is a product of the Ramani Fernando Hair and Beauty Academy
and also a qualified aesthetician. Trust me, you are in good hands with the
level of experience that they both have.
Really pushing the envelope here, Spa Global is unisex
and has the capacity to offer a list of services that is not even offered in
the rest of the high-end salons in Colombo. Spa Global also has the ability to
offer spa parties, get togethers and also bridal showers.
Let’s talk price; this is one aspect that is
perfectly-tailored to Spa Global’s customers. The pricing is not exorbitant and
falls under the spectrum of being quite reasonable. And, I’ll be frank, this is one of the many
reasons why I am a repeat customer here. The prices are such that affordability
is key while also being structured in such a way where you can visit the place
and indulge yourself a few times per month.
I must also mention the aspect of cleanliness — this is
one property that is extremely clean and well-organized. This is a huge plus
and uncleanliness in any form is a serious deal-breaker for me. All things
considered, I will admit that this is certainly a place that needs some serious
exposure and is a hidden gem in Swarna Place. A visit here is certainly
warranted, and is a cocoon of comfort that promises a highly enjoyable
experience.
In 1981 an event took place that reinforced ideals of love
and loyalty. It was the year Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement
ring to Lady Diana Spencer. A fairytale event it surely was, and if a jewellery
enthusiast does make a concerted effort in trying to seine meanings associated with
certain gems, he is sure to find that sapphires symbolize wisdom, virtue, good
fortune, and holiness for royals.
Humans love stories, and it is these stories created
throughout centuries that have weaved a tapestry of intricate value into things
that we find meaningful. In an engagement ring, a sapphire means faithfulness
and sincerity, while during the Middle Ages, clergy wore sapphires to symbolize
heaven.
With a nod towards their sense of rarity, Ayesh De Fonseka,
the charismatic son of Founder/Managing Director Lasantha De Fonseka and his
wife Bryony, highlighted how rubies, sapphires and emeralds are always in the
same segment of rarity and value.
Yet I digress; because this particular article I was
fortunate to pen is about the Tiesh Blue Empress, which is touted to be the
largest commercial blue sapphire. Guessed at being around 800 million years of
age, I was fortunate enough to experience the news firsthand at a press
conference in late July at the Tiesh showroom in Colombo.
This gargantuan stone sits on a crown, which is handcrafted
in 18 carat gold and white gold, set with an array of other precious Sri Lankan
gem stones. Moreover, the Tiesh Blue Empress belonged to a mother stone that
weighed in at a whopping 201,500 carats.
This monumental piece weighs in at 332 carats and is a
Ceylon Blue Star Sapphire. She is on permanent public display at the Tiesh showroom
in Kandy, and, subsequently cements Sri Lanka’s reputation as a jewellery hub.
Consider this article a quasi-continuation of my July/August
article featured in this same magazine. In that issue, I touched on how Tiesh
is widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s premier jewellery store where their message
to its customers speaks of confidence and prestige with no dilution of quality
being tolerated when stones are garnered at source.
Beyond the whole concept of sapphires being a storied entity
of sorts, from a purely financial position, gemstones are proving to be an
excellent investment. Put side by side, Ayesh De Fonseka was confident in his
belief that sapphires trump gold when it comes to ROI partly due to the demand
in supply from the Asian sector. To give an approximate figure in terms of
value appreciation, sapphire prices have increased fivefold over the last
decade.
At this particular juncture, we need to figure out how one
could define a precious stone like a diamond or a sapphire. One could summarize
this into the 4Cs, which can be elaborated as Colour, Cut, Clarity and Carat.
While this is a complicated topic altogether, remember this — the most
expensive and rarest of Sapphires will be untreated, while commercial Sapphires
will be heat treated with the cheaper stones being surface diffused or treated
with Beryllium. The precious categorization is a reference to value: a really
fine ruby, emerald or sapphire can be priced higher per carat than a diamond.
It begs to be mentioned that as an organization, which
focuses on absolute quality, Tiesh firmly believes in providing the correct
documentation to a buyer, which authenticates their gems. Since transparency is
key here, Tiesh provide certifications of authenticity and international gem
testing certificates.
With a track record of being a trendsetter in a contemporary
market, Tiesh has become a standout in a saturated market by smartly
identifying trends — think back to 2016 and its For Him range — and
leisure-oriented proclivities to offer sublime value to customers.
In conclusion, the current story of Tiesh can be
encapsulated in the following paragraph — This latest milestone of having the
largest commercial blue sapphire for public display is an example of how the
Tiesh family is a vanguard of innovation and creativity in a jewellery industry
that requires a sense of energy and excitement, which has during the last few
decades been sorely lacking.
21st of April 2019…8:45am…
A moment forever etched in to the very fabric of Sri Lanka… A moment that shook
the conscious of everyone devoid of race, religion, or colour. Because it
affected not just a single community… It affected everyone… It hurt Sri Lankans
and it hurt to be Sri Lankan… It touched the world…
Despite having lived
through decades of Sri Lanka’s civil war, this one devastating occurrence
affected me personally in a very different way. As a child and teenager going
through check-points, experiencing bombs going off and the uncertainty that my
parents must-have felt didn’t have as much meaning to me as it did post-4/21
when I as a parent myself had to go through the same. We began to say things
like “never again”, “not for my children”, and most importantly a clarion call
for Sri Lanka to “stay together and rise up”.
Rising up is certainly
something the tourism industry had to do in the aftermath of the attacks.
Devastated by the number of tourist hotels that were targeted and local and
foreign guests who lost their lives in the tragedy, the tourist industry
suffered a heavy toll. Travel bans and a general sense of fear, meant that the
industry that was riding the bandwagon of being named the Numero Uno Travel
Destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet suddenly found itself with cancellations
worth billions, the industry at a standstill and a dent in what could have been
the best year yet for our island nation.
It was during a time such
as this that the industry itself decided to come together strongly and set
itself the goal of “rebuilding” the Sri Lankan image and diverting attention to
what makes Sri Lanka so special. We sat down with, Hiran Cooray, the Chairman
of Jetwing Symphony PLC, and a stalwart in the tourism industry to pick his
brains on how exactly Sri Lanka would rise up and turn the tides.
In the aftermath of the
4/21 attacks, what was the immediate feeling in the tourism industry?
First and foremost it was
sheer shock and the immediate question was why us again. We have all gone
through such a horrible time for 26 years and since 2009, the industry was
recovering very well. It was simply disbelief among many of us and we found
ourselves hoping and praying when the initial news broke that these were not
bombs or the reemergence of terrorism as we knew it. Nobody knew what the
consequences were immediately either. There was an outpouring of love and
sympathy from the rest of the world because we were the victims. There were not
only Christians who died, there were foreigners who lost their lives, and even
Muslim victims. The entire country was affected. We initially thought as an
industry that we would recover much faster. We definitely knew that there would
be an impact on tourism.
The bigger impact however
came because of the in-fighting within the government. The leadership sadly
failed us. At home even if the husband and wife have just had an issue, if a
child falls sick we immediately forget our differences and do what is necessary
for the child. Sadly when the country was burning up and suffering, the
political leaders just went on doing their own thing. For that we paid a huge
price. The travel advisories were slapped almost 5-days after the attacks. It
was the travel advisory that stopped people from coming here. It is only after
the travel advisories were imposed that we started getting cancellations.
Jetwing itself immediately after the travel advisories were imposed had 50,000
room nights cancelled within 3 days. So that was the impact for us. While we
were mourning the loss of life, and praying for those who were suffering, this
was the second blow for us. That happened because there was no clear
communication, nobody was in charge of this nation. The only authorities who
were there for the people were the armed forces and the police who came out and
provided leadership. That was a critical period where we lost an opportunity to
win the world’s love and sympathy and overcome this situation much faster.
So your saying that
despite what happened on 4/21 if the government had been stable we could have
planned out our recovery better?
Of course. Take New
Zealand for example. On the 15th of March they underwent an attack and the
whole world witnessed it. Look at the difference in the reactions of the
leadership. A 38-year old woman became a global stateswoman. She not only
provided the leadership for her country, but was an example to the world. Even
the Opposition backed her. She did everything right. Within 5-days she brought
everything under control and by the 7th day the country was back on track. It
all depends on the leadership you provide. We could’ve minimized the subsequent
damage after the attacks had we been fortunate to have similar leadership.
So, what has the industry
done to curb the impact and do you think these events have brought the industry
together in some form?
Tourism is a fragmented
industry and there are different players. There are airlines, travel agents,
hotels, transport services and so many more involved, and it is very difficult
to bring all the players together. Be that as it may SLAITO and THASL are
working with the government to get concessions for our members. We asked for
quite a lot but have received some, and now we are in the process of
rebuilding. A billion rupees has been approved by the Cabinet for a marketing
campaign. Hopefully with that, things will slowly but surely fall in line.
The attacks unfortunately
took place at a time when Sri Lanka was also rebranding and the #SOSRILANKA
campaign was launched. Do you think we need to change that message or approach
in any way?
Not at all. People have
short memories and there are bigger global issues. Therefore, we have to
continue marketing the destination. The process has to continue.
We need to realize that
Sri Lanka has not changed. There is no “safe place” in the world. 22 million
people live here and call it home. So if it’s safe for us to live, then it’s
safe for people to come here. We were sadly affected by a handful’s ideology.
The 2.2 million Muslims living in this country are peaceful people. We
shouldn’t brand ourselves any differently. The country has to go on and move forward.
Internally we can mourn, but to the world we have to be resilient.
What are some of the
lessons Sri Lanka can learn from how other destinations like Bali revived after
similar situations?
First and foremost its
communication. There are plenty of global case studies we can learn from. It is
the responsibility of the elected leadership to lead the nation. In Bali,
France, England and New York that went through similar situations, there was
precise communication strategies, the real situation was revealed, daily
briefings went out from authorities and people knew what was happening. This is
kindergarten basics that we got wrong.
What did Jetwing do in
particular to boost morale among your network?
Immediately after, my
sister Shiromal and I travelled to our properties around the country. We spoke
to our staff and told them the truth, that we will take a hit. But as a policy
Jetwing does not let go of staff in hard times. If it’s tough for us, then it’s
tougher for the people. We told them to remain with us and we have to repay
loyalty. Instead we told them to take the opportunity to better themselves and
train harder. Slowly but surely with God’s grace business is coming back.
We were planning on
venturing out of the country as well with a few properties overseas, but the
focus has changed to promoting the local properties now.
What is your personal
vision for tourism in Sri Lanka?
A lot of people focus on
numbers. I don’t think that’s the approach. The number we should focus on is
revenue per tourist, and giving that tourist an absolutely fantastic
experience. That means infrastructure and food and everything.
We also need to focus on
sustainability. This is an island and we need to make do with our resources the
right way. We need to make sure that development is sustainable. Not just to
have badly planned and designed hotels that make up concrete jungles. Local
communities need to benefit and the country needs to develop as a whole.
Written by Nishu
Gunawardana
Photos Courtesy Jetwing
