Author: Esteem Magazine

In an evening where twelve young people placed the talent of public speaking skills under the spotlight and excelled in all its complex dynamics, Divya Sivagami of Colombo International School and Ashvini Chandrakumar of Methodist College won the Senior Division and Junior Division respectively at the Grand Finale of the annual Young Speaker 2017 organized by The British School in Colombo and Adventus Education. Amanda Halliday of Methodist College and Uzair Kidwani from The British School in Colombo emerged first and second runners up in the Senior Division, while Yusuf Barrie from Wesley College and Shaheen Abdul Gani from Gateway College Dehiwala were first and second runners up in the Junior Division.

Showcasing extraordinary confidence and articulation of each subject with comprehension and finesse through both prepared and impromptu rounds, each student hailing from schools around Sri Lanka showed immense prowess in language, aptitude and knowledge. Based on criteria that measures demonstration of intellectual thinking and positive expression, each finalist impressed with their self-confidence and linguistic and intellectual competence. Competing in the Junior Division was Senithi Dahanayake from Lyceum International School Panadura, Sakina Mansoorally from Burhani Serendib School and from Asian International School was Dhivas Sugumar. Shalinda Perera from Gateway College Negombo, Anish Fonseka from Gateway College Colombo and Nathan Omprasadham from Overseas School of Colombo competed in the Senior Division.

Congratulating the finalists, Chief Guest Chief Operating Officer of MAS HQ Shirendra Lawrence mentioned that, “Mastering the English language is of utmost importance to be able to communicate effectively and meaningfully be it at the work place or with the world at large. Whilst we are now comfortably moving into the digital era to cater to the change in trends, the next generation is fast becoming more reliant on social media as a convenient form of communication versus the conventional form better known to us as unaided cognitive thinking, and expressing one’s self effectively.”

 This was echoed by the Chairman of the Panel of Judges Attorney-at-law Mohamed Adamally who said, “With the spread of technology and the emergence of “short messages”, unfortunately we see a growing culture of abbreviation, a perversion of grammar and a breakdown of phrasing, which is now, sometimes subconsciously, beginning to pervade oral communications as well. The need, therefore, to focus on developing proper communication skills in the form of Public Speaking and Debate, which cannot be understated and competitions such as this do much towards inspiring young people to consciously improve and engage in structured and ‘proper’ communications.” The panel of judges comprised Founder and Chief Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness Kushil Gunasekera, Head of Sustainable Development, Communication and External Affairs of Siam City Cement Farzana Khan, Communications and Media Consultant Savithri Rodrigo and Head of Marketing & Communications of HSBC Tharanga Gunasekara.

Adventus Education is managed and operated by a group of visionary international education professionals offering unprecedented access to world-class universities and colleges, excelling in student placements in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, with a partner network of over 220 universities and colleges both locally and internationally. One of the leading international school in the sub-continent, The British School in Colombo has an excellent reputation for providing an outstanding and thriving holistic education augmented by a stimulating learning environment that develops outstanding young people. The gold sponsors for the event are DeVry University USA and Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, silver sponsors Melbourne Institute of Technology and bronze sponsor Swinburne University Sarawak Malaysia.

Noa Fernando is half-Sri Lankan and half-Dutch. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Noa’s parents would travel to Sri Lanka on vacation every year. It was on a vacation like this 7 years ago that a young Noa fell in love with her local roots. Making a bold decision to stay back, Noa now calls Sri Lanka her home.

“When I came down 7 years ago I never imagined that I would stay back. I am the most daring out of my sisters and I’ve always wanted to do something on my own. Sri Lanka captured my heart so much that one year later I called my parents up and said I was never coming back”.

Noa’s great love for Sri Lanka is shared by her parents who themselves met on our sunny island. “My parents have a beautiful love story and I guess my love for this country comes from their love for it”, she says.

I am tempted to ask her what about Sri Lanka captivated her the most. “Definitely the warmth that you feel the moment you step on Sri Lankan soil, and I don’t mean the heat. It’s the people, the spirituality. I feel like myself here, more than anywhere else in the world.”

When Noa decided that she wanted to make Sri Lanka her home, her first challenge was to get a work visa which would enable her to remain in the country. “I started off working at Thomas Cook as a tourism consultant for the European markets and did a bit of modeling as well to earn some extra cash. Tourism was something that I loved and it enabled me to interact with many different people. But one area that I found particularly interesting was conversations I had with foreigners and Sri Lankan expats who wanted to settle down in Sri Lanka but didn’t know how.”

During this time, Noa was offered a position at a real estate company which was promoting condominium living to the hill capital. GVR Lanka was the company behind “Dynasty Residencies”, a luxury apartment complex in Kandy. In her own words it was during this time that Noa found her niche for real estate. “I had to travel to Australia on work and realized how many people wanted to live in Sri Lanka but didn’t know how to source a property, and the paper-work that would be involved. This sparked the idea for my first business.”

Today, this young entrepreneur is the owner of two budding business in real estate and exports. Property Search One is a full relocation service company run by Noa and her two associates who work in the Southern province. Going several steps further than a typical real estate agent, Noa’s company handles visa requirements, helping to find schools for children, and a gamut of services that makes life so much easier for a relocating family. “Relocation is not an easy decision and that’s why I take so much care and attention with my clients. I personally make Skype calls and go through the process until they are properly settled in. I am happiest when I know an individual or family feels as much at home in Sri Lanka as I do.”

A second company Esna Exports handles the export of organic produce and coconut based products to Japan, USA and Australia and also keeps Noa on her toes. As if that wasn’t enough, this young and dynamic businesswoman is also a consultant with Dusit Thani Sri Lanka and handles the marketing aspect for their Balapitiya Beachfront property.

With so much to handle, Noa has an active lifestyle that takes her around the island. “I love to travel and there’s no typical timetable I stick to with my work. I generally make it to office by 9am after a good morning workout, and then prepare for the day by first checking my emails. Because I personally choose my clients, I need to do a lot of research and gather insight which is also fun.”

The world of real estate in Sri Lanka is still dominated by males but nothing intimidates Noa, not even the fact that she is not Sri Lankan. “I don’t think being half-Sri Lankan is a negative. In fact it’s a positive in my business. Being half-Western allows me to understand the wants and needs of the Western mindset while being half-Sri Lankan allows me to understand the local way of doing things. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Living a simple life in Colombo, Noa does miss her family and the Netherlands, especially the season changes but strongly believes that with the right people around you anywhere can be home. She has also convinced her parents to retire and return to dad’s home country, and they will be joining her soon. I ask her what her plans are for the future and where she sees herself in 5 years and I am quite surprised by this ambitious woman’s response. “Honestly I’m not sure. In five years I might have another few businesses or just one. I do have personal goals for myself but I like to live my life with no restrictions. I get bored easily and I always need a fresh challenge. So I want to even surprise myself in five years’ time.”

Young women who dare to be different and challenge the norms excite me, and meeting Noa has been a treat to say the least. No airs, no graces. Just simplicity, class and a lot of reality. Her message to women in general sums it all up. “Learn to be thick skinned and don’t let anyone put you down. Envision it and achieve it!”

By Nishu Hassim
Photo Credit: Nadun Baduge

Box Information
Full Name: Noa Fernando
Family: Parents, two older sisters
Who Is Noa? A warm person, go-getter, focused person
Philosophy in Life: Move out of your comfort zone and stay focused
Favourite Person in the World: Barack Obama

About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka in One Word: Colourful
What Do You Love About the Country? The Beaches
Favourite Sri Lankan Food? Lamprais (It’s Dutch after all!)
Something You Don’t Like About Sri Lanka? People don’t value time and the traffic!
Places to Visit: I love Ella! And Galle is awesome!

By Uditha Devapriya

Madura Kulatunga is a familiar name to most Sri Lankans. He is not too young but he hasn’t mellowed with the passing of time. He exhibits a kind of naïveté that is, for this writer at least, attributable to a sense of simplicity that he’s acquired and nurtured over many, many years. That simplicity has won him both friends and enemies. This writer met him recently. He had some questions to ask. Madura answered them all.

To start off things Madura, tell us a little bit about your childhood and youth.

Well, I was born on March 23, 1980 in Matara. I eventually entered Royal College. People think that kids my age would have begun our love for computers at school, but that’s not really true. Royal had a Computer Society, yes, but all too often there was a discrepancy between those who had access to computers at home and those who had not. This was in turn based on family backgrounds. Besides, schools couldn’t invest too much on the subject at the time. For that reason, I had to look beyond the Society to sustain my love for computers.

That is why my friends and I used to jaunt off to Union Place every day, to an internet cafe where I enthralled myself by surfing the web. You’d be surprised to know that I didn’t really choose computing for my A Levels at Royal. I chose Commerce. Perhaps that helped me when I was formulating a business model for my program later on, but for that time we really didn’t have much of an option: it was either Science or Commerce.

What of your life after school?

After doing my A Levels in 1999, I got myself enrolled for the National Diploma in Computing at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama. That was followed by a course, though not as celebrated or acclaimed, at Abacus Computers, Nugegoda: the Special Diploma in Information Technology. It was at Abacus that I realised by weakest spot: my lack of proficiency in English. Needless to say, I tutored myself through the dictionary, mainly the Malalasekera Dictionary, and through a perusal of several books on the subjects I was learning.

So did these encounters help you formulate your program?

I would say so. I studied about Visual Basic from these extra books I bought from Sarasavi Bookshop. They pushed me to design a program. At the time, however, access to computers was a luxury and so was access to the internet. So I had to design a program that could be contained in a CD. That is how I came by the idea of designing a Sinhala to English Dictionary. I admit that Malalasekera helped me a lot when I first set about setting up and conceiving my program.

Eventually I finished designing it. To test it, I asked some of my friends to run it on their computers and get back to me. They loved it. Because I was so encouraged by their response, I released the dictionary. I remember the date as though it were yesterday: November 23, 2002. I also remember the many costs and profit margins I aimed at with it.

For printing the CD cover at Seya Colour and packaging it, I had to spend about 75 rupees. I sold the program for 200 rupees to a retailer who then marketed it for 300. My profit, after all that, amounted to 125 rupees, which had to take into account various capital equipment, including a CD writer that cost 10,000 rupees. Money was not a concern or priority, though. The program became the roaring success I wanted it to become. That was enough.

What of your subsequent accomplishments?

Well, six years later, in 2008 to be specific, I made a website out of my program, which basically released it to the public domain. Soon enough, it became a roaring success on its own right.

I also pursued my education. I passed out as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer in 2005. I obtained an MSc in Information Technology from Sikkim Manipal University (through ICBT Campus) five years later. I was then recognised by the University of Moratuwa in 2009, when I was invited to address a Symposium by Professor Gihan Dias (who was instrumental in founding Sri Lanka’s first email system). Regarding the latter event, I must mention that I was able not just to present my program superficially, but also to unearth the nuts and bolts that went into the conception of that program.

Regarding all those accomplishments, what can you say as a final note?

Well, when I started out, I did not forget to acknowledge the products that and people who helped me design my dictionary. I did not forget Malalasekera, nor have I forgotten the intense abuse of it that most people who copy my original program even today indulge in. That is why I say that you must not forget your roots, your background. Also, you must not regard your accomplishments as reason for complacency. Though I will not reveal it entirely, I will say here that my ambition now, after completing all those Diplomas and Degrees, is to become a pilot. I have enrolled in a course to help me realise that ambition.

Do I have reason for regret in what I have done? Not by a long shot. Have I lost anything materially? Perhaps. Do I care? Of course not. So all in all, I can say this much as a final note: do what you can, improve on what you want to do, and everything else will follow. Don’t do anything for the love of profit. That is all.

Regardless of how times have changed and the world has evolved, the corporate domain still remains dangerous ground for a woman. More so for Sri Lankan women who also battle a traditionalistic and often dogmatic society. A few though have emerged victorious reaching the pinnacle of their chosen careers. Eranthi Premaratne is one such outstanding woman.

A lawyer by profession, Eranthi also holds a BSc in Bioscience from the University of Colombo. “I left school in 1995 and entered university but with the situation in the country at that time there was quite a backlog at state universities so my father encouraged me to enter Law College while I waited for university acceptance. I didn’t want to be a practicing lawyer but my father said that’s fine and to do it only as a qualification. On the basis that I would never practice, I entered Law College as well and passed out.”

Despite not wanting to practice law, fate had other plans for this multi-talented young woman. “I am what I like to call a drifter. When I finished both university and my attorneys, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I knew for a fact what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to be a doctor or a practicing lawyer. During this time, I joined an NGO that was involved with community work but that didn’t interest me either. Simultaneously I started a Post-Grad program at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies on International Relations. Some of our lecturers were from the Centre for Policy Alternatives like Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and Rohan Edirisinghe. I found their work very interesting and asked them if I could join the CPA.”

While working at the CPA, Eranthi found herself involved in areas like constitutional reforms and policy making which grabbed her interest. “I got in to what I am doing now completely by chance. While at the CPA I worked on some labour related projects and found myself getting more and more involved. There was a particular issue where some NGOs had complained to the Fair Labour Association about factories in Sri Lanka. That’s how I started off in the labour law area.”

Recognizing Eranthi’s knowledge and passion for the labour industry in one of Sri Lanka’s largest industries, global clothing giant Nike asked her to join their ranks as a Corporate Responsibility specialist in Sri Lanka. While at Nike, Eranthi was required to conduct audits at the MAS factories. During one of these visits and an ensuing conversation with the management at MAS, Eranthi moved from a global brand to Sri Lanka’s premier name in the garment industry, and has not looked back since.

She now has over 15 years’ work experience specializing in labour law in apparel manufacturing and currently works as General Manager of Sustainable Business at MAS KREEDA the division at MAS Holdings that serves Nike.

“I never thought I would stay in one organization for such a long time since my previous jobs were all short stints. But MAS had just formed the ACTIVE division and it was a very challenging opportunity for me. For me working is about being happy and I kept moving from place to place because I wasn’t but at MAS it was different. I have been happy for a large part of my time here mainly because I get to work in an area that I am passionate about.”

Recognizing her passion and years of work in sustainable business, Eranthi was recently conferred with the “Women Super Achiever Award” at the World Women Leadership Congress 2017 held in India. The Award is conferred to Outstanding Women Professionals who have the vision, flair, acumen and professionalism to demonstrate their excellent leadership and management skills in an organization / institutions or towards society at large, thus making changes and achieving results. The broad parameters used for selecting the award recipients are Leadership, Ethics, Business Acumen, Social Impact, Charisma, Visionary Approach and a Change-Agent. The entire program is chaired and directed by Dr. R. L. Bhatia, Founder and Editor-in-Chief – World CSR Day | World Sustainability. The jury consists of senior leaders, researchers and academics including some prominent names. About 100 women leaders from Asia, Pacific and the Middle East were recognized for their contributions.

“What I love best about this award is that one does not need to nominate yourself for it. Instead you are recognized for your contribution to make this world a better place. As a working mother and having a young family to take care of, it is a battle even for me to juggle career and home. Support from family is therefore essential and I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband and supportive parents. I must also mention the support from the leadership at MAS who constantly strive to be an empathetic employer.”

At MAS Kreeda Eranthi is today responsible for ensuring that social and environmental sustainability are integrated into the core business values. She has been involved heavily with the MAS Women Go Beyond Progamme (WGB), which is a signature women’s empowerment programme. A strong advocate of working women and Eranthi has been instrumental in promoting advancement of women in their careers through mentoring and giving leadership. But more so by living the life she advocates for.

By Nishu Hassim

Photo Credit: Soul Captures (Suren Nimalan)

Whether you’re stuck in traffic or you’ve had a bad start to your day, the Morning Fix hosted by Dom and Asanka would surely turn that frown upside down. Their sense of humour is undeniably a positive fix for your morning and I must say that it was an absolute pleasure to interview the merry combo. Tune in to Yes FM 101.0 from 7am to 10am to get your ‘Morning Fix’!!

What led to the collaboration of Dom and Asanka?

We met in late 2008 which was when we started acting in Pusswedilla together. It was the team at Yes FM which brought us together. We first began with the Evening Show and thereafter went on to do the ‘Morning Fix’ from August 2015.

What is life like for a radio personality?

We wouldn’t consider ourselves as regular radio personalities because have several things we do apart from radio. The radio industry is small, yet it is cut-throat and competitive. However, we try to keep it real, mellow, light and not too over the top.

It’s a known fact that you’ll get on very well but are there times that you’ll don’t?

Of course there are! In any partnership you get disagreements but it has never led to a fight or argument. Although we are friends, we have very different views on a lot of things. We would say we complement each other.

What do you’ll get up to apart from the ‘Morning Fix’?

There are a lot of things we get up to that cannot be mentioned publicly!!

Asanka: I love to drive and travel whereas Dominic is the complete opposite – hates driving or being on the road. If we plan a trip, we would come to a compromise where I would drive and Dominic would get to sleep the entire way. Once we get to our hotel, Dominic would find his spot in front of the TV!!

We also do a lot of things together because we have a large circle of mutual friends.

On an off day, however, we’d prefer to be at home or someplace quiet where we don’t have to deal with the public or be social as that is what our job entails us to do anyway.

Work wise, what do you’ll do besides radio?

Asanka: I sing and produce music as a solo artist. I am also a part of ‘Glory’, an existing band, asked me to join them and lead the frontline. I also do a lot of compering and voice over work.

Dominic: I started my own arts trust called ‘Identities Inc.’ with a group of friends. It is a theatre group, for lack of a better word! We create a lot of productions and do corporate work – like corporate training and theatre based work. When I’m not working on radio, I’m at home writing scripts. I am also involved in compering work. I used to be a Quiz Master and a Pub Crawl host but not anymore. Now, most of my work revolves around drama and radio.

Most memorable moment on the show?

The most memorable moment was our Second Anniversary. We celebrated our partnership of two years on radio together on 2^nd February 2017. Although no one really celebrates a second anniversary on such a large scale, we decided to do it nonetheless and we were overwhelmed by the fact that our fans made a huge deal about it – sending wishes, cards, text messages and calls! It made us realize how many people listen to our show and how much they care about our combination. By far, the best day we’ve had!!!

30^th December 2016 was also fun. It was this one time we partied for two days straight.

Our producers and boss also make it memorable.

Top 5 favourite songs of all time?

Asanka: I listen to music from the 50s onwards and sing English and Sinhalese songs from every single decade up until now, so it’s tough for me to choose a few favourites.

Dominic: This is a very tough question – this is like asking an actor what his favourite movie is!

Do you feel that ‘Dom and Asanka’ is here to stay?

We realised that – last month, after our second anniversary – that it’s something fun and something to look forward to. We never know where life will take us but we’re certainly not the type of people who would pack up and leave and join somewhere else. We’re happy where we are and we’ve built so much of credibility and would never want to betray our fans.

For the record, we love coming to work for the show. There are times we’re sick or tired or have had long nights and barely any sleep but we still show up for work. Even in the middle of all the fun, we would always remind each other that we have the Show in the morning and call it a night. We have given the Show priority. When we first started, the management wasn’t really sure about how this would go or last and thus, was very weary. Yet, now they have so much faith in us that it worries us sometimes because we don’t have as much faith in ourselves at times.

The management has been very helpful. Nowhere has there been this much faith and support.

We do our very best for the show and are very committed.