LIFE
Dulith Herath
In conversation with Ruwandi Perera
Alma mater
Royal College
Family (and what they do)
My wife Anuradha Herath runs Java Lounge, my dad was a self-made businessman, my mother Thilangani Herath is known for her feng shui and my brother took the academic path to become an architect.
Childhood ambition
To run my own group – I used to create groups at school with titles and designations for my team members
Stingy about
My time
Favourite day of the week
Monday
Worst day of the week
Friday – I get ultra-desperate if I don’t have work when I wake up in the morning
Must-haves
Good coffee (which is why I started Java Lounge); energetic people around me; and the ability to make others happy.
Would like to have
More time – at least a 36 hour day
Mantra to unwind
Read – I read up online on physics and space for at least an hour every night before bed
Favourite colour
Blue
Drives
A Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a BMW 5 Series and an Audi A4.
Happy place
The beach
Favourite chill out
Any open beach
Cook or foodie
Neither
Pet peeve
Lazy people
The glass is half full or half empty
Half empty – I’m always hungry to do more
Quality or quantity
A mix of both – it’s a 50:50 thing where I’d prefer to have a fairly high quality product in a large quantity instead of a few quality products or many substandard products
Most unforgettable event
When I was around eight, I took apart a small blue toy van and figured out how the motor was connected to the battery – I can still feel the excitement of that ‘aha moment’
Most regrettable event
Not doing a pilot run when we first took Kapruka global and lost millions of hard-earned money in a few months – but I consider it a lesson learnt
Favourite local destination
The entire coastal line
Favourite overseas destination
Nepal – since it’s just starting to develop
Ideal romantic date or outing
With my wife and a laptop at a candlelit dinner
Bucket list for the next six months
Taking Grasshoppers to a new country (most likely Vietnam)
Bucket list following retirement
I will never retire – however, when I do ‘retire,’ I’ll work on the next generation; I will invest in them, believe in them and push them.
Work or play after retirement
Work
Obsessed with
Time and coffee – if I don’t have my all black Americano, I go slow.
Favourite movie
The Shawshank Redemption – I love anything with humour and science fiction including superhero movies
Favourite international civil servant
President Donald Trump – because he’s a disruptor who does things that no one expects and has a make or break philosophy that I can relate to
Colombo in a few words
A blank sheet with so many opportunities – it’s a brand-new city with very little competition where you can do so much!
Sri Lanka in a few words
Our country is actually a blank page – there is so much to write on it and so many things to do
Role model
No single role model – I take the best of different people
Most used word or phrase
“It’s OK”
Yourself in one or two words
Insatiable and impatient
Purpose of life
To leave a legacy
Happiness in a few words
Going to sleep feeling that the day was productive
Motto in life
Have the courage to give up and change gears
