Rukshika Fernando Seneviratne

In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan

JOURNEY OF LIFE

Born on
14 November

Alma mater

St. Bridget’s Convent

Family members

My husband (Binara) and son (Reyan)

Wanted to be

An artist from the very beginning 

Is

The Co-Founder and Designer of RUMPUNCH

Drives

An MG

A moment you would like to go back to

The day I got married

Best advice received

Be yourself

INTIMATE AND INSPIRING

Happy place

The ocean

Likes to play

Any water-based activity

Likes to watch

Anything from the romance genre

Saddened when

An animal is hurt

Most unforgettable event

When my husband proposed

How it happened

It’s a very long story but what I can say is that it was a day full of surprises – and when he did propose, it was on a private beach. The whole day was romantic!

Success to you is

Doing what you love and being recognised for it

Purpose in life

To be happy and kind

Three languages you’d like to learn

Tamil, Spanish and Chinese

Items on the bucket list for the next six months

Travel within Sri Lanka and abroad, redecorate my home and go back to dancing!

Items on the bucket list following retirement

Buy a house beside the ocean, travel the world and have or save as many animals as possible

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Mantra to unwind

Listen to musi

Most hated chore

Ironing

Hobbies

Dancing, drawing and working out

Something new that you would like to try this year

It’s not new but I’d like to get back to my dancing

Pet peeves

I hate having to repeat myself and when anyone cleans my personal workspace

Unlikely food combination

Anything with milk

Workout preferences

I like circuit training or high intensity interval training (HIIT) classes 

Three must-haves

Wallet, phone and lip balm

Desired qualities you look for in a friend

Honesty and trust

Do you consider yourself a romantic?

Yes, I think I’m a romantic but my husband is an even bigger one – he’d definitely win the prize if it was a competition

Describe your ideal date

Anything that involves spending quality time with my husband

One thing you would change about yourself

Nothing

FAVOURITES

Days of the week

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Colours

Blue, yellow and black – but I do love all bright colours

Food

Sushi, rice and curry, and chocolate biscuit pudding

Drinks

King coconut, champagne and bubble tea

TV shows

Grey’s Anatomy, This Is Us and The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Chill out spots

Wherever the ocean is, home and Barefoot Garden Café

Favourite global icons

Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres

Places to eat

Barefoot Garden Café, The Gallery Café and ZEN

Actors

Hugh Jackman, Tom Hanks and Chris Hemsworth

Musicians

Coldplay and Jennifer Lopez

Song

I don’t have one in particular but like a mix between upbeat, and slow and easy music

Books

I hate reading

Brands

Zara, Calvin Klein, Buddhi Batiks and House of Lonali

Obsessed with

My baby

Likely retirement destination

Anywhere near the ocean

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

The first thing you need
after waking up

Coffee

The first thing you notice when meeting someone

His or her eyes

Recently laughed out loud at

A personal joke made by my husband

Last gift to someone

Clothes

You know it’s going to be a bad day when

The sky is gloomy

The best thing about working in the fashion industry

The creativity

You find yourself challenged when

I’m creating the next RUMPUNCH collection

A new technology that will transform the future

A machine that would clean my house in a matter of minutes!

Children are

Innocent

Sri Lanka in a few words

Beautiful

Your least favourite month in 2020

March

Your New Year resolution

I still don’t know

PICK ONE

Most productive in the morning, noon or night

Morning

A leader or follower by nature

Leader

Cook or foodie

Foodie

Quality or quantity

Quality

The glass is half full or half empty

Half full

Work or play after retirement

Play

The most delightful word you can think of

Love

Your most used word or phrases

Be careful!

Role models

My parents are my role models because they’re entrepreneurs as well, and I grew up learning how to make smart business choices and handle people because of them 

Yourself in a few words

I’m loyal, hyper and would help anyone especially animals

Rukshika is the Co-Founder and Designer of RUMPUNCH