LIFESTYLE
Kshanika Ratnayaka
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born
April 1967
Alma mater
Ladies’ College
Family members
My husband (Kavan), our two sons (Krishen and Kavisha) and our tomcat (Jelly Bean)
Wanted to be
I thought my father wanted me to be a doctor so I studied in the science stream; others thought I should do law since I was outspoken and always fighting for some cause or against an injustice
Is
A Director and the CEO of Great Place To Work – Sri Lanka
Drives
A Subaru Forester – and before that, a Honda Civic (I love both vehicles)
A moment you would like to go back to
My schooldays – when I was on the sports field for at least four hours a day without a care in the world
Best advice received
Find your power
Little known facts about you
I was in boarding school from age of four to 18, lived on my own since turning 21 and my parents passed away before I was married at the age of 27
The impact of this
I became fiercely independent at a young age and made most of my life decisions on my own
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
Happy place
My home or estate, at a live game, being out and about on an adventure such as a hike or on vacation
Enjoys
Hiking, trekking, swimming and playing tennis
Likes to watch
Up until the onset of the pandemic, I only watched endless hours of sports – with the exceptions being Ally McBeal and Sex and the City
How this has changed
Now that I’ve discovered Netflix – and there’s also Virgin River and Chesapeake Shores
Saddened when
Justice does not prevail
Most unforgettable event
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London – that was the last time all four of us and my brother-in-law took an overseas vacation together as a family
Why is that?
The boys’ schedules became so busy after that… these days, we have only one family member or the other because the two are rarely available together at most times
Success to you is
When you’re happy with who you are and what you have
Purpose in life
To get the best out of myself and those I have influence over
Items on your bucket list for the next six months
To sight the sloth bear in one of our parks, be at the Wimbledon tennis championship and explore undiscovered territory in Sri Lanka
Items on the bucket list following retirement
Go on a Mediterranean cruise, experience the northern lights and join an Orient Express railway expedition
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Mantra to unwind
Listening to music, watching sports or ‘The Voice’ online and doing a puzzle
Most hated chore
Doing my expense accounts or claims
Hobbies
Playing or watching sports, being outdoors in nature and solving puzzles – such as jigsaws, sudoku, word games and trivia
Three must-haves
Trainers, sunglasses and a garden or the outdoors
Desired qualities in a friend
Being trustworthy, nonjudgmental and low maintenance
Do you consider yourself a romantic?
Yes
The most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you
That’s a secret!
Three things you’d like to have
A dog, fire pit (to sit round and toast marshmallows) and hot tub
Likely retirement destination
The estate in Deniyaya – because I love the weather and connection to nature
FAVOURITES
Days of the week
Saturday, Wednesday and Friday
Colours
Orange, purple and blue
Food
Italian, Japanese and Thai
Drinks
Red Bull, mango or passion fruit juice and thambili
Places to eat
Nihonbashi, Royal Thai and Il Ponte
Chill out spots
The estate in Deniyaya where the veranda overlooks the garden and by the waters of a pool, the sea or a lake
Local holiday destinations
Southern coast from Galle to Tangalle, wildlife parks and Knuckles Mountain Range
Overseas holiday destinations
Tuscany, the Greek islands and the UK
Actors
Jack Nicholson, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Matt Damon
Movies
Spy flicks, thrillers and romcoms
Musicians
Adele, Freddie Mercury and Mozart
Quote from a movie
“Carpe diem! Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary!” – Dead Poets Society
Because
That’s how I’d like my boys to live
Favourite civil servant and why
Deshamanya Bradman Weerakoon – he worked with nine heads of state for more than five decades
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
The first thing you need after waking up is…
A cup of tea
The first thing you notice when meeting someone is…
His or her smile
Recently laughed out loud when…
They played ‘My Way’ on former President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
The phone is dead when you wake up
You’re challenged by…
Crisis
Describe your day off
Sleep in, read the news while enjoying a cup of tea, chat with friends and cousins on the phone, watch sports, listen to music, read, go outdoors and do something physical, and either cook or go out for a meal with the family, and end the day with a good movie
Children are…
The present and future – and mine are my world
Colombo in two words
Hot and humid
Sri Lanka in a few words
A resplendent isle waiting to be explored
PICK ONE
Memory skills on a scale of zero to 10
Eight
Computer capability in one word
Competent
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Night
A leader or follower by nature
Leader
Work out preferences
Outdoors
Cook or foodie
Foodie
Quality or quantity
Quality
The glass is half full or half empty
Half full
Work or play after retirement
Play – I have worked hard for too long already
The most delightful word you can think of
Love – it makes the world a better place
Do you consider yourself to be a student or teacher?
Teacher
Most used words or phrases
Get out of your comfort zone’ and ‘focus’
Role model
Kolitha Ratnayaka
Yourself in three words
Passionate, committed and driven
Motto in life
Where there’s a will, there’s a way
