LIFESTYLE
Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born on
9 August 1971
Alma mater
Hillwood College (Kandy)
Family
Husband (Duminda) and daughter (Chenuli)
Wanted to be
A doctor
Is
An attorney who works as a human resources professional
Drives
A Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupé
Likes to play
Table tennis and basketball
Prefers to watch
Thriller movies
Most unforgettable event
The day my daughter was born
Best advice received
Focus on your duty even if the world turns upside down
Mantra to relax and unwind
You don’t need another day to start over – you only require a new mindset
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
One new thing you tried last year
I learned to master cooking a few Sri Lankan dishes
Workout preferences
Walking and aerobics
Saddened when
I’m misunderstood
Most used phrase
“We will surely see what can be done.”
Success is
An inner state of mind
Impressed by
Intelligence and integrity
Purpose in life
To live humbly and inspire humanity
Describe your day off
I usually do some shopping and then chill out at home for the rest of the day
The place where and person with whom you feel most at home
With my daughter at home
Items on your bucket list following retirement
I may not ever fully retire but I’d like to travel more and learn to dance
Languages you’d like to learn
Spanish, Mandarin and Hindi
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Most hated chore
Ironing
Obsessed with
Clothes, shoes and bags
Do you consider yourself a romantic or realist?
A romantic
Pet peeves
Lies, pretence and body odour
A moment in time to which you’d like to go back
Those days in school with my dear friends
Hobbies
Reading, watching movies and TV shows, and fashion
Three must-haves
Lip balm, moisturiser and my bank cards
Likely retirement destination
Somewhere up in the chilly hillside
Challenged by
Stereotypes
Desirable qualities in a friend
Loyalty, integrity and someone who knows how to have fun; but most importantly, a person who defends me when I am not there to do so myself
One thing you would change about yourself
I would not change a thing about myself – it’s good to know what your flaws are rather than pretend to be perfect
Yourself in a few words
I’d say I’m sensitive, responsible, happy and forgiving
FAVOURITES
Days of the week
All seven days are fine – for different reasons
Colours
Gold, green and pink
Chill out spots
Home, Asylum Restaurant & Lounge Bar and Elevate by Jetwing
Food
Pizza, rice and curry, and hot butter cuttlefish
Drinks
Margarita, Champagne and Jack Daniels
Happy place
Any place where my loved ones are
Brands
Apple, Mercedes-Benz and Prada
Places to eat at
The Lagoon, Asylum Restaurant & Lounge Bar, The Bayleaf and Harbour Court
TV shows
Breaking Bad, Money Heist and Pose
Books
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Thinking, Fast and Slow; and To Kill a Mockingbird
Actors
George Clooney, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jason Statham
Musicians
Bathiya and Santhush, Adam Levine and Jim Reeves
Songs
Hello (by Adele); Sara Sihina Rahase (Bathiya and Santhush); and Don’t Forget to Remember Me (the Bee Gees)
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
The first thing you notice when meeting someone is…
His or her smile
The first thing you need when you wake up…
My phone
You recently laughed out loud watching…
The TV show Lucifer
Last gift to someone…
A microwave oven
You find yourself challenged by…
Stereotypes
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
Someone hijacks my work agenda
The best thing about working in your profession is…
The many opportunities I have to help people
New technology that will transform the future includes…
AI and machine learning
The hardest part of your job is…
Nothing compared to what many others do for a living
Sri Lanka in a few words…
A paradise – one which has sadly not realised its full potential
Children are…
So innocent and should not have to pay for the mistakes of their parents or other adults
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
An unlikely food combination you enjoy
Kiribath with eggs
The glass is half full or half empty
Half full
The most delightful word you can think of
Amma
Work or play after retirement
Play, for sure
Your most used word or phrase
‘Surely…’
Role model
The former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi
Why?
She is a leader of our time; and I find her to be an inspiring, intuitive and practical person – someone I want to follow
