LIFESTYLE
Dilshan Kodituwakku
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born in
The Year of the Horse
Alma maters
Thomas’ Prep School, S. Thomas’ College (Mount Lavinia) and Deakin University (Australia)
Wanted to be
Batman
Drives
Anything that gets him from point A to point B… and even C
Likes to play
Rugby, basketball and 304
Prefers to watch
Formula 1, Seinfeld and Ozark
Most unforgettable event
Holding his daughter for the first time
Most forgettable event
Losing the school basketball championship finals
Best advice received
‘Be prepared’
Mantra to relax and unwind
‘You can’t control everything’
A little-known fact about you
I’m a lefty
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
One new thing you tried last year
Qigong
Workout preference
Gym
Saddened when
People choose to be ignorant
Most used word
Jeez
Success is
Contentment
Impressed by
Humility
Purpose in life
To better himself constantly
Describe your day off
Connecting with people who matter to me
Items on your bucket list following retirement
I’m never retiring but will buy a house in Europe and drive a Porsche 911 through the Swiss Alps
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Most hated chore
When what must be done has to be done
Obsessed with
Perfection – because it’s important to see things to completion and done right
Three items on your bucket list for the next six months
Finishing Serenia, relaxing in a day spa at The Hague and shaping up at least two of the ‘six packs’
Pet peeves
Time wasters, discussing politics and selfish drivers
A moment in time to which you’d like to go back
Doing the crossword with my grandfather
Hobbies
I haven’t discovered anything that I’ve taken a consistent liking to in terms of a hobby
Three must-haves
A loving family, music and good health
What would you like to have
A Remington shotgun, a French Mastiff and the Batmobile
Likely retirement destination
Europe
Why
For its rich history and evolved society – it’s also where the simple things in life are valued
Challenged by
Driven people
Desirable qualities in a friend
‘Say it to your face’ honesty, someone who is down-to-earth and picks up from where you left off
Yourself in a few words
Earthy, honest and focussed
FAVOURITES
Days of the week
Sunday, Monday and Thursday
Colours
Blue, green and grey
Chill out spots
His home, a Jacuzzi at the gym and his parents’ house
Food
The Dutch Burgher Union’s (DBU) yellow rice with black pork, Crystal Jade’s beef hor fun noodles and Min Han’s pork fried dumplings
Drinks
Cherine’s Quench Naarang Juice, Tintagel’s Bloody Mary and Capital’s Napoleon’s Whisky Sour
Happy place
His house
Brands
Hermès, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss
Places to eat at
Min Han, Crystal Jade and Ministry of Crab
Movies
The Revenant, Interstellar and John Wick
Local holiday destinations
Nuwara Eliya, Weligama and Tangalle
Overseas holiday destinations
The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
Actors
Al Pacino, Tom Hanks and Daniel Day-Lewis
Authors
Dr. Joe Dispenza, Andrew Carnegie and Stephen Hawking
Musicians
Sting, Prince and Lenny Kravitz
Favourite quote from a movie
“Let’s put a smile on that face!” – the Joker
Why
Everyone has their trials and tribulations, and I believe we must be understanding
Favourite statesman
President J. R. Jayewardene – because he had more presence in the White House than US President Ronald Reagan at the time they met there
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
The first thing you notice when meeting someone is…
Their humility
The first thing you need when you wake up is…
A sense of gratitude
You recently laughed out loud while watching…
Kramer in Seinfeld
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
It isn’t a good day
New technology that will transform the future includes…
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
Colombo in a few words…
Boring and uneventful with no character
Sri Lanka in a few words…
Magical, historic and welcoming
The world in two or three words…
Needs to be explored and healed
Children are…
Hope
IN BRIEF
Memory skills on a scale of 0-10
Nine
Computer capability in one word
Adequate
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Morning
Leader or follower by nature
Leader
Cook or foodie
Cook
Quality or quantity
Quality
Student or teacher
Teacher
The glass is half full or half empty
Half full
Most delightful word you can think of
Gratefulness
Work or play after retirement
Work
Role model
Michael Jordan
Motto in life
Persevere