Chandana De Silva

In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan

LIFE’S JOURNEY

Born in
1956

Alma mater
St. Peter’s College

Family
Wife (Indunil), daughter (Tarja) and brother (Lalith)

Wanted to be
A doctor

Drives
A Honda

Likes to play
The guitar and golf

Prefers to watch
Courthouse movies and thrillers

Most unforgettable moment
My daughter’s wedding

Most forgettable event
I really can’t remember

Best advice received
‘Stay calm no matter what the situation is…’

Mantra to relax and unwind
A glass of good wine

A little-known fact about you
I love growing roses – and I never get angry

INTIMATE AND INSPIRING

One new thing you tried last year
How to be more patient

Workout preferences
Walking, jogging and light weights

Saddened when
I remember experiences with my parents

Most used phrase
‘Be positive’

Most hated chore
I don’t hate chores – actually, I quite enjoy them!

Success is
Seeing my juniors and peers doing well

Happy places
Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota

Impressed by
The passion and professionalism of ‘Team Emirates,’ of which I’m proud to be a member

Purpose in life
To be in a happy place and help others find the same too

Describe your day off
Playing golf, having a kadé rice and curry, and spending time with friends

Three items on your bucket list for the next six months
Travel to Indonesia, Thailand and Spain – if the situation permits such travel

Three items on your bucket list following retirement
Travel around Sri Lanka, help my daughter with her gym business and grow more roses 

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Obsessed with
Always being positive – something I have in common with my employer

Pet peeves
Bad drivers, loud people and anyone with a poor attitude

A moment in time to which you’d like to go back
The time I sang for a band

Hobbies
Gardening (in particular, growing roses)

Three must-haves
My golf bag, a guitar and good wheels

Three ‘would like to haves’
There is only one – a small property in the hills

Likely retirement destination
During my retirement, I’d like to visit nature destinations – because I love natural habitats

Challenged by
Negative opinions

Desirable qualities in friends
Sincerity, dependability and openness

Yourself in a few words
A caring person with emotions

FAVOURITES

Days of the week
Monday, Saturday and Sunday

Colours
Blue, yellow and red

Chill out spots
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and my balcony at home

Leisure wear styles
Linen pants and shirts, cotton shirts and polo-necks

Food
Japanese and South Indian cuisine, and seafood

Drinks
Gin and tonic, and single malts

Brands
Burberry, Zara and of course, Emirates

Restaurants to eat at
Nihonbashi, The London Grill and Saraswathie Lodge

Local holiday destinations
Jetwing St. Andrews – Nuwara Eliya, Shangri-La Hambantota and Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya

Overseas holiday destinations
Dubai, Indonesia and Thailand

Actors
Swarna Mallawarachchi
Sir Sidney Poitier
Julia Roberts

Movie genres
Drama
Horror
War

Musicians
Elvis Presley
Pandit W. D. Amaradeva
Michael Bublé

Authors
Desmond Morris
Lord Jeffrey Archer

Favourite quote from a movie
“You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” (A Few Good Men)

Why?
Because it shows how people can justify their innermost thoughts

Favourite statesperson
Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar – for his charismatic personality

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The first thing I need when I wake up is…
A large glass of water

What I notice in a first time encounter with someone is…
Their smiling eyes

Recently laughed out loud when…
I saw a replay of Mind Your Language

You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
A bad day is what you make of it – so I won’t allow that to happen

Children are…
Happiness

Colombo in a word…
Happening

Sri Lanka in a few words…
Heaven on Earth

The world in two or three words…
Complex, rewarding and beautiful

PICK ONE

Memory skills (on a scale of 0 to 10)
Five

Computer ability in one word
Adequate

A leader or follower by nature
Leader

Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Morning
Cook or foodie
Cook

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
Duwa (daughter)

Do you consider yourself a student or teacher
Now a teacher but still a student

Can you think of a new technology that will transform the future
I think we should go back to basics

Most used phrase
‘Be positive’

Role model
President of Emirates Sir Tim Clark

Why?
For his role in making Emirates the world’s largest international airline

Motto in life
Truth and courage

Chandana is the Area Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives of Emirates