LIFESTYLE
Chathuri Munaweera
In conversation with Nimanthi Bandaranayake
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born in
Gen X era
Alma mater
Visakha Vidyalaya
Family members
Son, husband, two sisters, brother and goddaughter
Wanted to be
A doctor – until I realised law was more my thing
Is
A CEO – and enjoying it
What drives you?
Succeeding in what I’m passionate about – and seeing my team and son win
What fuels your creativity and passion?
Loving what I do
A moment you would like to go back to
Chatting with my parents while sitting on our old veranda
Best advice received
When you do well, your ancestors are the proudest
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
Likes to play
I prefer to sing (to myself)
Likes to watch
Dramas and comedies while chilling at home
Most unforgettable event
When my son was born – seeing him for the first time tops the list
Your life in a book title
The Shape of Water (by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus)
Unexpected source of inspiration
The simplicity of my husband’s solutions to any problem
Role model
My mother
Proudest achievement
Being chosen to lead AIA Sri Lanka
How this was achieved
By making many different career moves along the way to learn and grow
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Daily practice
Keeping control of my diary
Most hated chore
Having to wake up earlier than usual
Impressed by
Positive people who win through adversity
Happy place
My home
A unique talent or hobby
I can work for a few days at a stretch with little to no sleep if needed! I’m aware that it’s a health hazard so I try not to overdo it
Most adventurous item on your bucket list
Climbing Mount Everest
Goals on your bucket list following retirement
Being nomadic for a while
Music you enjoy
It depends on my mood – but R&B has its own speciality
Most transformative book you’ve read
Many along life’s journey
A little-known fact about you
I can’t eat white bread
What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
That I’ve made a positive difference to the lives I touch
One piece of advice to your younger self
Laid-back introverts can achieve great things in life so believe in yourself and stay strong
FAVOURITES
Days of the week that you look forward to
Monday and Saturday
Colour
Something between blue and red
Chill out spot
I have several
Work wear
Anything official and dressy that suits me
Leisure wear
Easy cottons all the way
Brands
A few – including the AIA brand!
Cuisines
Sri Lankan and Thai
Beverages
I like my drinks cold and refreshing
Local holiday destination
Anuradhapura – spiritual holidays always inspire me
International holiday destinations
Rome, Thailand and my sister’s place in the Netherlands – being spoiled by a big sister is a great way to spend your holiday!
Restaurant
Many – but nothing beats home cooked food
Books
Life stories and biographies
Quote
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Local sportsperson
Anyone who beats the odds
International sportsperson
Same as the above
Likely retirement destination
For now, Sri Lanka
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
When you dance, you look like…
Someone you don’t want to know!
The first thing you notice when meeting someone
His or her eyes and smile
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
People are late or unprepared for meetings
Recently laughed out loud when…
I was reminiscing about a crazy childhood memory with my cousins
Saddened when…
I’m missing my mother
Love has the power to…
Conquer and heal
Happiness is when…
My son is his happy and chatty self
Sri Lanka will have a chance to develop when…
The right people are at the right jobs, concentrating on what is truly best for the country
The world is…
A beautiful place
Message of positivity in these trying times
Believe in positivity and life will find you a way
Goals you have for the future
Achieving AIA Sri Lanka’s ‘Ambition Everest’ and completing the alms hall of my village temple in honour of my parents
PICK ONE
Memory skills on a scale of 1-10
Eight
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
In the night
Tea or coffee
Both
Savoury or sweet dishes
Both – life is too short to miss out on either
Eating outside or cooking at home
Home, home, home!
The most delightful word you can think of
Jubilant!
Documentaries, fictional TV series or reality shows
A little bit of everything
Solitude and quiet moments, or social gatherings and parties
I prefer the former but I’m learning to enjoy the latter when I must
A day at the spa, a cosy day at home or an adventurous getaway
A day at the spa sounds nice
Coastal, mountainous or desert landscapes as vacation destinations
Mountainous and coastal
Your most used word or phrase
‘Why?’ or ‘great!’ (or so I’m told)
Work out preferences
Walking, jogging and using my home gym
Motto in life
Believe, reflect, persevere and enjoy – there is always a way
