LIFESTYLE
Rajini de Silva Mendis
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
THE JOURNEY OF LIFE
Alma mater
St. Bridget’s Convent
Family members
My husband Saj and daughter Nithindree
Driven in
A Mercedes-Benz
Would like to be driven in
A vintage or classic car
One thing you’d like to go back to
If not for the full-time business, I would have practised architecture – this is a passion that was set aside with the intention of returning to it
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
Life lessons
Always be grateful for what you have been blessed with and accept what cannot be changed because this is only a brief stop in a long journey
Challenged by
I’ve always been ready to tackle any challenge and am thankful for everything that has come my way as this has brought out the best in me
Success is
Continue upholding the trust and quality built over generations – and provide a sense of pride for my team members who make all of this possible
Saddened by
The cruelty of us human beings to animals
Impressed by
Generosity, humility and spirit
Most valued qualities in a friend
Honesty, dependability and humour
Three items on the bucket list following retirement
Committing to more social causes, exploring the wilderness and going on a retreat
Qualities in a life partner
Honesty, integrity, respect, empathy, affection, humour… it’s a very long list!
Three qualities that children should look for in a role model
A clear set of values, selflessness and resilience
Purpose in life
To be of service, make a positive difference to the lives of those who are less fortunate, and leave a soft footprint with honour and distinction
Passionate about
Helping, uplifting and empowering the less fortunate – especially children
How this can be done
Providing them with education and a better quality of life – and a responsible way to build a better world and people
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Yourself in a few words
Resilient and committed
Likes to play
Tennis
Likes to watch
Cricket
Mantra to unwind
Music – because it helps me to rest as well as influence how I interpret the world around me
One thing you would change about yourself
I would like to be less serious at times than I often am
Obsessed with
Details
Three peeves
Arrogance, pretence and callousness
Computer ability
Good
Most hated chore
Washing dishes
If you could meet your 16-year-old self, what would you tell her?
Don’t fret about the small things!
Workout preferences
Gym
Three hobbies
Listening to music, reading and painting
Three must-haves
My mobile phone, a sketchbook and a good book to read
Three ‘would like to haves’
A German shepherd puppy, vintage car and house in the hills
Five items in your fridge at home right now
Corn flakes, milk, yoghurt, chocolates and fruits
Likely retirement destination
Sri Lanka – because it is home
FAVOURITES
Local destination
Kandy
Overseas destination
Japan
Day of the week
When you come to the realisation that you’re blessed to be waking up to a brand-new day, which is a luxury that is denied to many
And so
Every day becomes precious and I accept them all with equal gratitude
Colour
Blue – it seems to provide the perfect balance between motivation and calmness
Chill out spot
Home
Dessert
Anything that includes chocolate
Savoury food
Sushi
Drink
Tea
Leisure wear
Jeans
Office wear
Sari
TV show
The Big Bang Theory
Movie
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (because it changed the face of sci-fi and captivated our generation’s imaginations in the 1980s)
The movie is associated with
Many fond childhood memories
Book
Siddhartha – by Hermann Hesse (because it imparts wisdom relating to the spiritual journey and self-discovery of a man in the time of the Buddha)
And the book is…
Profoundly unfolds how each journey is unique and shows that the peace we desperately seek in the world outside is actually within ourselves
Author
Robin Sharma
Song
Because You Loved Me – by Celine Dion
Actor
Rowan Atkinson
Actress
Sandra Bullock
Singer
Shania Twain
PICK ONE
The most delightful word you can think of
Compassion
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Night
A leader or follower by nature
Leader
Quality or quantity
Quality – always!
The glass is half full or half empty
The glass is always full
Work or play after retirement
Neither – what I would like to do after retirement is explore ways in which one calms the mind
Greatest fear
Being mediocre and average
Men or shoes
Shoes, of course!
Books or movies
Books – because the stories and settings in them are enriched by one’s own imagination, and they get etched into one’s memory for a long time
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
If you were a superhero, your super power would be…
To heal!
The first thing you notice when meeting someone…
The sincerity of his or her smile
You enjoy the humour of…
My husband and daughter
Your last gift to someone was…
Building blocks for my little nephew Bodhi
The world is…
A mere dot in the galaxy
Three languages you wish you could speak…
Japanese, French and Korean
Global warming…
Is destroying the only home we have. All of us are equally responsible for this – those who do harm as well as those who watch silently!
Social media is…
A positive and powerful tool in the business arena – but to many, it also serves as a powerful stage to act out their lives in masks and costumes!
Failure is…
A part of success and presents another opportunity to capitalise on
Children are…
The soul of a nation!
Love is…
Unconditional and selfless – it empowers the weak and gives hope to those who find themselves in despair
A little known fact about you is that…
I’m a workaholic
