What one word would describe you?
Agile
What is your greatest regret?
Losing my grandmother too early in life
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
At work or watching TV at home with my wife and dog
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Quick” – my sense of urgency in handling multiple initiatives
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Knowledge – gathering it is a journey. Quantum is infinite
On what occasion do you lie?
When I rarely smoke and my wife asks me about it
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My wife
What is your most marked characteristic?
Being trustworthy
What is your most treasured possession?
My values
What is your natural talent?
Equally at ease with an eminent person or a beggar
Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to sing. I know many songs, but will never have an audience wanting to listen
What is your greatest extravagance?
Indulging in watches and antiques
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impatience
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Insincerity. I value frankness and loyalty
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My height. But being short made me push the envelope and not to accept “no” for an answer
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Myself, as it will give me the same wife, parents, family and friends
Which historical figure do you admire most?
Lee Kuan Yew, for being a visionary leader who took hard calls, was honest, demanded excellence, drove accountability, achieved results and left a lasting legacy
What is your motto?
Be fair, do what is right and focus ahead
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Read the papers
When you’re 90 years old, what will matter most to you?
How peacefully I die. In that moment, to feel that I lived a good life, did my duties, harmed none and helped many
What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
The need to save
What impact do you want to leave on the world?
My passion is HR. I strive to elevate HR in Sri Lanka and beyond to impact people