Ranil De Silva

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“In fact” and “Truly”

What is your favourite journey?
A holiday to a new destination where there is anticipation

On what occasion do you lie?
To escape from an uncomfortable situation

What is your most marked characteristic?
Being conscious of the details

What is your most treasured possession?
Most things I own are precious – my apartment, the books, the art… and my friends

What is your natural talent?
Friendly, easy to connect

Choose a movie title to the story of your life.
‘He lived his life’ or ‘Burning the candle at both ends’

Which talent would you most like to have?
To actually sing. I am tone deaf

What is your greatest extravagance?
Over-the-top holidays at the best hotels at the destination

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Being a lot more relaxed, especially professionally

Which historical figure do you admire most?
He is not a historical figure, but he is a legend and a person I often remember and appreciate: my late grandfather

Who are your favorite writers?
I am reading Meera Syal at the moment and love her style

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Leo Burnett’s standing and status, not just in Sri Lanka but globally. Together with my team, I built it from scratch

What would you be doing in 20 years?
Living life between Sri Lanka, London and Melbourne

If you could eliminate one weakness or limitation in your life, what would it be?
My size. I didn’t care about it and lived well. Now shredding it is a daunting challenge

What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
People are quite different. Their beliefs, values and integrity may not match your own views

What was your favourite food as a child?
I’ve always liked sweets. I remember the delightful breakfast my mother used to create, which I loved

When was the last time you tried something new, and what was it?
I am generally not into adventure, but had a desire to paraglide and I did it in Goa

What impact do you want to leave on the world?
Be remembered for making a difference personally and professionally

What do you most value in your friends?
The ability to engage whenever, wherever and on whatever