Kumar Archives

June 8, 2023

3.-Water-Lilies-by-Monet-Source-the-Internet-LBN.jpg

Colombo, 08 June 2023. The current edition of Rendez-Vous with Yasmin and Kumar now showing on the YouTube channel of the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, takes viewers on a visit of two of the most beautiful gardens in Sri Lanka and France – Geoffrey’s Bawa’s Lunuganga in Bentota and Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France.

Coincidentally the show is presented at the De Saram House in Ward Place which Geoffrey Bawa designed for Druvi, one of Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed pianists, and Sharmini De Saram. In fact the house is designed with a music room in the centre.

Joining the show is architect Channa Daswatte, referred to as the “spiritual successor” of Geoffrey Bawa. He talks about how Bawa’s work influenced him to become the renowned architect he is today. He also shares his views about how Lunuganga, considered Bawa’s personal architectural odyssey, ended up as one of the most important Asian gardens of the 20th century.

The show them shifts location to Giverny, a commune in the region of Normandy in France and best known as the location of French impressionist painter Claude Monet’s home and garden. After buying the property in 1890 he set out to create the magnificent gardens he wanted to paint. He believed that it was important to surround himself with nature and paint outdoors. He created many paintings of his house and gardens, especially water lilies, the Japanese bridge, and a weeping willow tree.

Rendez-Vous with Yasmin and Kumar come to you on the 30^th of every month on the YouTube Channel of the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

November 6, 2017

05.-Nihal-Jayamanne-PC-Principal-of-Wesley-College-Avanka-Fernando-and-Mrs.-Rohini-Jayamanne.jpg

Colombo. Monday 06 November 2017. Distinguished old boy of Wesley College Colombo and well-known media personality Kumar de Silva, recently delivered the inaugural ‘Shelton Wirasinha Oration’ to a well-represented gathering in the College Hall.

Among those present were President/Bishop of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka Rev. Asiri Perera, Archdeacon of the Anglican Colombo Diocese Ven. Perry Brohier, members of the Wirasinha family including Nihal Jayamanne PC and Mrs. Rohini Jayamanne, Past Principal MAP Fernando, former acting Principal Upali Ratnayake, distinguished old boys Managing Director of Metropolitan Ivor Mahroof and Chief Operating Officer of the Commercial Bank S. Renganathan, teachers past and present, and, students past and present.

In his comprehensively well-researched and very eloquently delivered one-hour long oration, de Silva traced Shelton Wirasinha’s life, from his birth at the foot of Richmond Hill in Galle, his years from Grade 01 culminating in being appointed Principal of Richmond College, to Wesley College Colombo over whose destiny he presided for an eventful 21years from 1962-1983. Shelton Wirasinha, in fact, goes on record as being the second longest serving Principal of the College after Revd. Henry Highfield.

Fondly referred to as ‘ASW’, Arthur Shelton Wirasinha touched the hearts and lives of tens of thousands of students who passed through the portals of Wesley College. Now spread across all over the globe, even to this day they all fondly remember him with great respect and deep gratitude.

Kumar de Silva, the Orator, had his entire school education at Wesley College and came under the direct tutelage of Shelton Wirasinha to whom he gratefully credits a very large part of his success in life today.

September 25, 2017

Colombo. Monday 25 September 2017. Well-known trainers Sanjeev Jayaratnam and Kumar de Silva are back once again with their signature motivational, skills development, and corporate etiquette workshops – The Smart Professional

Repeated by popular demand, the specially crafted full-day session is scheduled for Thursday 12 October at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo.

“Communication is visual, verbal and physical. This triangle is inescapable. Whether he/she likes it or not, every employee who comes into contact with the public is the unofficial Brand Ambassador of the organisation he/she works for. The corporate world is fiercely competitive and hence the critical need for employees to maintain and project a totally professional at all times”, say the duo.

Participants will learn key aspects which contribute to how they look, communicate with others, how they behave in society, how their personality comes across to others. A totally interactive and hands-on session of dining protocol forms an interesting segment of the sessions along with the rest of the content, which is totally focused on giving practical steps one can follow to become the Smart Professional one aspires to be.

The day’s programme consists of segments such as: What makes a professional ? First impressions count; How to switch on confidence, energy and enthusiasm within a few seconds; Cocktail protocol, Wining and Dining – sit down banquet style and buffet, Communicate with maximum impact – verbal, para-verbal and non-verbal so that people listen and are convinced; and, Personal hygiene and grooming.

Sanjeev Jayaratnam is a motivational speaker, lecturer, transformational coach, choral conductor, singer and actor, and has inspired over 10,000 people to unleash their true potential. Formerly Consulting Services Director for South Asia at IFS R&D Ltd., Services Head at Microsoft in Sri Lanka, he has also worked in senior management positions at Unilever and MIT.

Sanjeev has led the Revelations, Methodist and Visakha school choirs, and the Revelations Academy to win and bring back the most number of international awards in choral music to Sri Lanka. He holds a CITP, MBA (Sri.J), CEng (UK), BSc (Hons) 1^st Class (UK), MBCS (UK) and Dip.M (CIM).

Kumar de Silva counts thirty five plus years of experience working and interacting with hundreds of people from different organisations across Sri Lanka’s multi-disciplined corporate sector. He now shares his experiences (gained both in Sri Lanka and France) and a wide range of soft skills, with Sri Lankan corporates to help them gain confidence, enhance their social performance levels and navigate their personal role in a corporate journey to success.
An English Honours graduate of the University of Kelaniya, he is a Paris-trained television producer and presenter. Photographer and author, he was knighted by the Government of France as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters. Multi-lingual de Silva is also a veteran Public Relations and Media Consultant and, an award-winning Television Personality.

Lunuganga and Giverny, now on Rendez-Vous with Yasmin & Kumar

Kumar de Silva delivers inaugural ‘Shelton Wirasinha Oration’

Sanjeev and Kumar back with ‘The Smart Professional’ by popular demand