End of an Era - Leo Club of Moratuwa Orient.... 10 years and counting...

we were never the best club in the district, we were never the most outstanding... we were never punctual (except shahen)... we were never a lot of things. We hated giving speeches (Milanka never turns up if he is given one), we hated formal meetings, we hated chief guests, we hated a lot of things that a normal Leo would like... which resulted in having extremely angry Leo Advisors. But we were definitely something, we stood out on our own grounds and we couldnt have asked for a bunch of better guys and girls to build this up to what it is... 

From the start we were outspoken, weird, not-normal, annoying (to other clubs) and ofcourse overflowing levels of creativity and irritating levels of self confidence. Whats so special? We had chemistry... Apart from the mutual weirdness we had a connection ! (not in a physical attractive way ewww) but in a way that we got each other, we had each others back, we supported each other and at some difficult points in our lives we were each others persons. All of us during our stay at the club did things that we never dreamt of doing. Dancing and singing in public are just two things. Maybe its doing things we are terrified of doing with a bunch of friends made us feel closer towards each other or maybe because we all went through same emotional rollercoaster everyday. We all had to face some of the most stressful exams in our life (ALs to Degree), we got scolded from homes for singing carols late nights, we fell in love, we fell out of love, we had long standing crushes (except for Rehan ofcourse), we started our first job, we lost loved ones and the list goes on.. There were times we hated each other mutually, we had our fights, arguments, disagreements, yellings. Then suddenly Chathu comes with extra make up to a meeting so we all bug her and forget why we all hated each other, Then we all scold Milanka or Dayan whose always late for dancing practices and he comes with food for everyone, then he becomes top one. We fight and fight before going carolling, then we get treated badly, we all get upset buy koththu, come to one house eat and sing baila till dawn. When we hug each other before going home we wonder, ok why did we fight? we had our times, good and bad.. best to worst... we had our moments. 

During the past 10 years this club had helped us become, Mothers, Fathers, Bankers, Air force Officers, Pilots, Engineers, Marketeers, Stock Brockers, Teachers, Lecturers, Entrepreneurs, Psychologists and the list goes on... a bunch of great friends and mostly extraordinary human beings... The best part of our chemistry is, even we don’t meet often, keep in touch since most of us are abroad, we know that one fine day if we accidentally bump into each other, we can hug with warmth and laugh from our hearts to catch up from where we left years before... and no matter what these bunch of people will always be close because that was one hell of an era in our lives which made us smile... no matter what life brings on, these bunch of people will always be reserved 'special' in our hearts... 

During the stay of Leo Club of Moratuwa Orient we all had at least one birthday celebrated together which was organized as a surprise (most of them were screwed halfway), had at least one reassuring hug from someone who comforted us, we all had at least one crush within us which didn’t work, hated someone enough to kill (literally), we all have lost a friend, found a best friend, had some of the moments that we know would never forget... 

Cheers to all of us at Leo Club of Moratuwa Orient, For all the hatred, and love Friendship and good times Surprise (or not) birthdays and cakes Spoilt dancing and off key singing practices Moments unforgettable... 

Cheers to Us Who kept Leo Club of Moratuwa Orient going for 10 years... 
Good Bye & Good Luck Leo Club of Moratuwa Orient, 10 years and counting....

Hope the new era will have more chemistry, more love and more fights for the new team to keep the flame going...

Major Turn Off’s for a Candidate at a job interview…. from a Interviewee point of view

I had just finished my MBA (hopefully) and was looking for a new job opportunity and was going through the usual process, applying via email and going for interviews.

We go for an interview because we get shortlisted, and it is only fair to expect to be treated in a professional manner, but in most cases it is NOT. There isn’t any point if you have a great product and high sales if you do not know how to attract candidates. Interviewers forget that apart from judging the interviewee that the employer is judged, you give us an insight about your company on the way you behave and although you might not realize it we evaluate you too. Just listing some of the unprofessional situations I’ve come across during the past few months.

1.       Friendly atmosphere at the Gate/Reception – Turn On

Most companies don’t do this, but when it happens you feel positive. Nestle had already given the names to the gate as well as reception and when you go they treat you by saying “Good Afternoon you are miss. ABC right?” At Avery Dennison, the security staffs wish you luck when you go in. 

2.       Extra Long queue for Interviews - Punctuality is Important!!! – Turn Off

 The awkwardness of being seated for more than half hour with a bunch of candidates can be horrifying. You stare at candidates faces and do the awkward smile and nod. Plus it’s a waste of time for us, we are punctual because we respect you and it is crucial to know if it is mutual.

Multi Nationals such as Mas Holdings, Nestle, Fonterra & hsenid have exactly started interviews on exact given time which is quite impressive.

3.       Interviewer not introducing himself – Lack of common courtesy !! – Turn Off Off Off

 In most cases I have to introduce myself and they never introduce themselves back, this is tragic especially since you are interviewed by middle to top level management. You feel very disrespected and hey its common courtesy, just say your name and smile it won’t cost you anything.

4.       List of unwanted looong questions – Seriously??? This is a killer turn Off

 You are trying test us we get it, but please make it relevant, once I was interviewed for about one and half hours long after seated for more than half hour. Some of the questions were ridiculous. They asked me “What is your worst nightmare?” and I wanted to answer “you” By the time the interview was over I was exhausted and I rejected the second interview because I was so irritated with the first.

5.       Not explaining the Job Role & Responsibilities to the candidate – Turn Off

Please take time to explain this without playing 20 question games with us. That’s the most important factor for us, and based on the job role only we can tell our expected package, and when you do the other way round it gives a feeling that the company is more interested in how much they have to pay rather than selecting the right candidate.

If you have a budget please tell without beating around the bush, we will agree or disagree and definitely respect you for being honest.

6.       Criticizing your Competitor – Major Turn Off

Remember that you haven’t still recruited us, so stop criticizing your competitor. Because of the clientele I have worked for I get picked for interviews by the competitor companies who expect me to talk about the campaigns of them which I found very degrading and low. Not only you are insecure it also makes us uncomfortable in the process.

7.       Follow up email – Turn On

Only few companies practice this, you know where you stand, I missed one job opportunity because I didn’t hear from them for one month. By the time they offered me the job I was employed elsewhere.

Misconception is that anyone would jump at an opportunity to join a Multi-National Company because of the reputation and perks, but I feel that people want to join because they are treated right, from a simple greeting to end of the interview. Sadly, in a country like Sri Lanka where job market is stagnated and when people are desperate for jobs, candidates are left with no right to complain. But you just might lose a good candidate just because you don’t treat them right…. and because you forget that they evaluate you too…

It may just be a Receptionist or CEO, interview is an invitation given by you, so treat them right. Who knows the testimony or an insult you receive by a candidate might take you a long way ;)

6 months as a District President..... a Roller Coaster Ride :D

Acting with impulse and going with instincts has always been my thing.

WHY on earth did I agree to be the District President, I question myself, even today. Before I did, I took a piece of paper wrote down the pro’s and con’s – Con’s were soo many… Pro’s – just one… my team, and pro’s overlapped cons with a huge gap…

One thing I forgot… if the only strength I had fell apart what would be my strength? Sometimes your weakness becomes your strength, and sometimes your strength becomes your weakness…



Anyone thinks that becoming a district president is crazy when the Leo movement is trampling down?, yes totally…



but a mistake? Definitely not… for so many reasons . !!



It helps you grow; a LOT… Gives you perspective… all those quotes by famous people become reality…


“One of the best protections against disappointment is to have a lot going on.”

Friends disappoint you is the fact, but when they let you down so bad, u have to fight with the little bit of faith u’ve left in yourself to climb back up…at the start u have a BIG team, some disappear, some let u down, some joined in, some surprise u, some help u, some stand right beside u when some just leave…and sometimes “some”come back :)



When ur too busy working with the ones who are with u, u don’t have time for the ones who left ;)



2. This few months have been like a carnival ride filled with good Surprises - People surprise you, yes in good ways. Sometimes they prove all the theories wrong and help you and stand beside you and never forget to put a smile on your stressful face… :P

Sometimes u just have to… close ur eyes and enjoy the ride…



3. “Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.”

There are two ways to be happy. Improve ur reality and lower your expectations. People pass balls all the time...U can’t expect people to have the same dedication as u, at the end of the day the ball will always be in your court…It’s like running your own business, you are responsible no matter what happens….

If people can pass their own balls, believe me they will do it too :P



4. Someone said “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Not in my case.

One person calling you 23 times during a day, calling ten times to ask the same question, message 15 times per day. U still need to keep your calm and answer with same tone and the same smile over and over…

What works for me speak the truth always…. Stick? Well use it no point just carrying it unless u cant hammer someone with it right ;)



5. “Why is patience so important?"

"Because it makes us pay attention.”

people don’t answer calls, they don’t bother to call back. They are 24/7 online, they know u can see but still… u cant take things personally. Need to understand that priority levels of people are different, so do levels of integrities.

If u don’t get that u have a huge price to pay.. for all the broken furniture u hammered everytime u lost patience :P



6. “When you decide to hit rock bottom, humiliation is part of the deal.”



Face the worst case scenario with a smile– “promises are meant to be broken” people promise things but rarely deliver. Don’t bother excusing themselves and never turn up. When you are questioned from higher levels, you need to be graceful enough to save their backs, answer for them and take the blame totally on you. Because it’s your district, and you are answerable for your team no matter what…



7. “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. “

People will give you targets, give you suggestions, offer advice. Understand your role, sometimes its all about listening, sometimes its about convincing others to do what is best and sometimes influencing others to do what needs to be done.

And sometimes it means saying “shut the hell up” in a polite way



8. Attitude – is everything… There are times you lose confidence and sanity. Times you feel as if everything is going to fail, times you just need to have that “positive” attitude for the sake of few people who believe in you and who believe that things are going to work… :)

Plus its good for your health :P



“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”



Becoming the District President? There are times I hit my face on the floor, there are times it put a smile on my face, and there are times I wanted to shoot myself….



But… do I regret it? Not one single day…



Be sincere, worked so far and always will…



6 months gone and 6 months more to go and enjoying every day of this Leoistic year, believing in people around me, trusting my ability, having faith in my team… awaiting a lot of shocks and surprises…



I still hope, by end of the year I can still say my tagline out loud “winners make it happen”

To all memories of 9,10 & 11 A.... :)

Leaving grade 8 to 9 was scary... passing the most careless age of 13 (as all adults say) we had to go to a class where we would be stuck for 3 years... We prayed, we hoped, we wished that we would get selected with our friends so we wont be alone...

I still remember how a tall and pretty class teacher came by to 9 A. She was staring wide eyed at all of us not knowing how to calm down a loud chattering noise... The class was 9 A, the greatest spot in the section with a long corridor, staff room way too far... the windy balcony which was next to Bodhiya... Class teacher was Anurika de Silva, tall, beautiful and graceful... We heard she was new and someone said “miss aluthen awith thiyenne, English lit karanne, maara sarai lu...” it was her first class at Visakha.... Our class had it all... the dancing bajar, the most beautiful voices... the crazy bunch, the brainy bunch and the “ice” bunch... It was a combo of all physiques and personalities just like a sweet sour pot of soup...

We had no choice, but to get to know each other and to blend with everyone, we all wanted to because we knew that for better or for worse the 49 of us are going to be stuck for 3 good years to come... Anurika miss was “sarai” alright, she was unique to the core... No ass kissing was allowed in class, she had no favourites, she hated plastic flowers on her table... so we had to work hard, really really hard to impress her... Soon everyone started getting friendly with each other and since grade 9 was the start the adulthood of school life everything soon followed... committees, dramas, all respective “days” in school... and well our respective crushes... Olcott was the most favourite...

Soon we had our own little clicks, fights, likes, dislikes... and the fun crazy times... the corridor was a super place to chat in the morning and mostly to dance around when it started to rain... the madness in mornings with trying to keep a clean class to get a genuine compliment from anurika miss... horeng eating during mornings in class and getting caught to chandani miss almost everyday... I still don’t know how she sensed it while writing on the board... Imitating teachers during free periods, mostly during commerce since we had it free for as long as i could remember....

Despite all differences we had we had our backs everyday, passing notes, passing the very few “sithiyam poth” we had when the teacher goes around the class since no one brought it... Getting blasted by 3K almost every week was like our doze of medicine... Soon we all became good friends and limited our fights only during sportsmeet and house events, well i think Pulimood overruled our class since we had most of them and some of us liked pulimood for different reasons :P

Class trips were the best trips we had all 3 times and specially the one at Kotmale for many reasons :P Time flew... soon we were in 11 A... stressed and sad by the last term not wanting to leave our dearest miss and the friends we made... BUT we had one last fight im sure all of us remember before Anurika miss’s birthday...

The corner row vs middle row, the middle row was too strong... i cant remember exactly what it was but miss’s birthday cake was one main topic... we yelled screamed and Udathari scolded us full kaddeng :P when one of us in corner row were like “mokakda machang e kiyanne?” and the next day to take revenge from the middle row the corner row ate the birthday cake ALONE....Yes and the next day we got blaaaasted from miss... (just wanted to write my favourite memory :P)

After 3 years, we were tamed, less kiddish and a little grown up... and we were selected as the best class in the section...

and today when i look back after 12 years i feel blessed to be a part of 9,10 and 11 A... to be trained under the best teacher ever who taught us LIFE more than just English... to be among 48 great friends who I’ve shared my most memorable years with...

Most of all i thank my destiny for showing me the path to have the greatest best friends ever... who still and always be the best part in my life... Indi, Hosh, Pachi and Nips....

And looking back i owe it all to 9,10 and 11 A... for making me the person who i am today....

12 years ago we said “ 49 strangers have to become friends for better or for worse...”

And 12 years later....

We say “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart...”

Cheers to many more years of friendship.... for better or for worse... :)

Dedicated to 9,10,11 A and Anurika miss...

P.s. all rights given to "tagged" to add, tag and edit ;)

its all about being yourself....

There are 6 billion people in this world, some can sing, some want to sing, some can dance, some want to dance, some can act, some are just dreamers.... Some follow footsteps of a great legend, some run behind power to be powerful, some get lost in competition, some end up being wanna be s...

not everyone can be themselves, to be honest, talk to themselves deep within to know what it feels deep within... There are people who try to reach out for others, touch lives and hearts... but not knowing to reach the depth of their own soul... lost in the middle of nowhere not knowing what to say... Sub consciousness opens up the door to your soul sometimes... to make u reach that place which is beyond honesty... Honesty they say is the best policy, but how can you expect people to be honest when even u cant be honest with yourself sometimes... People have benchmarks in life, standards, measurements... Achievements, characters, values... to judge, to perceive to retreat, to live...

It is easy to be somebody... its easy to be nobody... which is hard is to be yourself... to do what you do best... to know what you feel, it is easy to be honest about others... which is difficult is to be honest with yourself.... to fight with yourself for what you believe for what you love... in a world of 6 billion people who try to be somebody... the hardest thing is to be yourself.. to fight to be you and not anybody else is the hardest battle... and the only battle which wont stop till you die....

One Tree Hill... its not just another drama...

“you can find the good in everybody, if you just give them a chance. The benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, people disappoint you. Sometimes they surprise you. But you never really get to know them…until you listen for what’s in their hearts and that’s what Haley did with Nathan. That’s what we should do for them. So for you sceptics out there, prepare to be surprised. So this is to my…brother and my little sis in-law, and in love..” – Lucas Scott

Everyone says the teens are hard to judge, predict and really difficult to deal with. The confusions, moods, anger, frustration, silliness, cuteness... “One Tree Hill” depicted a teen’s heart through a melodramatic drama and touched the soul of many teens during the 10 years.... Beautifully written dialogs with an ideal crew to do justice to characters made it maybe the best teen drama many years to come...

The beauty of it lies in the realness, the real world, issues a teenager would have, problems to face, how to overcome... it was just more than a love story... it was about life, growing up, relationships and making mistakes.... In one tree hill there is no right or wrong, everyone makes mistakes, some are forgiven some are not... being scared...

“There's no shame in being afraid. Hell, we're all afraid. What you gotta do is figure out what you're afraid of because when you put a face on it, you can beat it. Better yet, you can use it.”

-          Whitey

The relationships of the characters which grew through years with depth and emotion... The portray of first love at first sight, letting go of your ego for the first time for the one u love... the relationships... the hatred, the bonding...

its just more than a story of two half brothers becoming best friends... its more than two childhood best friends falling in love with the same boy... its just more than broken homes, messed up lives and a high school...  its about making mistakes, screwing up bad, hurting, getting hurt, apologizing, forgiving and living... its about life... how it starts... how it grows to be something worthwhile...

Some live with consequences of their actions haunting them for the rest of their lives... unconditional love, sacrifices, beliefs.... anyone would have, anyone would dream of... beautifully written and put into play which makes us all laugh with them, cheer for them, cry with them because it feels natural and real... and you feel that a part of you connect with their lives...

“Tragedies happen. What are you gonna do, give up? Quit? No, I realize now that when your heart breaks, you got to fight like hell to make sure you're still alive. Because you are. And that pain you feel? That's life. The confusion and fear? That's there to remind you, that somewhere out there is something better, and that something is worth fighting for.” - Nathan Scott

There are moments you feel like crying for Natan when he waits for Haley till she comes back, cheering for Lucas when he plays his last game... wishing for the dream of Payton Sawyer becoming Payton Scott... wait till Brooke, the girl behind the red door falls in love again because she deserves it...

Its not supernatural, its nothing about a guy trying to break out from prison or trying to kill anyone... its nothing about vampires or warewolves... there is no mystery, there is no fantasy... its just about a set of lives like you and me, who were confused and lost in life... its about people like you and me who try to find themselves through the crowd, figuring out life just like you and me...

“Its the oldest story in the world. One day you are 17 and planning for something. And quietly without even noticing someday is today and this is your life.  we spend so much time wanting, perusing, wishing. But ambition is good. Chasing things with integrity is good, dreaming. If you had a friend you meet and will never see again? If you could do one last thing for the one you love? What would it be? Say it do it don’t wait  nothing lasts for ever. Make a wish and place in your heart, anything you want, everything you want. Do u have it? Good!! Now believe it will come true. You never know where the next miracle can come from. The next memory, the next smile the next wish come true, but if you believe that its right around the corner, you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it, you just might get the thing you would wish for, the world is full of magic, you just have to believe in it.....

So make a wish. Do you have it? Good, now believe in it.... with all your heart...”