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| Sunday, 29 September 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Professional trainer Dhammika Kalapuge: "Training people to give their best" Believing in what he does and doing what he believes in is the key to the success of Dhammika Kalapuge, the consultant trainer.
"My attitude in life is 'Be thankful for what you have, rather than pray for what you do not have'. We are supposed to show our gratitude for being born to this world as a human being and the best way to do this is to serve another. This saying has given me satisfaction and helped me to serve and grow," said Kalapuge. Education The eldest son in a family of five children, Kalapuge was educated at Uva College, Badulla, Mahanama College, Colombo, Anuradhapura Central College and Nalanda College, Colombo where he completed his studies. "I realised my hidden talents such as the ability to write and act while I was at Anuradhapura Central College. These had become very useful in my professional life". Career After completing his studies at Nalanda College, he started studying for ICMA and worked at Ford Rhodes Thornton and Company for four years. "Though I studied science subjects, I had a liking for business-related subjects. This was why I started doing accountancy," he added. "While sitting for ICMA examinations, I realised the potential for marketing and switched on to this field though marketing was not a popular profession in the early 1980s." He joined Milco and subsequently, Sampath Bank. "At Sampath Bank, I had a wonderful superior - Kumar Weerasuriya - who identified my potential and guided me." Kalapuge worked at Sampath Bank for four years and moved to Eagle Insurance. "I had the opportunity of working under Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, who helped me to grow and develop myself. I consider Eagle Insurance as a business university where everybody gets ample opportunity and support to learn and grow. I made the best out of it," he added. He developed a Customer Service Program for Eagle when he was the Marketing Manager for Eagle Fund Management. He took the program around the country for the staff of Bank of Ceylon (BoC) as a value addition measure for the support the BoC was extending to market unit trusts. "The General Manager of Eagle NDB Manjula De Silva encouraged me to develop the customer service module and take it to many commercial establishments as he realised the potential of the program." Kalapuge joined DFCC as Vice President Marketing and was actively involved in conducting customer service programs for many government and private institutions. A number of programs designed and conducted for the government sector was commended by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. He did not forget to acknowledge the support he received while working at DFCC. Bold decision "Having realised my potential and strength in training, I took the bold step of leaving the job and going on my own. Many would think twice before taking such a decision, but the strength I had was believing in what I do and doing what I believe in." He had the confidence that "if the product is good and if there is passion and genuineness in what you do, there is always a place for you". "This belief has brought me to where I am today," he said in a humble manner. "My wife has never worried over my professional life, but when I told her of my decision to start on my own, tears came to her eyes. It was through the concern she had for our children's future. Once I assured her that nothing can go wrong because our intentions are good, she believed in me as before." Program The program is customer service. It is very near and dear to the hearts of everyone as we are being served or we serve others from the cradle to the grave. In any organisation, customer service can be practised by anyone from the CEO to the lowest level as happy employees create happy customers. The theme selected by Kalapuge revolved around how happy employees can make others happy. "It is purely based on common sense and this is what we discuss at the program and not rocket science. Good customer service is something that can be extended with common sense. Although it can be done with common sense, it is not seen commonly in the market place." This is the gap Kalapuge tries to fill with his programs, which have had an unbelievable acceptance in the market. He has completed over 100 programs and over 15,000 people have had the opportunity of listening to him.He has the power to change people to give their best. Future plans "I want to serve the country as much as I could and help the needy. Developing many more programs for the benefit of the people is also on the cards." Barriers He was shy in public, but had to overcome this problem as his profession involved lecturing and public speaking. The solution was reading books written by Steven Corvey, Anthony Robins and Napoleon Hill. Family Kalapuge's parents were government servants. He has two brothers and two sisters. "The guidance and direction I got from my parents have really played a significant role in making me what I am today," said a grateful Kalapuge. Speaking of his marriage, he said that finding an understanding and supportive partner helps a man to achieve his goals. "I am lucky to have a wife who helps and supports me." He has two sons aged 13 and four. "My intention is to give them a good education and make them good citizens. My father worked very hard and made many sacrifices to see us prosper in life and something he said still echoes in my ears: "I can undergo any hardship thinking that my children would prosper in the future." Hobbies He listens to ragadhari music and sings devotional songs during his spare time. (SG) Fact File |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
After leaving a successful marketing career - his last stint was at
DFCC Bank as Vice President Marketing - he decided to venture on his own
and is now reaping the benefits of this decision.
