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| Sunday, 14 December 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Sampath Siriwardena: Achieving his dreams Total commitment, focus, the inner satisfaction of helping others and being grateful to everyone who had helped are the pillars of success for the newly appointed General Manager of Galadari Hotel, Sampath Siriwardena. Family
Education He had his education at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia from Grade One to Advanced Levels. "I sat for the Advanced Level examination in science subjects and since my family was interested in me becoming an accountant, I joined the Samba Murthy Auditing Company where I learnt Accountancy and Auditing for an year". Turnaround "I am here because of Mr Lal Leanage, the former General Manager of Intercontinental Hotel. He was the one that inspired me and taught me the basics of the hospitality industry and what it is all about. He was my immediate neighbour and I am indeed grateful to him," added Siriwardena. Five Star Hotels The Intercontinental was the first five star hotel to be built in the country and was followed by the Lanka Oberoi, now known as Colombo Plaza. Career Siriwardena joined the Oberoi at its inception in 1975 as a receptionist. "The hotel industry was considered glamorous and I quite liked it. Most people who joined at the time were committed and the attitude was all out towards helping the guests and keeping them comfortable. Another guy joined the hotel with me and we were expected to do the night shift as girls were not permitted to do night shifts," he said. Promotions Promotions came his way very quickly and he ended up as the Front Office Manager in 1982. "I was very happy to get this promotion in 1982, but my dream was to become a general manager one day and I was confident that I could achieve it". Hilton Siriwardena joined the Colombo Hilton as the Front Office Manager in 1987 and was there for 16 long years until August 2003. At the time he left, he was Director of the hotel's Rooms Division. "I am indeed grateful to the late Mr Gamini Fernando, the then General Manager of Hilton, who helped me a lot," he said. Training During the period he was attached to the Oberoi chain of hotels, he got an opportunity to be trained at the Oberoi School of Hotel Management. He was also a recipient of a government scholarship, which paved the way for him to go to Japan and work at Hotel Yokohama for a period of four months. During his tenure at the Hilton, he got an opportunity to be trained at the Career Development Institute in Wembley, UK. Siriwardena has also done a stint at the Cornell University in Singapore. Galadari He joined Hotel Galadari as Resident Manager in August 2003 and the big surprise for him came on December 5 when he was appointed General Manager of the hotel. "It is a big challenge and I am looking forward to it," said the confident Siriwardena. The Future "The staff members of the hotel are absolutely hospitable and friendly and I specially thank Mr Chandra Mohotti, the former General Manager, for inculcating that culture at the hotel. We will always lay emphasis and encourage our staff to undergo training locally as well as abroad. "We have started to refurbish four floors which were damaged as a result of a bomb blast in 1997. Once the new product is launched, we will have around 500 rooms and hope to increase the average rate too," he added. Everything is ready to open the Karoake lounge, Nightingales, in January while plans are underway to open a new pub late next year. Refurbishment of the ballroom area, which can accommodate around 2000 guests and which was damaged by the bomb, will get off the ground by mid-next year. Advice "Be committed and dedicated in whatever you do. Treat your customers the way you would treat your own family and they will never leave you". Fact File Name: Sampath Siriwardena Present Position: General Manager Galadari Hotel School Attended: S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia Children: One son, Dimithri (SG) |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Hailing from Negombo, Siriwardena was born as the eldest to a family of
one boy and two girls. His father was an insurance branch manager while
his mother was a housewife who looked after the family with love and care.
