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| Sunday, 1 February 2004 |
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by Farah Macan Markar She looks like twenty five (in reality she's ten years older). She's smart and wears this big smile on her face. She gets telephone calls every five minutes. Her life's a hustle and bustle. She's Nirukshi Helen Rupasinghe, Public Relations (PR) Manager of the Galadari Hotel. Today thirty four, Nirukshi's been with the Galadari ever since she first joined it 8 and a 1/2 years ago. Starting out as PR Executive, she's been promoted to PR Manager in the process. Public Relations is all about dealing with people. Dealing with the media, handling guests and staff, coordinating everyone and everything and keeping the hotel active and going. "The job's very hectic, challenging and demanding. There are so many things happening at once, so many things you have to do at once. It's a job which keeps you on your toes" says Nirukshi. Venturing into the hotel business at the Hilton, doing front office, Nirukshi went overseas to the States to join her husband, where she worked for a company doing accounts. Returning to Sri Lanka she joined the Galadari, in which she's been with ever since. The best part in the job she says is getting to know and meet a lot of different people. "It's an exciting job. Everyday I meet old faces and new ones. Each of these people are so different you have to deal with them differently. PR helps develop oneself". The worst part of the job? "There's no time for oneself. Everything's a rush. There's no time to enjoy one thing properly". Born on March 7th 1969 together with her identical twin sister Manisha, the girls studied at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya. Nirukshi didn't do her A'levels. Instead after her O's she did a secretarial course in school. "I was basically interested in working and getting started on a career" says Nirukshi. Having a twin is like having two parts of yourself in the world. Both the sisters are in the hotel business. Nirukshi at the Galadari and Manisha at the Colombo Plaza. It all started when both the sisters joined the Hilton to start off their careers. Then when Nirukshi went to the States, Manisha went to England. Both sister then returned to Sri Lanka at the same time and joined the Galadari "Once in the Galadari" says Nirukshi "after the bomb blast Manisha got an offer from the then Oberoi. From then on she's been at the Oberoi/Colombo Plaza and I've been at the Galadari". Career woman, PR Manager of a hotel today, Nirukshi was quiet as a kid. "Both Manisha and myself were not the naughty type of children as twins tend to be. We were pretty homely". Having a twin says Nirukshi is like having a best friend, whose part of your family and with whom you can talk just about anything. "We are close and share the same interest. We tend to have similar taste in clothes and other accessories we wear and at present even have the identical hair cut". Her job keeping her busy around the clock Nirukshi does not have time for hobbies. However she's a big fan of rugby and supports Havelock's, the club both her father and husband once played in. Nirukshi loves dressing up and adores animals, especially dogs, real or not (she has this big yellow Snoopy on top of her desk, as well as a dark brown and white patched bulldog stuffed toy on top of her computer monitor). Nirukshi has three big influences in life which has made her the woman she is today. Her parents "Who have encouraged me in what I did, even if they personally didn't like it", her husband "It is important to have an understanding, supportive husband in a time consuming job like I have" and her twin sister "Manisha, whose been my best friend and there for me in many ways". Although her job means a lot to her Nirukshi's not obsessed with it. "I love my job and it is an important part of my life. I'm 100% committed to it. If however I have to make a choice between my family and my job, it would be my family first". Being a woman in the job, she says in not as easy as for a guy. "You have to put up with a few crude comments at times. But if you know who you are and where you stand, you can handle it". The best part in Nirukshi's day is coming home after a hard day's work and having a home cooked meal. Where's the time for all this cooking? "Well, I've cooked a bit when I was overseas, but I'm a horrible chef. So lets just say I'm blessed with a good mother and mother-in-law who work the kitchen for me". |
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