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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Elina, Thatcher worthy of emulation Innovating advances in the process of implementing many educational based programs and planning to read for a PhD are the professional dreams of Executive Secretary Nawaloka Hospitals and Personal Assistant to Jayantha Dharmadasa, Deputy Chairman of Nawaloka Group Sunethra Jayaratne.
She had her education in Arts subjects at St. Clare's College in the Sinhala medium. After her A/Ls she did a shorthand typing course to pass her time. She started at the STCA where she was promoted as an assistant teacher after some time. Then she moved to Polytechnic to study Business English and followed a Secretarial Course. " Every little mistake I did was treated with sarcacism, though I was downhearted and cried alone I did not show the world but took it as a challenge. I did not get discouraged but made friends with books. Most of all my mother was there for me as a tower of strength. Sunethra started working as an Assistant Secretary at Cadillac Garments and while being there she continued her studies and got through the first Certificate in English offered by the University of Cambridge as well as the English exam conducted by the London Chamber of Commerce." Thanks to Chairman MDM Vazeer who encouraged and valued education. While at Cadillac Garments I became a fully fledged secretary. "I applied for an advertisement in 1991 and later found it was Nawaloka Hospital. It was tough working for Jayantha Dharmadasa but if you know your work it is a pleasure to work for a boss like him as he would give you all the encouragement to rise up in life," she added. Though she studied in Sinhala she can now work in both languages and at present she is trying to learn Tamil which she thinks is a must for anyone. As a Secretary the communication and vocabulary should be excellent, while determination, dedication, loyalty, responsibility, commitment and the ability to face challenges together with simplicity are keys to your success. It is very important to maintain dignity and decorum at all times. This is a profession where you have to face a lot of challenges, be equipped with a good education and take criticism as a blessing. Try to work as a team but maintain your confidentiality. Speaking of the dress code she said that it is very important or else women invite trouble for themselves and also at all times try to display your identity. "Professionally she admires Margaret Thatcher while personally it is Mrs Elina Jayewardene. Don't bring your personal problems to the office nor take your office problems home, she said as this will help you to strike a balance in your life." She has held many positions among them are President, Sri Lanka Association of Personal Secretaries, represented SLAPS as the President at the Asian Secretaries Congress with a 19- member delegation to Bangkok and accepting the challenge of hosting the 14th Congress in Sri Lanka, elected as the President for Association of Administrative Professionals in Asia Pacific (ASA), hosted the ASA Congress in Sri Lanka through SLAPS with the assistance of a team of PPs and members of SLAPS, the first ever International Congress in Sri Lanka for Secretaries, First ever Sri Lankan for the position and the Youngest President to date, attended the first ever International Congress Attendance in Brunei (ASA 12th Congress)2001 Management training in Japan, appointed as an Advisor to SLAPS Panel Speaker at the 16th Congress in Brunei on "Current Trends in Management Style & Practice in Asia Pacific", Private Audience with Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness at their respective Palaces in Brunei. Attended the 16th ASA Congress in Singapore and celebrations of 30th ASA Birthday. First Recipient from Sri Lanka to be awarded Bronze Medal for completion of attending five Congresses, (Jennifer Fox PP of SLAPS was the other) The lecture delivered at Santa Lucia Education Foundation in Jakarta (Indonesia) as a Guest Lecturer, for aspiring Administrative Professionals on "How to apply professionalism to meet Challenges" . SG |
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She was born to a family of two brothers and two sisters. Her father
Sirisoma Jayaratne was a businessman while her mother Leela, a teacher
dutifully gave up after marriage to keep house.
