Full name : Manesh Fernando
Hometown : Mother from Galle, Father from Moratuwa and I am from anywhere where there is a Hilton
Status : What do you mean? Is it like on FB? If so it’s definetely not married...
Birthday : 5th Jan some year in the 70’s ;)
School : Many… (S. Thomas’s Prep, STC Mount Lavinia, Nairobi Academy Kenya, Oh I forgot Tiny Tots- that was the only proper school I went to)
Passions : Flying and Fitness
Favourite colour : Blue
Favourite cartoon : Flinstones
 

What made you join the Hospitality industry?
My father was also a Hotelier.

How is it to be known as one of the youngest GMs?
6 years ago I was… Not anymore.. time and tide waits for no man...

Are you easy to work with?
My PA Heather says quote “OMG”. My Revenue Manager says “weird thinking”.

What motivates you to wake up every day?
My amazing Chairman Calling

What would you NEVER change about the past?
The past

What sports do you play?
Jogging along the beach daily.

Do you like celebrities?
Love them

What does the world need less of?   
Fake people

What is the biggest challenge behind this job?
Consistently exceeding the expectations of 1000’s of guests and staff.

What’s one dream that you’ve tucked away, for the moment?
To own my own business

What’s the most out-of-character choice you’ve ever made?  
Singing “Simply the best” dressed like Tina Turner in front of 500 people in Malaysia.

Is there something that people consistently ask your advice on?
How I manage to still not be married!

 

On the Spot

Geetha Kumarasinghe / Rosy Senanayake / Hirunika Premachandra? Who is your personal favourite out of the three female politicians?
Learnt to never reveal any favourites in our field of business. Top secret!

In your opinion an inspirational Colombo personality?
Has to be our President... MR

Your opinion about all the beautification projects in Colombo?
I think we are going back to our great past (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy) where we had discipline, order and beauty in whatever we did. This is the stepping stone to be a great nation again.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo /Mount Lavinia Hotel/The Kingsbury Colombo? Your personal favourite, if you were not attached to Hilton? Why?  
Galle Face Hotel and Mount Lavinia Hotel are my favourites because of their architecture, grace and history.


 

If…

If you could call yourself five years ago and have 30 seconds, what would you say?
Dude sell everything you have and buy JKH, Apple and Tesla shares!!

If all jobs paid the same, what would you be doing?
“Doing nothing” if it was a Job…joking… I would still do the same thing.

If you woke up one day looking like me, what would you do first?
Teleport myself to Ramani Salon.

If you could enroll in a PhD programme, with your tuition paid in full by a mysterious benefactor, what would you study — and why?
I would study agriculture and find out how Sri Lanka can be successful in agriculture like Israel




 

Fun..

Are you lucky?
Yes, coz I’m still alive

What would you do if you were homeless?
Sleep on the beach…

Who are you when no one’s watching?
What you see is what you get!

What are you pretending not to know?
He who thinks he knows everything, knows nothing... Humility and humbleness are keys to success.  

What has been your main motivation in life so far?
Striving to achieve the impossible in our own little way.

Would you like the person you are, if you meet yourself?
Why not?? Am full of myself..

How important is fitness for you?
My passion. Health is wealth.

What does being successful mean to you?
Having the empowerment to make a difference in people’s lives; be it a guest or a team member.