Our Personalities

Beyond his cricket-crazy school days at St. Joseph’s College in Colombo, Dmitri earned his professional qualifications from the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC) and Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School in Australia. Equipped with a Diploma in Hotel Management, and a degree in Hotel and Resort Management, Dmitri then began learning the tricks of the trade as a waiter at the Shangri-La Singapore – which he recalls included banquets that hosted up to 1000 guests.“Our upbringing instilled our grandfather’s values in us,” Dmitri says, explaining the importance of humility in his career. “The grounding we got ensured we were always comfortable working with anyone from anywhere, no matter how hard the task”. Dmitri’s intrinsic knack for the industry later took his career in F&B to another Shangri-La in Australia before eventually returning to Sri Lanka as a Management Trainee at Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach.

Only after gradually building his career back home did Dmitri move into his position of Manager- Operations. Today, he helps maintain high standards across the Jetwing family with not only the occasional input of his F&B expertise, but also the timeless embodiment of his family values that drive all hotel operations.

Sanjeewa joined Jetwing in 1996 as Finance Manager: “…one of my close friends - the Finance Manager at Jetwing at that time, had decided to go abroad and he introduced me to Jetwing. One day he called me in the morning and asked me to come within one hour for an interview. I was interviewed by our Founder and the Late Chairman, Mr. Herbert Cooray, our current Chairman, Mr. Hiran Cooray and Executive Director at that time, Mr. Romesh Lokuge. It was the start of my long career with the Jetwing family…” he says of his steady success to date. His commitment and proficiency soon saw him promoted as the General Manager – Finance, and then as the Executive Director of Jetwing Hotels. With overall responsibility for the legal and finance aspects of Jetwing, Sanjeewa also holds directorships at 12 other Jetwing companies. Additionally, he acts as Company Secretary for about 20 Jetwing companies. “…the freedom of decision making and the transparency of the company…” he states as his key motivating factor.

Deeply committed and passionate about the company’s progress, Sanjeewa confirms that “…Jetwing will continue to grow locally as well as internationally. We have a vision to be world class in everything we do…“ To that end he plans to continue to provide the strategic input required of him in new developments and diversifications and help add new experiences to all stakeholders of Jetwing.

“Being a Roman Catholic, I trust in the Lord Almighty and Mother Mary…” and steadfast in his faith, Sanjeewa cites the day he received First Holy Communion as one of the most significant moments of his personal life, and professionally – when he took Oaths as an Attorney-at-Law in the Supreme Court. He considers honesty to be the most important value to him as a person..

Very much a family man at heart Sanjeewa places high value on the time he spends with them. “…I have two younger brothers, the elder one is a Legal Counsel and the younger one is a qualified Chartered Accountant. My wife is a homemaker and a specialist in preparation of cake structures and cake decorating. Her faith, passion and continuous commitment is the secret of success in our family. I'm also blessed with a son and a daughter. They are studying at St. Joseph's College and St. Bridget's Convent respectively. I want my children to be happy and to develop spiritually and professionally…” he says with conviction. He is equally dedicated to his other family – Jetwing, and wants to see it become the best hospitality brand in the world.

For Jude, cost, quality, and time are the three factors that drive every project under his purview. The systematic discipline is one that was instilled in him from a young age by his father – who was known to ensure that food was never seen above his first knuckle when eating. Mealtimes back home in Kandy were always important to Jude, not only because of the timeless discipline, but also as a celebration of family values, which have stuck with him to date.

Today, Jude hopes to make Jetwing a carbon neutral company by 2020, and he is well on track to achieving that goal. The same passion for Mother Nature extends to his home where he has installed a solar array and biogas digester as part of his personal commitment to a sustainable future. This very commitment is one he traces back to our late chairman and founder, Mr. Herbert Cooray, who personally requested Jude to join our family when the structural features of Jetwing Lighthouse were coming up. From that point onwards, his successes speak for themselves.

Beginning at the very beginning as it were, Hyacinth’s long and illustrious career has today reached a pinnacle – where she is considered one of the most dynamic ladies in the hotel industry today as one of the three female general managers in the hotel industry in Sri Lanka. She joined Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel (now Jetwing Blue) in 1977, 38 years ago. "...at the time, tourism was beginning to pick up, with the master plan that was introduced in 1970. I began to work as a Trainee Receptionist and held the positions of Front Office Manager, Assistant Manager, General Manager and moved up to the post of Director General Manager and Executive Director - Negombo..." she reminisces of her life of progress at Jetwing. One of the first female General Manager in Sri Lanka, she held the position of General Manager at Hunnas Falls Hotel (then part of the Jetwing group) for three years as well. Today she is at the helm of Jetwing’s landmark destination as Executive Director, Negombo overlooking a combined total of over 400 rooms.

An unmistakable force behind Jetwing’s continuing success, Hyacinth is very positive about the future: “The main goal is to get every staff member to maintain the high service standards and the consistency however difficult it is. As I have started my career 44 years ago joining Jetwing as a Trainee Receptionist and climbing the ladder up to a Director position I am always ready to accept any challenges and responsibilities in my carrier in the future. This is purely because Jetwing is a company that values people, encouraging and recognizing the people who are committed to their job and the Jetwing philosophy. Human resource is very important to Jetwing. If I can be a role model in some way for the future Jetwing generation, it will be a great honour.

A former secretary of the Kandy Hoteliers Association and a former president of the Negombo Hoteliers Association, she has witnessed drastic changes in the industry over the years. She hopes one day to sit back and enjoy her retirement and see Jetwing grow with the next generation.

Hyacinth spends whatever spare time she gets helping the needy in their difficult times, especially children who are less fortunate whom she supports with financial assistance. She also reads books, which, she says, help her personal life, and also loves to spend time with her two dogs at home.

Looking back at his 25 year career, Kanchana is proud to have worked both overseas and in Sri Lanka in different capacities. After graduating from The Ceylon Hotel School in 1995, he immersed himself heavily in food and beverage operations, until joining Jetwing Hotels in 2002 as a Training Manager. After a stint overseas, Kanchana rejoined Jetwing in 2009 to overlook Training and Operations. From there on his career has been on a steady climb and Kanchana is now the Head of Human Resources at Jetwing Hotels. His role assures the smooth functioning of all HR and Training related operations at all the hotels and at Jetwing House - the head office of Jetwing.With many responsibilities and challenges to face, Kanchana firmly believes in achieving a correct balance of work and leisure, and delights in spending time with his family. In addition, his hobbies of reading and listening to music, particularly the contemporary selections occupy his spare time.

Kanchana has a clear vision for the future: “…my plan is to develop the internal strengths and competencies of Jetwing Hotels, ensuring sustainable development of the organization, meaning that we are internally geared to face the challenges that are faced within a fast growing industry”.

Described as soft spoken but also known as a careful analyst, Lahiru is no stranger to busy days at Jetwing. When he isn’t on site visits at one of our properties, one can find Lahiru working meticulously with our Operations team at Jetwing House in Colombo. Lahiru’s gradual growth into a managerial position from a qualified engineer is also one of the many accomplishments he is proud of. Aside from an expanded scope of responsibilities, he attributes the success of this advancement to knowledge and experience – both of which are two key pillars he believes in building upon to move forward.And as he progresses, Lahiru’s desire for exploration will be fueled by his curiosity - whether its fulfilling his passion for technology and evolution, travelling to unheard destinations around Sri Lanka with friends and family, or even helping his wife build her spectacular collection of over 2000 books.

She started off her career as a trainee at Hotel Horizon Koggala, moving to become a Linen keeper and Housekeeping Supervisor. Working hard every step of the way, she rose from Assistant Housekeeper at Villa Ocean View, Wadduwa to finally realise her dream as an Executive Housekeeper at Wornel’s Reef Hotel, Beruwala. Having reached her goals early in life, she then took on a new challenge when she joined Palm garden Hotel in Beruwala in the same capacity.

Challenges in life come in many forms and she decided to take a step back from work when her mother fell ill, and Priyanthika moved closer to Colombo. This change was tough as her prior experience was mostly in the resort hotels. However, helped by a close friend, Priyanthika found an opening at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo and was soon employed there as a Senior Assistant Housekeeper. Moving a step down the career ladder was a difficult transition but it was one she handled bravely, hoping for better prospects to come.

And indeed it did. In 1991 her career path transformed when she joined the Jetwing Group as Executive Housekeeper of Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel and Royal Oceanic Hotel (now Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach). Subsequent transfers and promotions within the group at Jetwing Lighthouse and Jetwing Vil Uyana - where her outstanding performance was noted by the management, Priyanthika was promoted as one of the few female General Managers in the Jetwing Group. She took on a challenge again in 2014 when she returned to Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle once more, and during her tenure she guided the team to win many global awards for the Hotel under her able leadership.

Hospitality is definitely a natural trait and she loves to entertain friends whenever time permits from her busy schedule and Priyanthika includes listening to music and astrology - she is a diploma holder in the subject includes as her pastime activity. Being sincere and candid Priyanthika prefers a practical approach when dealing with people. “I do not have bigger plans in my life, but I take whatever I get as a challenge" modest words that describe her personality, perfectly.

Passionately community conscious Wester is a firm believer of working closely with local people, creating tours in and around the area to promote the community and livelihoods to benefit them too. Leading his team at Jetwing Lagoon and subsequently at Sunrise by Jetwing with equal commitment he states four aspects as his main areas of supervision to ensure smooth operations of the hotel: guests, staff, the property and profit. Each area, he says, has its own challenges and he finds the best way to overcome them is to maintain constant checks and ensure efficiency in each area.

Beginning his career at Jetwing in 2004, Wester joined Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel as an Assistant Manager and was soon promoted to the post of General Manager at St. Andrew’s and then on to Jetwing Lighthouse. His extensive experience in operations and commendable skills in management earned him the chance to steer Jetwing Lagoon - formerly known as Blue Lagoon and architect Geoffrey Bawa’s first dream hotel in 2012 from its launch stage which he considers as one of his most exciting projects to date. Thereafter, he went on to lead the team at Sunrise by Jetwing in 2018 with his latest appointment coming in as the General Manager of Jetwing Surf, an epitome of eco-luxury on the east coast.

Having gained valuable exposure overseas for several years, Leuke returned to Sri Lanka, and was overjoyed to be offered a place close to his heart – Jetwing St. Andrew’s was where he spent his honeymoon. Although nostalgic about its past he is equally excited about the hotel’s expansion nearly doubling its capacity, seeing it as a unique blending of the old and the new. “We will of course maintain the old charm and superb service that makes this a true country house with wood fires, afternoon cream teas, and sumptuous dinners in the grand wood panelled and copper ceilinged dining room…” he states with great enthusiasm.During his tenure, he has seen many changes take place in the area with Nuwara Eliya fast becoming a destination of its own right. He has been quick to take advantage of the new influx with innovative offerings from the hotel such as golf packages, waterfall tours, cultural walks and such where guests can truly explore and learn more about the tea country. Leuke is also a keen advocate of social projects and being environmentally conscious and leads the hotel in initiating CSR projects that benefit the community and the locality.

Native to the Bakinigahawela village in the country's Uva Province, Bandara's adventurous childhood was spent in the village's surrounding national parks, reservoirs and forests. Here, he attended Bakinigahawela Sinhala Vidyalaya and Madagama Maha Vidyalaya where he immersed himself in sports, drama, singing and scouting. Although a happy child, full of life and love - growing up was not easy. Born into a farming family of 8, every day he made the 6 km journey to school on foot, determined to not let his circumstances get in the way of an education.Life with Jetwing soon became a family affair with Bandara first meeting his wife at the Royal Oceanic (now known as Jetwing Beach), who is also currently attached to the Tamarind Tree Hotel, formerly run by the Jetwing Group. It must have been in their blood as his two brothers are also employed at Jetwing Beach and Jetwing Lighthouse, along with his eldest son who went on to spend time with the Jetwing Family at Jetwing Colombo Seven.

Bandara's day begins with a routine visit around the property, greeting guests and ensuring they're well taken care of. Weekly meeting sessions are held with all department heads where planning and work allocation takes place. Described as honest, approachable and understanding by his colleagues and as a truly treasured member of the Jetwing Family, Bandara takes pride in imparting all that he's learnt in his 36 year tenure on his team, striving to uphold the values of sincerity, loyalty and honesty through the company's vision, mission and core values.

Anthony is a big believer in teamwork. His friends and colleagues say that they can always count on him, and ensure that they always rise to the occasion together. So much so that one often finds Anthony not at his desk, but walking the seaside corridors of Jie Jie Beach by Jetwing – where he meets each team in their own spaces. Irrespective of what time Anthony wraps up with his team each night; he’s always up by 5:00 AM on the next day. Even at home, Anthony has a team for life – his wife, Charithri, who he helps make an early departure at 6:30 AM for her job every day. With a smile on his face, Anthony speaks highly of Charithri, and attributes his success to her as a pillar of strength and understanding through a career in hospitality that has spanned over three decades.

Prior to joining the Jetwing family, Anthony began his career at the Ceylon Intercontinental Hotel in 1987, and later moved to The Hilton Colombo in 1992. Having begun his career as a Trainee Restaurant Cashier, Anthony quickly rose through the ranks with a background in hotel administration and finance, before eventually taking up the mantle of General Manager at Jie Jie Beach by Jetwing. He recalls that pursuing a career in hospitality was never on his mind, but after being rejected by the Navy to be a Cadet Officer because of his visual impairments, he took up the opportunity with a passion. The rest is history.

Ajantha’s role as the General Manager at Jetwing Lagoon and his latest role as General Manager at Jetwing Colombo Seven has allowed him to bring his international expertise closer to home – by sharing his worldview with a team he considers family.Having grown up hearing stories from relatives who worked in hotels around the world, a career in hospitality was fitting not only because it was one he could relate to, but one that remained close to his heart. Today, as Ajantha completes two decades of experience in the industry, he holds numerous stories of his own - ready to inspire the next generation of professionals who want to pursue a career in hospitality.

Naminda didn’t shy away from studies and was an enthusiastic learner; after his A/L examination together with a bunch of his friends he applied to the Ceylon Hotel School in Bandarawela where he completed basic level courses in housekeeping, front office, cookery, restaurant and bar. Determined to excel in the hospitality industry Naminda went on to obtain a Management Diploma in Hotel & Catering Operations specializing in housekeeping from the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management in Colombo. It was no surprise that he was awarded the best student in his batch for his steadfast nature proved in his daily work. He shone further during his industrial training at Koggala Beach Hotel, Taj Exotica Bentota and Galadari Hotel, which paved way for a management traineeship at John Keells Hotels, where he worked within his expertise as housekeeping executive at both Cinnamon Wild and former Chaaya Village Habarana. During this time he attended a Professional Development Program in Dubai, UAE conducted by the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. Naminda then went on to work with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives for five years and also at Avani Bentota, where he underwent a Professional Exposure Training Program with Minor International Hotels (Anantara Hua Hin and Marriot Hotel) in Thailand, and also at Club Palm Bay before he joined the Jetwing family in 2013.

In a matter of three years he soon showed signs of leadership which allowed him to breeze through the roles of Executive Housekeeper, Rooms Division Manager and Assistant Manager at Jetwing Yala. Having deep respect for Gamunu Srilal, former General Manager at Jetwing Yala, Naminda followed in his leadership footsteps. Naminda’s talents and capabilities stood out from the rest, his belief in maintaining high guest satisfaction led him to pay extreme attention to detail in the interest of upholding high standards. This complimented with his warm nature enriched his charisma making him one of the youngest managers in the family when he took up the role of General Manager of Jetwing Kaduruketha. Always up for a challenge Naminda was enthusiastic in taking on his new role as General Manager at Jetwing Yala, which takes him back to his roots of being well within nature. Having big plans for the property Naminda passionately works closely with his associates to offer a memorable service to each guest visiting the heart of Sri Lankas wildlife.

Naminda met his beautiful wife in the hospitality industry and he enjoys spending time with his daughter during his free time.

After having successfully passed his examinations in school Dilip’s ambition was clear – he wanted to play his part in the hospitality industry. Immediately afterwards he followed a front office/reception and housekeeping course at the Ceylon Hotel School & School of Tourism in Kandy. From this point onwards Dilip was unstoppable, from Triton Ahungalla, Blue Waters Wadduwa, Swiss Residence Kandy, Yala Safari Hotel and Hunas Falls, he performed exceptionally well in the front office. His talents were immediately recognized when he joined the Jetwing family 10 years ago; having started as a Reservations Executive in 2007 at Jetwing House, his leadership qualities shone through which resulted in him taking up the role of team leader for reservations sales. His friendly nature and persistence led him to a promotion as Front Office Executive at Jetwing Vil Uyana and yet again to Front Office Manager within a year. His passion and drive complements his achievements which saw to him taking up the role of Rooms Division Manager at Jetwing Vil Uyana. With the promise of providing an exceptional service to the guests Dilip was committed to uphold the best standards and ensured that his associates were motivated to follow a common goal. He was enthusiastic to learn about the environs in keeping to the concept of the property – although it was not his area of expertise he was determined to learn about the bio-diversity and so he did. He has always an interest in bird watching – Jetwing Vil Uyana was the perfect location to better his knowledge. His enthusiasm led him to take guests on nature trails in the absence of the naturalist. Dilip says, “Anything is possible when you have love and interest towards your work, and that inspires me every day!” Dilip loves to take up challenges, his role as general manager at Jetwing Kandy Gallery is one that he took up with a passion. His charisma is infectious making him one of the friendliest managers in the family.

During his free time Dilip likes to keep in touch with sports – he enjoys playing badminton to keep fit. He also takes pleasure in spending time with his beautiful family.

A man driven solely by his desire to work hard, with honesty, integrity and a relentless pursuit of his goals, Ravindra finds inspiration in his role as a Manager of the best hideaway on the East Coast - often aligning his ambitions with the company’s objectives. He champions teamwork, and is described by many as reliable and strong in character. As such, a regular day for him includes overseeing the hotel’s day-to-day operations including coordinating and supervising multiple functions from across departments, monitoring the performance of revenue outlets, reviewing new business development opportunities and ensuring that guests are given the complete Jetwing treatment and completely taken care of. When Ravindra is off the clock - you wouldn’t be pressed to find him with his nose in a book.A graduate of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Ravindra’s track record is equal parts impressive and a clear reflection of the values he has upheld throughout his life. He was awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Management Diploma Holder’, the Colombo Hilton Trophy for being the best student in his intermediate level studies and the Chandana Jayawardane Trophy for being the best student in his advanced levels studies at his alma mater.

For a man who likes to live in the moment, Kelum is an eager traveler who loves discovering new spaces and exploring the many experiences around Sri Lanka. Though he had no special interest in joining the tourism and hospitality industry as a kid, his social and outgoing nature eventually led him to pursue a career in the industry. After having graduated from SLITHM - specialized in F&B, Kelum stepped into the field working at Cinnamon & Heritance Hotels where he gained much training and experience for a good two years specializing in food and beverage before joining Jetwing Hotels in 2010. Passionate about leading a simple life, Kelum's love for Jetwing Hotels stems from the simplicity of its associates and the work culture at the company.

Being a part of the Jetwing family for 11 years, Kelum's long-lasting passion for the tourism and hospitality industry constantly motivates him to reach greater heights.
Kelum describes an average day at Jetwing as productive, while he spends most of his time at the hotel looking into the daily operations, he makes allowance to spend some quality time with his family.

Kelum's favourite memory with Jetwing Hotels thus far is working at Negombo as it opened up multiple avenues that helped advance his career in the hospitality industry.
Having worked at many Jetwing properties gave Kelum a range of unique and distinct experiences, however working at Jetwing Lake has served a different purpose – "All places I worked at gave me different experiences in my professional life, but I mostly loved working at Jetwing Lake as it always gave me an energy to be open minded."
When asked if there was one thing he could attribute to his success, Kelum's reply was simple: self-discipline and a constant focus - a lesson he believed to have picked up from his young Rugby days. At present, Kelum lives in Panadura with his wife.

Although he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a veteran planter, Farrel’s love for cooking eventually brought him to the hospitality industry. His friends and colleagues are always quick to describe him as a lover of all things food, and he continuously proves them right when he’s plating up some of his finest dishes for his family and loved ones in his spare time.Growing up in the Colombo suburb of Ja-Ela, Farrel would always look forward to weekends in the mountains – where, along with his mother, his sister and himself would often join their father in bungalows within highland tea estates. The cool climes with only the sounds of nature would always draw him back to hills, and though today he has chosen to leave the misty winds behind, the sea breeze of the southern coastline has already earned its place as his second home.

Back home in Gampaha, Chef Kolitha recalls how his father would always make mouthwatering dishes for him and his two brothers. Above all, it was this home-cooked food that inspired Chef Kolitha to pursue a career in hospitality, and the same home-cooked food that taught him how to prepare unforgettable dishes for any palate they encountered. After starting his career as a trainee cook at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo and earning his Advanced Higher Diploma at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management, Chef Kolitha’s intrinsic culinary inspiration later took him to the Middle East, where he was not only part of the pre-opening team for the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, but was also once the Employee of the Month at the Hilton Corniche in Abu Dhabi.

Returning home in 2011, Chef Kolitha then took his international experience to different coastlines around Sri Lanka - having worked in Yala on the south coast, Passikudah on the east coast, and now Negombo on the northwestern coast. His travels around the island have since enhanced his culinary repertoire in regional Sri Lankan cuisines, which now serves as yet another source of inspiration for the fusion food experiments he carries out in his spare time.

Subath enrolled at the Habarana Maha Vidyalaya to continue his studies, where his love for sports blossomed. Long distance running and team sports such as Cricket and Football were his favourites. He made many friends at school, and when it came to choosing a career path, he listened to the good advice of a school mate who was working at the Hotel Sigiriya who gave him insight to the flourishing hotel industry and how he could put his skills to good use. Thus, he began his tenure in the hotel industry as a kitchen helper at Hotel Sigiriya, where his enthusiasm enabled his quick progress to Assistant Cook. After a further successful period in Galway Forest Lodge – Nuwara Eliya, and some overseas experience at Meeru Island, Maldives he joined Jetwing St. Andrews in 2006 as Chef de partie.

Since then he has teamed up with at least 5 chefs, including Chef Lal whose support and advice he values greatly. ‘The bond between people at Jetwing is like that of a family’ he says ‘working together is so satisfying’. He considers hard work as accomplishments and personally rewarding, recalling the hectic days, the achievements being celebrated with the team over a quick game of carrom.

Enthusiastic about his future plans, Subath wants to revamp the a la carte menu with a variety of Indian dishes to suit the upcoming season. Subath has already captivated the interest of many foreign guests through cooking demonstrations on authentic Sri Lankan dishes like ‘Batala Roti’ (sweet potato roti) and hopes to hold more to get the guests involved as well. Strawberry is one of the signature fruits of Nuwara Eliya and he is planning to create new a la carte menu including a wide variety of strawberry based dishes using freshly grown strawberries from the locality.

At his present residence in Kelaniya, Subath enjoys spending time with his wife, 2 children and 2 foster children - a poignant story of Subath’s personal life. During his early years in the industry Subath’s best friend and co-worker was fatally injured in a motorbike accident, and Subath undertook the task of fostering the 2 little children who were left behind after their mother deserted them. Marrying later, Subath has 2 children of his own too, and is a proud father of 4. It is very evident that his philosophy of dedication and responsibility is truly lived by, every day.

His entry into this dream career began when he joined Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel (now Jetwing Blue) as a Kitchen Helper in 1998, and he has grown with the Jetwing family ever since. Rohan’s hard work and determination to succeed soon saw him climb steadily up the career ladder, quickly moving from the three Commis levels at Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel and at Jetwing Beach to become Demi Chef de Partie there in 2006. Promoted to Chef de Partie in 2008 and to Junior Sous Chef in 2011 he continued to make his mark at Jetwing Beach. He moved to Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions in 2014 to continue as Junior Sous Chef and continues to impart his considerable talents to date.

An achiever of many accomplishments in the competitive world of culinary arts, Rohan has a string of awards to his name: with accolades for subjects ranging from carving to creative cuisine. Although Rohan’s career has been based in Sri Lanka, his devotion to exploring the fantastic array of fare from various nations is very apparent in the dishes he prepares. With a great interest in fusion cooking and always exploring new ways to combine unusual ingredients and conjure up innovative fare his favourite recipe is the Dhal and Maldive Fish Pattie – his signature dish.

Devoted to his family – his wife and two young sons, he contrives to spend as much time as possible with them – especially to be a guiding light for his children to follow. An avid reader, Rohan also loves gardening and tries to extend his creativity there too.

His inquisitive nature came about at a very young age when he had the knack for running after every insect and animal in his birth village in Kandy. This interest continued on to his school days at Dharmaraja College where he went on to play his part in Environmental Societies, Art Competitions, and Essay Competitions all in relation to nature and science. Following the same stream he successfully completed his examinations in school to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka where he studied botany, zoology, and physics in detail. He didn’t stop there, Bandara was determined to obtain a Masters Degree in Environment Forestry and so he did from the Postgraduate Institute of Peradeniya.

Deviating from his interests Bandara first joined the advertising field before he soon took up the role of research assistant at the Sinharaja Rain Forest in keeping to his love for the natural world and then went on to be a research student experimenting simple cost effectiveness propagation and growing techniques both with the Botany Department of the University of Peradeniya.

In 2004 Bandara was absorbed into the Jetwing Family where he took up the role of naturalist at Jetwing Eco Holidays. Giving room to strengthen his passion and to make use of his talents, Bandara joined Yala Safari Game Lodge (former Jetwing Yala) as a resident naturalist where he was proven valuable in both tusker and leopard identification research projects. He also initiated the model organic farm to supply fresh vegetables making use of the manure recycled from wet garbage and use of treated water from the sewage treatment plant. Bandara is a survivor of the tragic tsunami that completely destroyed the property in 2004. Determined to further his experience and knowledge, Bandara joined Hunas Falls managed by Jetwing at the time as naturalist where he imitated waste management and herb garden. During this time he managed to reinforce 40 acres of reforestation in the hotel premises under the Jetwing Eternal Earth Program. During this time he had the rare opportunity to record the first Shaheen Falcon’s (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) nesting site in Sri Lanka. Hunas Falls Hotel was awarded as a HACCP Hotel, PATA Gold Award, and Best Green Hotel Award by Switch Asia among many other water and waste management awards. Also a weather station was introduced here to provide information to guests, Jetwing Eco Holidays and government –it was also the very first time that a weather station was introduced in the hotel industry. In 2019 Bandara joined Jetwing Kandy Gallery as a resident naturalist, where he continues to learn and impart knowledge on guests.

Bandara not only takes pictures of wildlife but also is a talented artist. During his free time he enjoys drawing and sketching wildlife.