Dian Gomes – Photo Courtesy – BUSINESS TODAY
I had the great pleasure of meeting with Dian Gomes, the Chairman of Hela Clothing (an apparel manufacturing company,) in his Colombo office a few days ago. He was my superior at MAS Holding (Slimline subsidiary) between the years 2001 – 2002. (Well, he was my superior, but he was also a friend, a mentor and a brother to me, rather than a ‘boss’ throughout my acquaintance with him over the years).
Even though my employment with MAS was short-lived, during which time I learnt valuable lessons from this amazing motivator of aspiring employees (and “a ruthless executioner” when it comes to shoddy employees.)
I left the comfortable, pensionable government employment as a teacher of English in my village school because I was frustrated and disappointed with the lethargic system in government service and joined MAS in the year 2000 to improve, advance and develop myself so that I could contribute my two cents to the world to which I felt I was indebted for making me who and what I was.
I observed and learnt much at MAS from Dian. Due to that I was able to bring Horizon Lanka Foundation to what it is today. This was mainly due to what I learnt and observed mainly from Dian, relating to marketing and management strategy. I am a village farmer’s son and do not have the luxury of possessing an MBA from Harvard Business School nor any degree from a local university either for that matter!
I hope Dian would be there to guide me further to make Horizon Lanka a global brand in dynamic education strategies and innovative teaching methods, (in Horizon Academy children’s term, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the imaginary magic school in the United Kingdom that was created by Harry Potter famed J. K. Rowling in her amazing imagination) that could provide the children opportunities and avenues in higher education in Sri Lanka and abroad, also guide them into the entry level ‘job market’ without wasting their youth, like what happened to me in the prime of my youth due to lack of proper guidance and opportunities.
Nanda Wanninayaka 
You are in good and right company with your former boss. Services you have been doing for the uplifting of the young people of your locality outweighs the loss of the pensionable job. Wish well for your Ecuador venture.
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