UTI Team Members
Rukmal (or Ruki as he is more commonly known) is the Chief Visionary Officer of UTI, and is a celebrated change catalyst, leadership guru and strategy innovator.
In pursuit of his passion of creating positive change in people, he blends top-end Business School level theoretical models with unconventional experiential learning methods in creating impactful learning and consultative interventions for people from all walks of life.
Rukmal has assimilated vast exposure in carrying out training, coaching and consultative interventions for over 200 organizations in Sri Lanka and overseas. They span from micro finance initiatives in Jordan to apparel manufacturers in Sri Lanka to Investment promoters in Sub Saharan Africa to e-marketing initiative in gourmet tea and many in between.
Some of his favorite books include Good to Great by Jim Collins, Alchemist by Paolo Coelho and The Partner by John Grisham. His favorite quote is by Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you seek.”
His favorite foods include Japanese food, Tom Yum Soup and “Wev malu” - fresh water fish (fried). He speaks native Sinhalese and fluent English, but his Norwegian is a bit rusty.
Sifaan is a Change Agent who blends unconventionality in appearance and worldview with a highly structured and pragmatic work ethic.
By virtue of his strong analytical skills, he was well set for a distinguished career in technology, with medals at international programming competitions and a first class engineering degree under his belt when exposure to the non-profit sector helped him to discover a greater passion: helping people find purpose, meaning and true happiness in life. Over the last 8 years, he has gained respect as a innovative and resourceful trainer / facilitator, both locally and abroad.
Sifaan is also an armchair philosopher, amateur psychologist, raconteur, technophile, and comedian – sometimes all at the same time. He will eat almost anything of animal origin, and read just about anything (even the Telephone Directory if really desperate) provided it's in English - but his favorites are books by Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Ben Elton.
He speaks native English and fluent Sinhalese; and can say "Look, I have an elbow" in several languages.