Nimal - Swarna duo bid adieu to Sri Lanka
R. S. Karunaratne
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HAPPY COUPLE: Dr. Nimal Sedera and Swarna Sedera.
Pic. Palitha Gunasena
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WRITER: Long-standing bilingual journalist, poet, short story writer,
biographer and reputed marketing guru Nimal Sedera and his charming wife
will leave the island shortly to settle down in the United States of
America. He made friends in almost all newspaper groups and contributed
articles regularly on various topics.
Nimal Sedera is a multi-faceted person who started his career as a
sales person in the CTC Eagle Insurance Company way back in 1988. Being
an enthusiastic youth he bagged the Best Salesperson Award in the
following year beating some of his seniors.
When he was adjudged the Best Salesperson of the country in 1991, he
was promoted as an insurance consultant. What is more, he was allowed to
form a sales team.
Bachelors' Degree
It was during this time, Mrs. Swarna Sedera who holds a Bachelors'
Degree in Education retired from her cluster principal post to join the
Eagle Insurance Company as an agent.
In 1993 Nimal Sedera was promoted as a Team Manager and later was
selected as the Best Team Manager. Another surprise came when he was
appointed the Field Manager in 1998.
"I had a team of 30 sales people. With a lot of hard work and
dedication I established the first ever Insurance Agency in Sri Lanka in
2005. Today we have eight group managers and 92 sales personnel. Swarna
functioned as the Senior Group Manager," said Nimal Sedera.
After achieving their business targets, they have travelled to many
parts of the world on more than 17 occasions.
Their itinerary included Australia, the United States of America,
Egypt, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand
and India. Being Sathya Sai Baba devotees they have visited Puttaparathy
on more than 20 occasions.
After picking up the rudiments of marketing principles, he soon
because a prolific writer on the subject. "Alevikaranaya", his first
book on marketing was launched in 1998.
This was followed by "Alevi Jayamaga, Ganudenu Kalava, Alevi Shilpa,
Rakshana Niyojithayakuge Vagakeema and Phosath Veeme Kalava". Altogether
he has published 41 books on marketing and other subjects.
He has worked as a training consultant for Kangaroo Cabs, Indra
Traders, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing and Tyre House. He was also
the only Sri Lankan to address the Champion of Champions Insurance
Congress held in Malaysia in 2000. Rochville University of the United
States conferred him the Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing Management
this year.
Nimal Sedera is a long-standing member of the Lions Club. His
dedicated service to the club for 26 years earned him the Melvin Jones
Fellowship (MJF) in the movement. At present he is the District Chairman
(306 C-1) for Communal Integrity.
Great loss
At a time the insurance industry is expanding Nimal Sedera's
departure from the country can be a great loss. He was instrumental in
improving the status of sales people and their dignity.
Sedera and Swarna is perhaps the only couple in the insurance field.
Swarna has proved her insurance acumen by winning six Golden Eagle
Awards and one Silver Eagle Award.
Apart from his insurance work, Nimal Sedera's contribution to art and
culture is remarkable. As the Managing Director of the NYSCO, he helped
to improve the standards of dance and music. The team of dancers and
musicians visited many countries bringing glory to Sri Lanka.
Stint of acting
After assisting Somaweera Senanayake to edit "serasilli" fashion
magazine for some time, Nimal Sedera did a stint of acting in
Udayakantha Waransuriya's Sinhala film "Gini Avi saha Gini Keli". He
also acted in a string of Sinhala dramas such as "Irata Udin Girav Giya,
Yakada Thalana Handa, Paradeesaya, Kendare, November 10 and Kap Dahasak
Perumpura. Swarna too acted in Paradeesaya and Guru Sanniya.
Nimal and Swarna have two sons: Daraka living in the United States
and Darshana is attached to the Queensland University of Technology,
Brisbane, Australia.
On the eve of his departure Nimal Sedera tells me that he wants to
take up new challenges in insurance, marketing and literature. "My
travels have expanded my vision and I want to become a world citizen,"
he said.
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