EDUCATION

1997 – 1998 – Msc. in Media and Communications , London School of Economics. Corporate Communication, Media Policy , Psychology of Advertising, the Internet and New Media.

1994 – 1995 – Post-graduate diploma in International Relations, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo. Politics, Diplomacy, Intergovernmental Relations.

1991 - 1994 – BA (Hons.) English Literature, King’s College London. 2.1 degree . Dialectics of Film , Modern Poetics, Shakespeare and Renaissence, Twentieth Century Literature.

JUNE - DECEMBER 1994 – Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar for study at Bryant College , Rhode Island , USA. Marketing, Finance, Management. Dean’s List.

CAREER PROFILE

JULY - SEPT 1998 - UK Assistant Brand Manager, Vidal Sassoon , Procter and Gamble. Managed a variety of projects including: · Development of interactive point of sale CD-I programme · Creation of website and freephone marketing support. · Production of in-store merchandising · Development of secondary packaging, including managing photoshoots and writing copy. · Liasing with direct marketing , PR, advertising, design, Sassoon salons and Boots.

MAY - JUNE 1998 - Editor, Interactive Investor website (www.iii.co.uk). Picked by the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal Europe as one of the best websites for personal finance in the UK. · Daily maintenance of site, editing of news feeds, troubleshooting. · Long term development of new areas on PEPS and online banking. · Writing and producing content for joint venture with AOL on mortgages, pensions and investment. · Worked on Near-Video-on-Demand projects for Hong Kong and Singapore.

JAN - APRIL 1998 - Researcher , CCTV Research, London. Part of a team researching the feasibility of a global education channel. · Researched audience demographics, distribution platforms and other information on European and Asian TV markets. · Built international database of educational TV producers and public service broadcasters. · Qualitative research on distance education, schools television and interactive multimedia.

1996 – Sept 1997 : Public Relations Manager and Producer , Young Asia Television , Sri Lanka. Edutainment content producer for Asian TV stations. · Managed press, promotions , public relations and marketing support activities. · Produced, wrote and presented two weekly half-hour programmes on Asian arts/culture and news/information. · Experienced with AVID, Betacam editing suites, Silicon Graphics, Cubase Audio. · As independent producer, shot, wrote and presented stories from Australia, Maldives and also covered the 1997 Hong Kong Handover. · Produced and presented ‘Investment in Sri Lanka’ CD-Rom for Sri Lankan Board Of Investment , in association with Burson-Marstellar and McCann Erickson. · Directed music video, ‘Lions and Tigers’ by Brown Boogie Nation.

1989 – To date – Journalist and columnist ,The Sunday Times of Sri Lanka. · Since 1993 , wrote three weekly columns ‘Webhead’ ( IT and the Net) , ‘Videojunkie’ (Film reviews), ‘The Chunky Monkey/Our Man in London’ (theatre and restaurant reviews, culture) · International reportage - The Los Angeles Riots, The first free elections in South Africa. · Interviews - Grammy award and Booker prize nominees, astronauts, jazz musicians, playwrights

1994-1996 – Public Relations and Promotions Manager, TNL Radio . · Managed press, promotions , public relations and marketing support activities · Hosted number one Morning Drive time show for one year and Friday night music show, sponsored by Coca Cola . · Created first live RealAudio Website in Sri Lanka and first International Email Request Show in Asia.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS (see website for more details)

· Freelance writer for Serendib, Explore Sri Lanka, Business Today, HIMAL South Asia. · Writer for South Asian Milan website. (www.samilan.com) and Explore Asia Site (www.xasia.com) · Award-winning freelance copywriter for press, radio, television spots and corporate brochures. Created campaigns and events for Guinness, Coca Cola, Grundig, Carlsberg, Bell Telecommunications and Eveready. · Founder, Bloodbrother Records. Produced The Colombo Tribe Project Volume One , first compilation of English music by Sri Lankan bands. Managed two bands. · Started Colombo Tribe clothing label , 1994 . · Writer : ‘Gravity: Short stories and Poems 1987 - 1997’ · Musical : ‘Backstage’. Original musical including libretto of 14 songs . · Play : ‘ Bored’ – Four act black comedy.

HOBBIES

Playing drums, basketball, books, film, stand-up comedy, cooking, hip-hop, photography, travel.