PLACES, PEOPLE & PASSIONS (3Ps)

Part seven

Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
chandij@sympatico.ca

Profile

Suranga is a Professor at the University of Colombo. He is also Coordinator / Head of the newly established Sustainable Tourism Unit of the university. He obtained his Ph.D. in Tourism Economics from the Vrije University Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Suranga is active both academically and professionally within the tourism sector of Sri Lanka and beyond. He is a lead trainer of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and a former Director General of Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM). He is an award-winning academic who is a visiting professor in a few international universities, and chair of international conferences. Suranga has published more than 80 articles, books, and other publications.

Heard but not Seen

A year before I met Suranga, I heard a lot of good things about him. During a consulting assignment I undertook at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) in 2013, I was required to prepare and submit four reports to my client – then Chairman of SLITHM, Chandra Mohotti. As a part of my work, I did an evaluation of 29 senior teaching staff of the institute after lengthily one-on-one interviews with them. Each of them spoke highly about their former Director-General of SLITHM – Dr. Suranga Silva. I was told how Suranga worked hard to create a research culture at SLITHM and helped a few of them to obtain post graduate qualifications. One of SLITHM Campus Principals told me that, “Dr. Suranga was a breath of fresh air for our institute. We miss his energy and support.”

First meeting

A year after that I was invited by SLITHM to deliver a keynote at their graduation event held at BMICH. After my speech, a person I did not recognize approached me with a big smile. He said, “Excellent speech Dr. Chandi. Well done! I am Suranga.” The first impression Suranga creates is always very pleasant. He treats everyone with a big smile before talking about business. After a quick chat we agreed to meet at the University of Colombo during the next weekend. Suranga surprised me by informing me that he teaches every weekend. After that meeting, Suranga and I became friends.

Partnership for ICOHT from 2014 to 2022

Over the next eight years Suranga and I collaborated in performing the roles of the Co-Conference Chairs of a successful annual event – The International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management (ICOHT). The organizers of this event – The International Institute of Knowledge Management went ahead with the event even during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 via zoom, and with Suranga and I sharing our duties from two time zones in Sri Lanka and Canada. We were a good two-man team. This much sought-after, annual scholarly event is now ranked as a premier international forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of tourism and hospitality management. This conference brings together tourism and hospitality industry leaders, educators, researchers, and scholars from around the world.

Presenting a copy of our British publication to Suranga at University of Colombo in April 2023.

Roped in to do more Scholarly Work

As the leading tourism educator in Sri Lanka, Suranga has many irons in the fire within the University of Colombo, and in external scholarly initiatives in Sri Lanka, and around the world. None of my annual trips to Sri Lanka since 2015, had been without Suranga gently roping me in to do some scholarly work, often on honorary basis! The moment he hears of my travel schedule to Sri Lanka, he contacts me through e-mail, WhatsApp, Facebook messenger or by phone with some request, always appearing to be urgent! “Hey Brother, once again your university needs your help…” He starts and gently convinces me to do some work for a university where I studied business administration over four decades ago.

Over the years, Suranga has collared me into being a presenter, panellist and a moderator for the University of Colombo tourism research symposiums, annual Tourism Leader’s Summit, and tourism conferences. Every time, his passion for student success has been an attractive bait for me to participate. After doing occasional guest lectures at University of Colombo for few years, during the pandemic he convinced me to present a series of webinars over zoom to his graduate students in Tourism Economics. I had to do these till 2:00 am my time on Saturdays. Now I am a visiting faculty member of University of Colombo, as arbitrarily arranged by Suranga.

Co-authors and Co-editors

Recently we collaborated in research and publishing of a couple of articles. Suranga and I decided to focus our latest research on innovation in tourism in the context of the global pandemic and Sri Lanka’s unstable political situation. Although the country was doing well with a focus on formulated strategies to attract six million tourists and US$ 10 billion earnings by 2025, the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that killed 269 people severely affected tourism. Within a year of those attacks, the global COVID-19 pandemic further impacted tourism. The current war in Europe added to the problems of Sri Lanka, which in 2022 plunged to its worst economic and political crisis. In out last published article Suranga and I suggested nine innovative actions to rebuild tourism in Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2030.

In 2022, Suranga joined me and one of my former Canadian Colleagues, Dr. Paul Willie of the Niagara College to lead a team of 28 authors (mainly university professors) from 12 countries and edit the Volume 14 Number 5 of the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) Journal. We were determined to capture the essence of innovation in various parts of the world in re-building tourism and hospitality industry, after the global pandemic. We chose the theme: “What innovations would enable the tourism and hospitality industry to re-build?” for this volume published by Emerald Publishing in the United Kingdom. The team of scholars we led wrote regional and country case study articles, covering a total of 121 countries.

After that Suranga was saddened to hear from me that after 30 years of academic publishing, I have decided to take a break from academia to focus on a new career of creative writing. “Hey Brother, that’s bad news for me. I was hoping to collaborate with you to produce many more significant academic publications for many years to come…” He then tried to convince me to help his master’s students to convert their final dissertations into publishable journal articles. Citing my busy schedule, so far, I have avoided the temptation.

On hearing my latest travel plans to Sri Lanka, this morning (September 6), Suranga sent me a long WhatsApp message. He ended his message, by saying: “… I am organizing the launching of Sustainable Tourism Unit at the Faculty of Arts, the University of Colombo on October 2, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Please join us at this inauguration event held at the Senate Hall.” I immediately accepted the invitation. Gently roped in again!

The ‘Tourism for All – National Walk’ Team led by Suranga in 2016

Questions and Answers

After returning to Canada, a couple of days after my last meeting with Suranga at the University of Colombo in April 2023, I sent the following ten questions to him:

Q: Out of all the places you have visited in Sri Lanka and overseas, what is your favourite and most interesting place?

A: First, as a place I most like from outside the country is Singapore as an attractive destination that has captured my heart due to several reasons. Its discipline, diversity, clean and safe environment, efficient public transport, high-quality living standards, and delightful culinary offerings make it an appealing place to visit. Additionally, its proximity to Sri Lanka, not only in terms of distance but also in terms of cultural, climatic, and social similarities, adds to its allure.

Secondly, the place inside Sri Lanka I like most is Sigiriya due to its stunning landscape, rich historical and cultural heritage, and architectural marvels. I find it a captivating site to explore. Moreover, its proximity to other popular tourist attractions, such as Minneriya National Park, Habarana, and Polonnaruwa further enhances its appeal as a must-visit destination.

Q: Out of all the inspiring people you have met, who inspired you most?

A: I will name two. First, Professor Dr. Howard Nicholas, a Sri Lankan economist and social scientist, Professor in Economics at the International Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands, and Desamanya W. D. Lakshman, another esteemed Sri Lankan economist, Professor in Economics, the 15th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo. They both have been great sources of inspiration for me. They guided my academic life towards progress and excellence and played crucial roles in the development of institutions and the country.

Q: At the present time, what is your key passion in life, other than higher education? 

A: My primary passion, aside from being an educator, is to meaningfully and effectively help impoverished people eliminate poverty. I firmly believe that sincere and dedicated efforts can make a significant difference in their lives. Additionally, I strive to promote ethnic harmony through cross-cultural understanding and empower people of all ethnicities to contribute to the main economic development streams. At the same time, I have a passion to be a responsible nature lover with a wonderful aspiration that we can make a positive impact on the environment and contribute to the conservation of natural resources, embracing responsible practices as a tourist and cultivator as well.

Q: I have seen you working very hard including regular teaching during weekends at the University of Colombo. What does your schedule look like on a normal work day?

A: A typical workday for an academic is dynamic and diverse, involving research, teaching, administrative tasks, and professional development. Mornings begin with day planning and with previously scheduled work, followed by teaching preparations and responding to emails. Day time is devoted to teaching responsibilities and having office hours to meet with students needing help. In the afternoons, I continue with research, grading, administrative duties, and attend to professional development activities. Late afternoons and evenings include networking, personal study, and more research or writing. All this to say that I, being an academic, often have busy but sometimes flexible schedules.

Q: You are the Founding Coordinator of the Postgraduate Diploma and Master in Tourism Economics and Hotel Management, at the University of Colombo. What was your proudest moment, in your program?

A: I am proud of the successful establishment of several Industry-Interactive Tourism Study Programmes, international partnerships, establishment of the students alumni, introducing the International Tourism Leaders’ Summit, International Tourism Research Conference, Sri Lanka Tourism Expo, and Sri Lanka Tourism Job Fair. For all these initiatives we have the support and recognition of industry stakeholders.

However, my proudest moment is being the coordinator for introducing the first Special Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management under the newly established Sustainable Tourism Unit of the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo.

Q: What was your most productive assignment during a sabbatical? 

A: During my two-year term (2010-2012) as the Director General of Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM) under the Ministry of Economic Development, I achieved significant milestones. With support from JICA, I introduced new training and study programs to address industry human resource requirements and to modernize SLITHM’s offerings. Upgrading several study programs to meet NVQ level standards. I tried my best to implement Mobile/E-Learning modes and a Franchisee Operation System, promoting growth and sustainability while enhancing education accessibility; to successfully establish regional centres; to expand SLITHM’s reach and impact, further contributing to the development of Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry.

One of my many Collaborations with Suranga

Q: National institutions in Sri Lanka frequently face political interference challenges. In your previous role as the Director General of SLITHM, how did you handle such challenges?

A: I addressed political interference challenges with a focus on merit, transparency, and results-focused outcomes. Decision-making was based on institutional best interests, and I strengthened governance structures to maintain impartiality. Regular engagement with stakeholders fostered understanding and cooperation, while professionalism and

accountability upheld SLITHM’s integrity. I advocated academic freedom and emphasized SLITHM’s contributions to the expectations of the tourism industry with the support of all stakeholders. Through these strategies, I navigated political challenges, safeguarding SLITHM’s growth and success as the leading tourism and hospitality education institution in Sri Lanka.

Q: Can you describe your role as a Lead-Trainer for Sustainable Tourism Destination Management of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)?

A: My role is pivotal in providing the knowledge contribution to promote sustainable tourism practices in Sri Lanka with the proper understanding of global best practices. I must design and deliver training programs, empowering destination managers and stakeholders with knowledge of sustainable tourism principles. Through workshops, training, and educational activities, I advocate for necessary tourism strategies to create a well-balanced approach for environmentally sensitive, socio-culturally responsible, and economically viable tourism development through the necessary collaboration between government authorities / organizations, cooperate sector and community organizations as well.

Q: You are also the Secretary General of Tourism and Hospitality Educators and Researchers Association of Asia (THERAA). In this role what has been your main contribution to Tourism in Asia?

A: I play a vital role in fostering collaboration and excellence in tourism and hospitality education and research across Asia. By bringing together academics, researchers, and industry professionals, I facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices through conferences, workshops, and publications. Advocating for educational standards and research advancements, I contribute to the professional growth of members and elevate THERAA’s influence in shaping the future of the industry. My strategic vision is to position THERAA as one of the outstanding associations, while creating a meaningful knowledge platform to advance excellence and sustainability in the Asian tourism and hospitality industry.

Q: In addition to being the Chief Editor of the Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research (JTEAR), you continue to research and publish. Out of your many published works, which single publication has helped the Tourism industry most, in a practical sense? 

A: As Chief Editor of JTEAR, my privilege is overseeing numerous research publications that contribute to the tourism industry. Identifying a single most impactful publication is challenging and not fair enough due to diverse industry needs. Instead, the collective research addresses critical issues, including sustainable practices, destination management, marketing, economic impacts, and technology integration. JTEAR’s practical significance lies in providing evidence-based insights and application-oriented research findings for industry

stakeholders, informing policies and strategies that are most effective for the decision makings of the industry. The cumulative effect of these contributions drives positive change and sustainable development in the global tourism sector.

Next week, 3Ps will feature a lawyer turned ever-green western musician.