A journey to success amidst trials

“I remember that day I was running a high fever from fear, the fear of death.” Only 11 years old when forced to remain hidden with his family above the ceiling of their home in 1983 as rioters approached, Thiru Sayandhan’s autobiographical “From a Medical

Rep to a CEO” tells of his journey to success from the harrowing ‘Black July’ riots to forging a fruitful career in the healthcare industry spanning over 30 years.

Now a CEO of a leading conglomerate, the book begins with the impact of the riots, retelling the rapidly spreading destruction as the unrest reached the Sayandhan’s hometown of Kandy.

Shortly after, Thiru’s closeknit family would end up going their separate ways.

After his A’Levels, he passed on the option of entering university and instead decided to seek employment. His first occupation was as a Trainee Accounts Assistant at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya but realizing that it was not his calling, he sought a position at Glaxo SmithKline when he was 19. Facing the final round of interviews he was asked, “What would you like to be when you’re 40 years” in a questionnaire. His ambitious answer of wanting to become a managing director was met with contemptuous laughter from the board of interviewers. Fuelled by this unanticipated reaction, Thiru took it as motivation to make his vision a reality. Exemplary academic performances at the University of Peradeniya where he received an MBA and three awards for his research paper all while steadily climbing the corporate ladder at companies like Hemas are detailed. Finally, he took on the role of CEO of the healthcare cluster of Delmege Forsyth & Co. Ltd.

Thiru was able to double revenue and also kept profits on the rise in his four years with the company. Currently, Thiru is the CEO of the Medical Devices Division of Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd. and is still adding to his academic achievements as he is pursuing a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration).