It is not every day that people get to meet someone like Anura Leslie Perera, a multi-talented who has deep interests in aerospace engineering, humanitarian projects and entrepreneurship, as well as cricket and reading. Born in Sri Lanka, Anura Leslie Perera then moved to Africa to work as an engineer and sales professional for Caterpillar Inc. in Zambia. He also helped to raise funds for the construction of the Nairobi Buddhist Temple in Kenya through the Phylnormel Foundation to honor the memory of Mr. George and Mrs. Norma Perera. He is also the Chairman of the Singaporean aerospace manufacturer Raycom Aerospace Pte Ltd and also the business development trainer for the Raycom Aerospace in the Middle East and other places. Despite all these personal and professional achievements, Anura Leslie Perera feels most strongly about improving the lives of others.
Anura Leslie Perera on Making the Disabled Feel Welcomed in the Workplace
Anura Leslie Perera strongly believes that everyone should be treated equally, and he supports having disabled people working alongside able bodied employees. He is well aware that there might be some who are not familiar with this situation and feel uncomfortable or lost about dealing with disabled coworkers. He offers this advice, “Feel free to communicate with them. Strike up a conversation whether in person or online. If they are coworkers, they may have great ideas and skills that will contribute greatly to a project. Everyone in the office must be accepting and open to what they have to say. On the other hand, they must not be afraid to correct them should the need arise.”
The Disabled Are Just Like Everybody Else
Anura Leslie Perera insists that the disabled also have their own ways of doing things, as well as talents and personalities. “Just like everybody else, they have interests and hobbies,” he said. “They can also be experts in the fields they have chosen. After all, they are in the company for their capabilities. Instead of being wary of approaching them, perhaps it is time to learn more about them and what they have to bring to the table. A diverse and accepting company will create opportunities for all its members to thrive.”
Anura Leslie Perera’s Humanitarian Projects
After raising funds for the construction of the Nairobi Buddhist Temple in Kenya through the Phylnomel Foundation, Anura Leslie Perera makes sure that the Buddhist sanctuary actively helps the less unfortunate. The Theravada Buddhist temple has various philanthropic projects to help victims of natural disasters like the Haiti and Nepal earthquakes, the Asian tsunami, the Philippines typhoon as well as man-made disaster like the Sri Lankan civil war. The temple also offers meditation and dharma lessons and welcomes people from all walks of life. A devout Buddhist, he believes that every good deed does make a difference and will be rewarded in the future. Guided by his Buddhist tenets, Anura Leslie Perera soldiers on to help make this world a better place.