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DANNY MUTHUMALA
Quoting from the 2008 Tawa Community Civic Awards script at which Danny Muthumala was awarded a certificate in the Arts & Culture category: "Danny plays a major part in organising activities for and bringing together the Tawa and Wellington-wide Sri Lankan community, and he was one of a group who worked hard to obtain the old Scout hall at Willowbank for the Sri Lankan community's ongoing use."
Danny regularly liaises with the Tawa Community Centre in regards to Sri Lankan guitar classes which are held weekly at the Centre, and in regard to other SLANZ (Sri Lankan Association of New Zealand) activities.
Where were you born, Danny?
Badulla, Sri Lanka.
Where did you grow up?
Colombo, Sri Lanka. I was 15 or 16 when I came to New Zealand and lived in Titahi Bay until 1983.
What about college and tertiary education?
Royal College in Colombo (Sri Lanka), then Mana College, Porirua. I obtained my NZCE (Civil Engineering) at Wellington Polytechnic.
What is your line of work?
Engineering in the gas industry.
What about family?
Married to Roshni Muthumala. We have 2 daughters.
What are your interests/hobbies?
Cars, building/construction, sports, gym & physical exercise, bicycle riding, music, community work.
How long have you lived in Tawa?
Moved to Tawa in 2003 after living in New Plymouth for 20 years.
What do you think is great about Tawa?
It's a great place to live with a friendly community, relaxing atmosphere, less congestion, convenient for central townships, hospital, train service, etc.
What, if anything, would improve Tawa?
A bus service up Linden Ave, Collins Ave and Woodman Drive. Better aesthetics, improvement in road signage, speed signage, street lighting, etc.
What is your favourite dessert?
Caramel pudding.
Favourite sports team?
Sri Lankan cricket team.
Favourite musical group and/or style of music?
The Beatles and the Bee Gees; easy listening jazz and pop.
Favourite holiday destination in New Zealand?
Hanmer Springs (also Queenstown).
Favourite saying(s)?
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F Kennedy
If you could meet any three people (alive or dead), who would they be?
Elvis Presley; Mahatma Gandhi; Nelson Mandela.
What three things would you take with you if you were stuck on a desert island?
A radio, a first aid box, food.
What is one talent you would like that you do not have?
To be a musician, maybe a guitarist.
What is one talent you have that you could not do without?
I can coordinate things well. I have the drive to get things going. "I like to motivate people."
What accomplishments/achievements in your life gives you the most satisfaction/pride?
Satisfaction in my job is one of them.
Coming to New Zealand to continue with a different lifestyle.
Raising two great daughters!
What are three things you would like to do before you die?
A world tour.
To bring peace to all these war-torn countries.
If I won Lotto I would leave my job and get involved in charity work like the U.N. or Red Cross.
Compiled July 2009.
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