King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

We are obsessed with speed . Whether we are driving to work, cycling for fitness, or running a marathon, our eyes are usually glued to a number that tells us how many kilometers we can cover in an hour. But there is a problem: Humans are surprisingly bad at calculating time based on speed. Enter the Paceometer . This isn't just a different dial; it’s a different way of thinking that could change how you manage your time and your safety.   The Concept: Flipping the Script Most speedometers measure Speed (Distance divided by Time). The Paceometer measures Pace (Time divided by Distance).   Speedometer: "I am traveling at 60 kilometers per hour." Paceometer: "It takes me 10 minutes to cover 10 kilometers."   While speed tells you how "fast" you are moving, a paceometer tells you when you will arrive. For the average person, knowing that a 30 km trip will take exactly 30 minutes (at a pace of 10 min/10 km) is far more usef...

The Engagement Trap: Why Facebook Punishes Its Best Creators For digital creators, "Meaningful Social Interaction" (MSI) is the holy grail of growth. Facebook’s own dashboard encourages creators to "respond to comments to grow your reach." However, there is a hidden ceiling. When a creator attempts to clear a backlog of 50+ comments in a single session, they often hit a Rate Limit —a security tripwire designed to stop bot invasions. The result is a frustrating contradiction: the platform demands engagement but penalizes the efficiency required to provide it. For the creator who has a busy schedule and prefers to "batch" their work, this "fear of the slap" becomes a significant barrier to community building. The Problem: Velocity Over Veracity The algorithm doesn't necessarily read the quality of your words initially; it measures the frequency of your server requests. If you "shoot all in one go," you are sending a burst of...

Beyond the Mattress: Mastering the Banking Paradox for Long-Term Wealth The days of hiding life savings under a mattress are long gone. While that "extreme" approach still makes headlines in rare cases, most of us recognize that a bank is the safest place for our money.  However, safety often comes at the cost of growth. If you keep Rupees 100 in a savings account, you will earn interest, but that rate is usually tethered to prevailing inflation. This creates a stagnation trap: your money is safe, but its purchasing power barely moves.   The Banking Paradox Have you ever wondered how banks thrive? It is a simple yet brilliant model. The bank takes your deposit, pays you a modest interest rate, and then lends that same money to others at a significantly higher rate. They pocket the difference (the "spread") as profit. To build true wealth, you must learn to beat inflation rather than just keep pace with it. This requires taking advantage of the very system...

The protests staged this morning in front of a major ride-share headquarters in Colombo raise a fundamental question that goes beyond the headlines: Where does corporate responsibility end and personal financial accountability begin?   As a publicly traded company on the Colombo Stock Exchange, this entity operates under a microscope of transparency and regulatory standards. Yet, the narrative being pushed by protesters, centered on low pay and high deductions, often ignores the underlying economic mechanics of the "gig economy."   The "Herd Mentality" Trap   Many drivers and riders claim they cannot meet their financial obligations. However, reading between the lines, the issue often isn't the company’s commission, it’s the mortgage. Following the herd, many individuals purchased high-end vehicles beyond their means, lured by the promise of "big money" without doing the necessary homework.   When a person makes a private financial decision t...

Our biweekly shopping routine is usually dictated by three factors: the availability of fresh morning produce, competitive pricing compared to wet markets, and a personal stake, as we are part-owners of this listed company. However, a recent experience highlighted significant gaps in service and system integrity that every shopper should note. 1. Pricing Errors and Staff Attitude Yesterday, I ordered local red rice (unpolished). While the weight was correct, the price was not. I was overcharged by Rs. 40 per kilo . When I pointed out the discrepancy, there was no apology—only a curt, annoyed acknowledgment before the salesperson relabeled the item. The Lesson: Always double-check the price-per-kilo on your labels before heading to the checkout. 2. Operational Inefficiency On multiple occasions, I’ve noticed that scales run out of label stickers during peak morning hours. This causes a 4-to-5-minute delay while rolls are replaced. In a fast-paced retail environment, time is m...

OPEN LETTER: A Call for Efficiency and Market Liberalization in Vehicle Plate Issuance To: The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic   Subject: Addressing the Chronic Delay in Official Number Plate Issuance To the Department of Motor Traffic, The current state of our roads reveals a glaring administrative failure: a significant percentage of newly registered vehicles are forced to operate using temporary or non-standard plates. While vehicle owners fulfill their legal and financial obligations immediately upon purchase, the state continues to fail in its reciprocal duty to provide the necessary identification plates in a reasonable timeframe. In an era of rapid digital transformation, it is unacceptable that a simple metal plate requires weeks or months of processing. This is not a matter of "Quantum Physics"; it is a matter of basic supply chain management. The Case for Market Liberalization   If the current centralized system is unable to meet the demand, th...