From The Lotus To The Thames-by Fazli Sameer Source:Fazli.substack In the sun-drenched southern skies of old Ceylon, beneath the coconut palms and temple bells, a young man named Mahen stood at the edge of a decision that would alter his life forever. It was 1969, and at just twenty-one, Mahen was about to walk away from his studies at the University of Colombo, a path laid carefully by his parents, relatives, and the expectations of society. He didn’t do it out of rebellion, nor failure. Rather, he felt the tug of purpose in another direction: the world of corporate business and finance. His uncle, a senior officer at the Bank of Ceylon, had mentioned an opening at a branch in Borella. “There’s more to learn behind a counter than behind a blackboard,” his uncle had said with a knowing smile. Mahen, who had always been neat, quick with numbers, ...