Buckle up, because it’s time to meet the Sherlock Holmes duo working tirelessly behind the scenes to create the best narrative for our avenue, the duo who are the very reason you’re seeing this blog.

They are like puppet masters, carefully pulling strings to make sure everything you see gets to you exactly when you need to see it. Everything this avenue needs, they provide.

So, let’s pull back the curtains for the Public Relations co-directors for the RI year 25-26,

Rtr. Karunyan Ambihai Balan and Rtr. Manith Sasruke Fernando

Now, you may be wondering who are they?

Let’s get in deep.

Have you ever wondered why you have not stumbled upon a sticker of Karunyan?

I mean how could you, when it’s this fellow who makes them. From creating trending Tamil memes to making his friends the trend, Karunyan is the very definition of a meme.

His friend group is never safe when he’s around. I would say he’s taking full advantage of his position as PR Co-Director, using his time behind the camera to create premium quality stickers. His favourite targets are Rtr. Danushkar Pushparajah and Rtr. Shanjai Pushparaj.

My condolences to them (not really though because the stickers are nothing short of gold)

If you are wondering if you have ever seen Karunyan, stop!

Because you have definitely seen him. With his height, you cant really miss him. I mean what a lucky dude, he can even see you if you’re trying to ignore him. He sees entire universes, even the ones Dr. Strange might have missed. His perspective from up there is a privilege most of us can only dream of.

I have to wonderthough, if his neck hurts from looking down, in the same way ours hurt from looking up at him. Plus he always has the upper hand in a fight, he’d never lose, he could simply pick you up and throw you aside before you even fully process what’s happening. Being around him is a constant reminder of how much smaller the rest of us are.

In his friend group, he has an official position as the “selfie stick” which is great until the picture is released and you realize you all look like minions.

I could go on forever with the analogies, but let's switch gears and explore another one.

Karunyan and his bike are like twins. He absolutely flies on his ride, but don’t worry, you won’t miss him, you’ll spot his head over the traffic. He’s affectionately named his bike Dashing, a name that is so 2005 coded, but is undeniably classy.

For a guy who has to duck to enter most rooms, a bike is one of the few things that seems perfectly designed for him.

While bikes are a passion, his true obsession is with buses. See, now that’s something unheard of, but he knows buses and bus routes like they are his favorite song lyrics. He knows them so well he might as well have them tattooed like the blueprint on Michael Scofield from Prison Break.

Apart from all the fun and roasts he will throw your way once you reach that level of friendship, Karunyan is a good sport no matter how much he gets trolled. Partly because he has the weapon of revenge (aka his stickers). When you first meet him, he is a man of few words, but he always gets his message across. You quickly learn that his quiet confidence speaks volumes. He’s a person who makes his presence felt not with noise, but with his clear and reliable actions.

When it comes to getting things done, there’s no one better. If you need something handled, he’s there in a flash. He simply shows up, assesses the situation, and works tirelessly until the problem is solved, he never leaves you hanging.

This is precisely why he’s the kind of person you would willingly rely on. Trusting him is never a mistake because his actions consistently back up his intentions.

But he is only one half of this story. He is perfectly complemented by his counterpart, Manith Fernando.

To speak about Manith is like taking an open book exam. He’s a proper extrovert with a loud personality. You will likely feel his presence before you even see him, despite his attempts to blend in.  He welcomes everyone with open arms and creates a safe space for any sort of conversation. He’s the embodiment of “we listen and we don’t judge”.

But beyond all that noise, he has a few hidden traits that needs to be unlocked. Manith usually gives off the vibe that he doesn’t take anything seriously but that’s far from the truth, in fact he’s a disciplined person. When he’s in his own comfort space, he operates at his own pace completely unbothered by anything that might disrupt his flow.

He also has a niche ability of avoiding any kind of drama by being able to quickly resolve any conflicts that comes his way. So if you try to ragebait him, it’s only going to backfire on you. He’ll just be chilling, enjoying a simple Americano with no sugar and TWICE playing in the background.

If there is anything that makes him happy, it is seeing his friends and spending quality time with them. Wait….actually, I take that back.

There is two things that would contradict my previous statement: Elden Ring and Demon Slayer, his video games. These games are so captivating to him that they have the capability of even bringing him to tears. This obsession explains why his most cherished possession is his laptop, simply BECAUSE he can play Elden Ring on it. Funnily enough, despite his love for these games, he’s terrible at programming and replicating a game like them would be a challenge for him.

Manith is known for his passion for volunteering. The way it genuinely lights him up lets his true character seep through. But the trait I admire most is his dedication for speaking up for the voiceless. He stands for what’s right and for those who are oppressed, even if it’s controversial. He takes the time to educate himself on important issues to find the truth, even when the world pushes a single narrative. That is what truly inspires me.

If he were to offer a valuable piece of advice, it would be this: social media is fake. He believes everything on it is premeditated and presented exactly as they want you to see it. He thinks it’s better to stay grounded so you can best navigate a world of filters and designed stories. With that kind of mindset, he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

With Karunyan’s quiet confidence and creative eye for a compelling narrative, paired with Manith’s ability to create a welcoming, safe space for conversation and his skill in resolving conflicts, and it’s their combined talent for controlling the narrative that makes them the perfect duo to rock the Public Relations Avenue.

Penned By:

Rtr. Rana Rilwan

Editor 25-26