04/10/2026
Dear Professor Sam,
On behalf of Sinha QS Academy, the Committee, and all participants, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to you for joining us today as the special guest of the 3rd Sinha Coffee Chat.
It was truly a privilege for all of us to spend such valuable time with you. The overwhelming participation and enthusiasm of our members reflected the high respect and affection the QS community has for you. Many of us know you as a teacher, mentor, Quantity Surveyor, and expert in contract administration, but today you gave us something different and equally valuable, your insights into life beyond the profession.
Your stories from the early days of your career in Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE were both inspiring and memorable. Hearing about your journey from contract administration to becoming a lecturer, teacher, and mentor gave us a deeper understanding of the path you have taken and the purpose behind it. It was remarkable to learn about your many decades of professional service and your immense contribution to the construction and Quantity Surveying profession across the Gulf.
We must also acknowledge that, except for some of our senior professionals, many of us were not fully aware of the important initiatives you have undertaken and the significant contributions you have made to our industry and professional practice in this region. Listening to you today made us realise that we, as a professional community, have not done enough to recognise and celebrate these invaluable contributions. We consider it our responsibility to help ensure that your knowledge, experience, and achievements are better known and appreciated by the younger generation of our profession.
Your advice on maintaining a balance between professional and personal life, dealing with challenges and disappointments in the workplace, and maintaining an energetic body and mind was extremely practical and meaningful. We were also greatly inspired by your thoughts on the importance of teaching, the knowledge gap within our industry, and our responsibility to share our own knowledge and experience with others. Your guidance on preparing ourselves for the challenges brought by technology, while learning to control and make better use of it, was particularly timely and relevant.
One of the most memorable moments of the day was the photo session at the end. The enthusiasm of everyone wanting to have a photograph with you showed the special place you hold in the hearts of our members and within the wider QS community.
At the age of 80, your energy, enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for sharing knowledge are an inspiration to all of us. Your response when asked why you continue to remain so active and do not want to stop will stay with us for a long time. Your message about not taking our knowledge and experience to the grave, but instead giving it back to the community, was a powerful reminder to all of us about the responsibility we have to share what we know.
We also take this opportunity to thank you once again for allowing Sinha Sports Club to celebrate your birthday with you a few months ago. It was a great honour for the Club, and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have had that opportunity. It created an unforgettable memory not only for the members of Sinha Sports Club but also for many Sri Lankan Quantity Surveyors in the UAE.
Professor Sam, Sinha QS Academy sincerely wishes you continued good health, happiness, and energy. We look forward to seeing you continue your remarkable journey and sharing your knowledge and experience with the professional community for many more years. We hope to have the privilege of welcoming you again at future Sinha QS Academy events.
Once again, thank you very much for your time, kindness, wisdom, and the invaluable knowledge you shared with us.
With warm regards and deep respect,
Sinha QS Academy
Sinha Sports Club
Once a Sinha, Always a Sinha
