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As Sri Lankans across the island celebrate their Independence Day today, one resident couple looks back into years of a growing friendship between their country and Bahrain, their second home.
When Frank and Deanna Ryde, from Sehla, came to the island in 1987, they found a good business opportunity and decided to make this their home.
Mr Ryde, 51, said: "When I first came here, the locals didn't know much about Sri Lanka. But today, the impression has changed.
"Many Bahrainis have gone and seen the country and now know about how wonderful it is."
Director of Alpha Fire Services, Mr Ryde first came to the island on a consulting trip with regards to his Lanka-based company, FireX.
He said: "At the time, I noticed a serious gap in fire and security services.
"Bahrain had just started developing its urban services.
"With every development there was a need for fire and safety equipment and with that also came the after services."
Mr Ryde opened his office in Sitra and at the time was one of few offices in the developing industrial area.
From one man and one van, the company now employs 80 staff of various nationalities including Bahrainis, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalese and Bangladeshis working alongside Sri Lankans.
For his part, Mr Ryde not only shows off his beautiful nation to his employees with posters sprawled across the walls, but he also offers them the chance to visit his country as part of a bonus scheme.
He said: "If an employee fares well in his or her job, we give them points which can win them a return ticket to Sri Lanka. If they fare really well, then we even arrange hotel accommodation for them."
Most particularly, Mr Ryde encourages his Bahraini staff to make a trip to his country so that they can be cleared of all misconceptions and see the true nature of Sri Lanka.
The company also has branches in Sri Lanka, UK and Qatar.
And keeping it in the family the couple's elder son, Darren, 23, has joined the Alpha engineering department to get hands-on work experience while younger son, Farrell, 18, is a student at St Christopher's School.
