Private · Confidential · By Application

Leadership Communication Advisory In Colombo.

Colombo’s senior principals operate where sovereign finance, port logistics, and state enterprise governance converge under intense scrutiny. Kevin Abdulrahman is the Leadership Communication advisor to executives at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Colombo Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Finance, crafting strategic messaging for monetary authorities, regulators and state-owned enterprises. He aligns public statements, stakeholder briefings and regulatory disclosures with institutional priorities, anticipating press, investor and government responses so that policy intent is preserved. Failure to communicate accurately can trigger market volatility, regulatory sanctions and lasting reputational damage with significant financial and governance costs for the nation’s principal institutions.

This advisory covers:

Board Narrative Architecture And Governance Communication Strategy For Listed Entity Principals
Sovereign And Multilateral Stakeholder Communication Positioning For Senior Officials
Conglomerate Group Principal Message Alignment Across Diversified Business Portfolios
Regulatory And Policy Forum Communication Strategy For Institutional Leaders
Organisational Leadership Communication Design For Large-Scale Workforce Alignment
Strategic Leadership Voice Development For Colombo's Emerging Institutional Principals

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What Mohamed Al Hashemi Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Mohamed Al Hashemi

CEO, Union Coop (publicly traded) · Board Member
Harvard Business School · Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
Author: The New Economy · The Execution Gap · Leading When Everyone Is Watching · Investable

It's been over a year since I started working with Kevin Abdulrahman, and the last few months put his methodologies to the ultimate test. Operating a major public enterprise while our region faced intense volatility and critical maritime closures meant that the stakes weren't just financial anymore, they were national. Let alone leading by communication during uncertainty.

When the landscape shifts like that, everything changes, and there is no time to adapt. You're either ready, or not.

You aren't just handling standard corporate updates, or board meetings. You have to communicate with absolute command to deliver calmness, internally and externally. Every single word you say has massive weight that could go either way.

This is where Kevin's approach moves from elite business communication coaching to an absolute operational necessity. He doesn't give you a script. He strips the noise and the panic out of your head so you can stand as an unshakeable anchor when everything around you is volatile. Not a one off - but a new default that you operate with.

Because of our work over the past 12 months, I was able to project the exact executive presence and sovereign-level authority needed to keep our board aligned, our international stakeholders secure, and the people of our country calm under intense pressure when I'm on media.

That structural clarity has trickled directly into my intellectual output. Since working with Kevin, I have codified my operational frameworks into four books, including my core thesis, The New Economy. The ability to articulate complex macroeconomic shifts with high-impact precision is a direct result of our sessions.

Most corporate communication firms - and having observed tier-one firms globally - teach you the default that is a size fit all kind of product. Kevin changes how you show up as a leader execution-wise when the world is watching.

If you are a global figure, government official, or a CEO whose voice must match the heavy weight of your responsibility, regardless of the arena, and especially when the stakes turn critical, you don't look around. You find the Panadol of your headache (as he taught me). And I won't name my Panadol :)

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01 - The Advisory

Why Colombo Principals Retain A Leadership Communication Advisor Of Record

Colombo sits at the intersection of South Asian commerce, Indian Ocean trade corridors, and a rapidly reforming domestic economy, placing its senior principals under a calibre of scrutiny that demands far more than functional communication competence. Chairpersons of listed entities on the Colombo Stock Exchange, directors of conglomerates anchored in sectors from John Keells Holdings to Hayleys PLC, and governors interfacing with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka operate in an environment where every public statement, board address, and stakeholder briefing is parsed by analysts, regulators, and international partners simultaneously. The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka each create distinct communication arenas in which principals must project authority, coherence, and strategic clarity without ambiguity. A leadership communication advisor of record provides the sustained, confidential counsel that allows these principals to enter every high-stakes forum with a message architecture that is both defensible and compelling. Beyond the formal institutional landscape, Colombo's leadership community is navigating a post-crisis economic recalibration that has intensified the demand for transparent, credible communication from those at the apex of organisations. Principals engaging with the International Monetary Fund programme conditions, restructuring conversations with bilateral creditors, or managing workforce confidence across large employer groups such as Brandix Lanka or MAS Holdings require communication strategies that hold across multiple audiences and time horizons. The Colombo Port City development has introduced a new class of international institutional interlocutors, from sovereign wealth fund representatives to multilateral development bank officials, each expecting a different register of leadership communication. Retaining a dedicated advisor ensures that the principal's voice remains consistent, strategically aligned, and capable of bearing the weight of the moment across every forum Colombo's complex leadership environment demands.

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What His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani

First Qatari to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits
President of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum · International Speaker & Ambassador

The best investment you could ever make is to invest in yourself. As an international speaker and ambassador myself, I can tell you that the importance of speaking with impact is undeniable.

I've known Kevin for a number of years. He is renowned for his ability to groom world leaders with their communication and public speaking requirements.

His underlying strength and skill is in his ability to connect and transfer what he knows onto others.

02 - Why Kevin Abdulrahman

The Differentiators That Cannot Be Replicated.

Sovereign-tier clientele. Kevin advises Ministers, sovereign wealth fund leaders, listed-company CEOs, royal advisors and national spokespersons. 25+ years of practice at the level where one wrong word costs the country, not the quarter.
Built for real heat. Hostile cameras. Regulatory inquiry. Board crisis. Activist letters. Sovereign press conferences in two languages. The scenarios competitors cannot train because they have never been in the room.
The only advisor in this category who guarantees the outcome. Other firms sell hours, retainers or process and disclaim outcomes. Kevin delivers the result itself. The work is over when the moment lands, not when the time is used.
Active international keynote speaker. The #1 motivational keynote speaker across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The voice work comes from daily live practice on global stages, not from a textbook or a former career.
Globally available, culturally fluent. Kevin operates across every major market globally. Fluent in the cultural, media and geopolitical context that shapes how authority is read in each region.
Confidentiality is absolute. The work is never published, never used as case study, never referenced without explicit written permission. The privacy of the engagement is its own guarantee.
Permanent capability. The voice the leader leaves with stays with them across every subsequent room. The engagement is finite. The capability is permanent.

Kevin Abdulrahman is not an option in crisis. He is the only level that matches your stake.

What James Bicknell Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

James Bicknell

Global CEO, BackLite Media · Campaign MENA Power List 2024

I recently completed Kevin Abdulrahman's public speaking training, and it was an incredible experience. Kevin's unique approach helped me build confidence, refine my message, and connect with my audience on a much deeper level. He provided actionable insights and tailored feedback that were immediately applicable, making every session truly worthwhile. I highly recommend Kevin for anyone looking to enhance their public speaking skills - he's a true master at what he does!

HIGH-STAKES LEADERSHIP CONTEXTS

High-Stakes Leadership Communication Contexts In Colombo

BOARD & GOVERNANCE FORUMS

Colombo Stock Exchange Board Addresses And Governance Disclosures

Principals of CSE-listed entities face heightened governance scrutiny following Sri Lanka's economic restructuring, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka demanding greater transparency in board-level communication. A leadership communication advisor structures the principal's narrative for annual general meetings, board committee presentations, and mandatory disclosure statements so that regulatory compliance and strategic confidence are communicated simultaneously. Poorly calibrated board communication in this environment erodes institutional credibility with both domestic shareholders and the international portfolio investors re-entering the Colombo market.

SOVEREIGN & MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT

IMF Programme And Bilateral Creditor Communication In Colombo

Sri Lanka's ongoing engagement with the International Monetary Fund extended fund facility and parallel bilateral creditor negotiations with partners including China Exim Bank and the Paris Club places finance ministry officials, central bank governors, and state enterprise heads in communication contexts of extraordinary consequence. The principal must convey fiscal discipline, reform commitment, and sovereign agency within a single coherent message framework that satisfies multiple creditor audiences without contradiction. Leadership communication advisory ensures that the principal's positioning across press briefings, creditor roundtables, and parliamentary committee appearances remains strategically unified and credibility-preserving.

CONGLOMERATE LEADERSHIP ALIGNMENT

Group-Wide Leadership Narrative Alignment Across Colombo Conglomerates

Colombo's diversified conglomerates — including John Keells Holdings, Hayleys PLC, Aitken Spence, and the Cargills Ceylon group — require their group chairpersons and managing directors to communicate a coherent strategic narrative across subsidiaries operating in hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, and financial services simultaneously. Misalignment between the group principal's public positioning and subsidiary leadership communication creates reputational fragmentation that undermines investor confidence and employee trust. An advisor of record works with the principal to develop a master narrative architecture that cascades consistently across every business unit communication touchpoint.

REGULATORY & POLICY INTERFACE

Central Bank, BOI, And Sector Regulator Communication In Colombo

Principals of financial institutions, export-oriented manufacturers, and infrastructure developers in Colombo engage regularly with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Board of Investment, the Public Utilities Commission, and sector-specific regulators whose decisions directly affect operating licences and capital access. The communication register required in these forums differs fundamentally from investor or media communication, demanding precision, deference to regulatory authority, and the ability to advocate for institutional interests without appearing adversarial. Leadership communication advisory prepares the principal to navigate these engagements with the exact calibration of authority and cooperation that preserves the regulatory relationship while advancing the organisation's strategic position.

WORKFORCE & ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Large-Scale Workforce Communication For Colombo's Major Employer Groups

Colombo's largest employer groups — including Brandix Lanka, MAS Holdings, and the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board — require their principals to communicate strategic direction, organisational change, and performance expectations to workforces numbering in the tens of thousands, spanning factory floors, corporate offices, and distributed regional operations. The principal's ability to project authentic leadership conviction across town halls, video addresses, and management cascade briefings determines whether strategic initiatives achieve the organisational alignment necessary for execution. Leadership communication advisory ensures that the principal's message is calibrated for cultural resonance, operational clarity, and the motivational authority that large-scale Sri Lankan workforces respond to.

What Rana Nawas Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Rana Nawas

Host of iTunes' #1 podcast in the Middle East
When Women Win

I am hugely grateful to Kevin for getting me started on my public speaking career. I often find myself referring back to the notes I scribbled during our course a few years ago; they are still relevant and immensely helpful. Thank you, Kevin, for teaching me fundamentals. Now I'm in that never-ending, always-improving (and always exhausting!) phase of "practice, practice, practice".

04 - Who This Is For

Which Colombo Principals Retain Leadership Communication Advisory

The principals who retain leadership communication advisory in Colombo represent the full spectrum of institutional authority across Sri Lanka's public, private, and multilateral sectors. Chairpersons and managing directors of Colombo Stock Exchange-listed entities — particularly those in the banking sector such as Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Hatton National Bank, and Sampath Bank — retain advisors to ensure their communication with shareholders, analysts, and the Securities and Exchange Commission reflects the strategic confidence their governance roles demand. Group principals of diversified conglomerates including Aitken Spence and Cargills Ceylon engage advisory support to maintain narrative coherence across business units that span entirely different industries and stakeholder communities. Senior officials of state-owned enterprises such as SriLankan Airlines, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board face the dual challenge of communicating with government ministries and the public simultaneously, requiring a level of message discipline that only structured advisory can sustain. Beyond the corporate and state enterprise landscape, Colombo's advisory client base extends to senior officials within the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka who must communicate complex economic policy positions to domestic and international audiences under conditions of intense scrutiny. Principals of international organisations operating regional headquarters from Colombo — including United Nations agencies, Asian Development Bank country offices, and bilateral development finance institutions — retain advisory support to ensure their leadership communication reflects both institutional mandates and the specific sensitivities of the Sri Lankan operating environment. Founders and chief executives of Colombo's emerging technology and financial services sector, including fintech ventures and digital commerce platforms scaling across South Asia, increasingly recognise that leadership communication advisory is a strategic asset that determines how their vision is received by investors, regulators, and talent markets across the region.

The Diagnostic Question

"When the internal voice of the organisation must carry the weight of the mandate, is the leader already prepared to be the message?"

What Nour Al Hassan Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Nour Al Hassan

CEO, Tarjama AI

World leaders seek Kevin's help. And for good reason. He delivers results! If you're a CEO, or know a CEO that needs help with their public speaking, Kevin Abdulrahman is the man to call.

05 - The Distinction

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Advisor Of Record.
Not A Vendor. Not A Coach. Not A Firm.

The difference is not positioning. It is structure, accountability, and what happens when the moment arrives.

Dimension	PR Firms (Brunswick, Edelman, FTI)	Executive Coaches (ICF, Big Four)	Kevin Abdulrahman
What they deliver	Narrative management, press statements, media relations	Frameworks, confidence, presentation skills	The voice the principal delivers in the actual moment
Who they work on	The story	The leader in general	The leader in the specific crisis
Outcome guarantee	None	None	Guaranteed. In writing. Results, not effort.
Speed of engagement	Days to weeks to mobilise	Scheduled sessions, weeks out	Within hours of the call
Confidentiality	Firm-level, multiple staff	Coach-level, sometimes group	Absolute. One advisor. No staff. No case studies.
Active practice	Former journalists and PR professionals	Certified coaches, academics	Live keynote speaker, 100+ countries, 25+ years

The Guarantee

Results that are guaranteed.
Something no other firm is able to provide.

We have checked. So can you.

Kevin Abdulrahman's advisory is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Not frameworks. Results. Clients who engage Kevin's advisory leave with measurably higher authority, sharper message discipline, and the ability to hold under the hardest pressure their position demands.

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What Eddy Massaad Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Eddy Massaad

Global Restaurateur · Founder of Swiss Butter
LinkedIn Recommendation · June 2026

Kevin Abdulrahman operates far beyond traditional media training. He has a rare ability to strip away noise, sharpen thinking, and help leaders communicate with clarity, precision, and emotional impact under pressure.

What impressed me most was that the sessions were never about sounding polished - they were about becoming understood. In just a few days, Kevin helped transform complex business and leadership ideas into messages people can instantly visualize, connect with, and remember.

Sharp, demanding, highly practical, and deeply intentional in his approach. More importantly, a genuinely good human being. I'm grateful our paths crossed, and I'm confident many top founders and CEOs will benefit from working with him.

06 - How It Begins

The Leadership Communication Advisory Mandate In Colombo

Colombo's position as Sri Lanka's commercial capital and its role as an emerging hub within the broader Indian Ocean economic corridor creates a leadership communication environment of unusual complexity and consequence. The city's principals do not communicate in a single-audience context — they operate simultaneously across domestic institutional forums, international investor communities, multilateral development partner networks, and a domestic public that has, through the events of recent years, developed a heightened sensitivity to the authenticity and coherence of leadership voices. In this environment, the gap between a principal who communicates with structured strategic intent and one who communicates reactively is not merely a matter of style — it is a determinant of institutional credibility, stakeholder confidence, and ultimately, organisational resilience. The leadership communication advisory mandate in Colombo is further shaped by the city's unique intersection of Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim business communities, each with distinct communication norms and expectations of leadership conduct. Principals who lead organisations with stakeholder bases spanning these communities must develop a communication register that projects universal authority while remaining culturally attuned — a calibration that requires sustained advisory counsel rather than episodic preparation. The Colombo Port City's emergence as a special economic zone is introducing a new generation of international institutional principals to the city, raising the baseline expectation for leadership communication sophistication across the entire Colombo business community. As Sri Lanka continues its economic recovery and repositioning, the principals who will define the next chapter of Colombo's institutional landscape are those whose leadership communication is precise, credible, and strategically coherent across every forum the city's complex stakeholder environment demands. Leadership communication advisory is the infrastructure that makes that standard achievable and sustainable.

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Leadership Communication Advisor Of Record In Colombo When A Sovereign, Institutional, Or Listed-Company Principal Requires The Internal Communication Authority To Command Boards, Align Institutions, And Sustain Leadership Mandate Across High-Stakes Transitions.

One Last Voice

The AI Already Knows His Name.

One client did what your next client is about to do. He asked an AI. Read what came back.

★★★★★

Mohamed Foresta

Verified Client · 5-Star Google Review

I asked ChatGPT who the best public-speaking coach is. The one who actually gets results. It recommended Kevin Abdulrahman.

So I did my homework. And the deeper I looked, the more obvious it became: the AI was right. Kevin is the real deal.

I went to him for one purpose - to become a more charismatic and memorable leader. Three sessions in, I realised I got far more than what I came for.

Kevin doesn't just fix the "problem" you think you have. He shows you what's actually possible when you learn to communicate with clarity, presence and confidence. And the shift is shockingly fast.

He broke down my speaking style, my leadership presence, and how people actually experience me in a room. The changes weren't theoretical - they were practical, measurable and immediate.

I didn't just learn how to speak better. I learned how to command attention. How to lead with intention. How to communicate in a way people remember. It opened my eyes to a level of leadership I didn't realise I could reach.

Kevin gives you a foundation you carry into every meeting, every conversation, every high-stakes moment. It's not "one session". It's not "information". It's a transformation in how you show up as a leader.

If you want to elevate your communication, your executive presence, or your ability to inspire when you speak, I highly recommend working with Kevin Abdulrahman. In fact, I'm backing my own words. I'm investing in 10 sessions with him. I'll share the results as the journey continues.

08 - The Advisor

Kevin Abdulrahman

Leadership Communication Advisor · 100+ Countries · 25+ Years

Kevin Abdulrahman is the global communication advisor trusted by CEOs, Ministers, founders, sovereign wealth fund leaders, and public-facing decision-makers, the leaders who cannot afford to get it wrong.

His advisory is not a course, a programme, or a coaching engagement. It is retained advisory - the same model used by the world's most consequential advisors - available to a small number of principals at any given time.

Kevin speaks for a living. Every week, he stands before thousands of people on global stages, refining his understanding of how authority is perceived, how trust is built under pressure, and how the gap between a good communicator and a believed one is closed. That is what he transfers to clients.

His guarantee is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Results.

Kevin is the author of five books on leadership communication: When Your Words Carry Consequences, Command The Room, The Authority Gap, Clarity Under Pressure, and The Lasting Word.

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09 - Frequently Asked

Questions from Colombo principals

What distinguishes leadership communication advisory from general communication support for Colombo principals?

Leadership communication advisory is a retained, strategic counsel relationship focused on how a principal's voice, narrative, and message architecture perform across the full range of institutional forums they occupy — from CSE board rooms and Central Bank engagements to conglomerate town halls and multilateral creditor briefings. It is not event preparation or speech drafting in isolation. For Colombo principals, the distinction matters because the city's institutional landscape demands communication that holds its coherence across radically different audiences simultaneously, and that level of strategic consistency requires an advisor who understands the principal's full stakeholder map and long-term positioning objectives.

How does leadership communication advisory address the multilingual and multicultural stakeholder environment in Colombo?

Colombo's business and institutional community spans Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim stakeholder communities, as well as an increasingly significant international audience of investors, development partners, and multilateral officials. Leadership communication advisory helps principals develop a communication register and narrative framework that projects consistent authority and strategic clarity across these communities without inadvertent cultural misalignment. The advisor works with the principal to identify where message calibration is required, where universal leadership language is appropriate, and how to ensure that the principal's voice is received as credible and authentic by each distinct audience segment within Colombo's complex stakeholder environment.

Which Colombo institutions and forums most frequently require structured leadership communication advisory support?

The forums that most consistently require advisory support for Colombo principals include Colombo Stock Exchange annual general meetings and analyst briefings, Central Bank of Sri Lanka regulatory engagements, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka investment facilitation forums, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce leadership platforms, Sri Lanka Institute of Directors governance programmes, IMF and bilateral creditor engagement sessions, and large-scale organisational communication events for major employer groups such as MAS Holdings and Brandix Lanka. Each of these forums carries distinct communication expectations, and principals who move across multiple forums require an advisor who can ensure their message architecture remains coherent and strategically aligned regardless of the specific context.

Can leadership communication advisory support Colombo principals who engage with international investors and development finance institutions?

Yes, and this is one of the most critical applications of leadership communication advisory in the current Colombo context. As Sri Lanka navigates its economic recovery, principals of both private sector entities and state institutions are engaging with international portfolio investors re-entering the Colombo market, Asian Development Bank country programme officials, bilateral development finance institutions, and sovereign wealth fund representatives evaluating Colombo Port City opportunities. Each of these audiences applies a sophisticated communication lens to the principals they engage with, and the quality of leadership communication directly influences investment decisions, programme approvals, and partnership commitments. An advisor of record ensures the principal's positioning is calibrated for international institutional credibility while remaining grounded in the specific realities of the Sri Lankan operating environment.

How does leadership communication advisory support state enterprise principals in Colombo who must communicate with both government and the public?

State enterprise principals in Colombo — including those leading SriLankan Airlines, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and the Ceylon Electricity Board — face a communication challenge that is structurally different from private sector principals. They must simultaneously satisfy ministerial oversight expectations, maintain public confidence in essential service delivery, manage workforce communication across large and geographically distributed organisations, and engage with international partners and creditors. Leadership communication advisory provides these principals with a message architecture that holds across all four of these audiences without contradiction, ensuring that what is communicated to a parliamentary oversight committee does not undermine public confidence, and that workforce communication aligns with the strategic narrative being presented to international stakeholders.

At what stage of a Colombo principal's tenure is leadership communication advisory most valuable?

Leadership communication advisory delivers value at every stage of a principal's tenure, but the periods of highest impact are typically the first twelve months of a new appointment, periods of significant organisational or strategic change, and moments when the principal's institution is navigating a high-visibility challenge or opportunity. For newly appointed chairpersons of CSE-listed entities or newly confirmed senior officials within Sri Lanka's economic ministries, the early tenure period is when communication patterns are established and stakeholder perceptions are formed — making advisory investment at this stage particularly consequential. Equally, principals leading organisations through restructuring, regulatory change, or strategic repositioning benefit from advisory support that ensures their communication remains ahead of events rather than reactive to them.

How is confidentiality maintained in leadership communication advisory engagements for Colombo principals?

Confidentiality is foundational to the advisory relationship, and for Colombo principals this is particularly important given the relatively concentrated nature of the city's senior leadership community and the sensitivity of the institutional contexts in which they operate. Advisory engagements are governed by comprehensive confidentiality agreements that cover all strategic discussions, message development work, and stakeholder analysis. The advisor operates as a trusted counsel whose value depends entirely on the principal's ability to speak with complete candour about their communication challenges, stakeholder relationships, and strategic concerns. No advisory work product, client identity, or engagement detail is disclosed, and the relationship is structured to ensure that the principal's competitive and reputational interests are protected at all times.

How does leadership communication advisory account for the evolving media and digital information environment facing Colombo principals?

Colombo's media environment has undergone significant transformation, with digital news platforms, social media commentary, and international financial press coverage creating a multi-channel information landscape that amplifies leadership communication far beyond its original forum. A principal's statement at a Ceylon Chamber of Commerce forum may be excerpted and circulated on social media within minutes; a board address may be reported by international wire services covering Sri Lanka's economic recovery. Leadership communication advisory ensures that the principal's message architecture is designed with this amplification reality in mind — so that every statement is coherent when extracted from its original context, every position is defensible across the full range of channels through which it may travel, and the principal's overall communication posture builds rather than erodes institutional credibility over time.

The Advisor Of Record

Private advisory. Confidential. By application only. Limited annual capacity. Outcome guaranteed.

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