… by Gopitha Kiribandara
The heritage of a mysterious past beckons from behind the curtains of Olcote in Ceylon… an old world order, long since forgotten, suddenly springs to mind as the writer feels its presence as soon as she steps through the large, framing gateway and into the courtyard. Glancing at its splendour, the place exudes a disarming taste of history… it’s as if she stepped through the sands of time to Sri Lanka 40 years ago. Olcote in Ceylon is Tess de Kretser’s gift to the world that is groaning and moaning under the pangs of fabrication. Speaking to Esteem Prime, Tess shares her views on appreciating Sri Lankan culture and preserving the knowledge of the days gone by…
Brimming with enthusiasm, she rushes to greet the writer, who stands dumbfounded in the driveway, momentarily distracted by the astonishing beauty of the old mansion. The path, laden with beautiful flowering plants, makes the walk up to the walauwa a pleasant one indeed as we make our way to the sprawling lounge situated in the open area beside the pool.
“I bought the old mansion in 2014,” Tess affirms, adding that her manager Manoj was instrumental in her decision to purchase the property. Donning the mantle of tour guide and historian, Tess delves deep into the sombre history of the house; “The lady who lived here before was called Nandawathie. There was a sister, the older sister Kamalawathie, who lived in the house at the back. This was about 100 years ago. Their father Podi Singho (H. D. Cornelius Gunasekera) built this house and the one at the back for his daughters. This was their home,” she states, pausing to ponder at the sad plight of the owner of the house. “She had cancer. The villagers used to hear her scream. That story touched me.” Being a mother of eight children, Tess understands the deep bond that exists between parent and offspring; hence the story of Podi Singho, Nandawathie and their father who survived his two children has prompted her to do her best with the place in honour of the family that breathed their memories into the four walls of Olcote in Ceylon.
Born and bred in Sri Lanka, Tess is no stranger to rustic mysticism that the island’s culture has to offer. An alumnus of St. Bridget’s Convent, Tess’s German/ Sri Lankan lineage has given her the best of both worlds. “My mother (of German descent) is really integrated with the Sri Lankan culture. There was a watta where I grew up with a lot of poor children,” she reminisces adding that the calm tranquillity of the times enabled her to blend with children from all walks of life. Such an upbringing has allowed Tess to cultivate an acceptance for the uniqueness that is Sri Lankan culture. Olcote in Ceylon, as the name suggests, is her effort to portray all that is special of the culture that she has come to know and love.
The mansion is perfectly located for an idyllic getaway; situated in the sleepy village of Jambureliya off Madapatha, it boasts of an old school feel that is fast dying out amidst the city scrapers of modernism. “I love the old school, the old Sri Lankan architecture, and I hate losing that,” she articulates with sincerity. Aiming to marry the old with the new, Tess declares that Olcote in Ceylon is an old mansion which carries just the right touch of modernism; the interior décor gives off a pleasant woody smell, the furnishings are elegant and the fixtures are state of the art; in addition to the bedrooms, there is also the latest in entertainment, with television, four different Wi-Fi connections and a well fitted sound system, ensuring that its clients are not completely cut off from the outside world. Walking across the lawn, one cannot help but notice the beautiful landscaping and admire the lounge area that opens up at the pool and a little tea patch behind the front entrance.
Since its inauguration, Olcote in Ceylon has indeed been a popular resort, with constant inquiries being made for weddings in particular. “We are planning to expand to that side. There is a Poruwa built under the tree, and people have asked us to have weddings here.” Speaking of the facilities on offer, Tess reveals, “I have arranged transport from the airport, and we have a welcoming band with dancers. There is a spa, a place for clients to relax, barbeque facilities, a spot to do some yoga breathing exercises… and I have a well here which I honour. It is filtered water and everything is taken from the well, even for drinking.” Addressing the topic further, Tess further adds that her staff is well equipped in the art of Sri Lankan cuisine. “We don’t look at menus; through experience Kavita, who has now been with me for 20 years, knows what is good for diabetes, cholesterol etc. and we are bringing that aspect of Sri Lankan culture in as well.” As an added bonus, Tess has further arranged to have a special day care service for the young ones, so that their parents may travel the countryside and enjoy all that Jambureliya and Olcote in Ceylon has to offer. That all important task is entrusted to Kavita, her maid of 20 years, whom she trusts implicitly.
The conversation veers towards her plans to launch Olcote in Ceylon in Ireland and it is with evident satisfaction that Tess unveils her aim of promoting Sri Lankan culture in Ireland. Charting the success of her venture, Tess believes that the Irish love to embracing new cultures, but adds that both societies are rooted in similarity. “Ireland is very similar to Sri Lanka; it is laid back, and the sense of family and the sense of humour is all very much the same,” she utters with delight. “Manoj is coming with us to Ireland because we are having a launch there. They are fascinated by this whole idea that the two of us could work together, something that I don’t think has ever been done before. I trust him and he trusts me completely.”
Observing the manner in which she treats her staff inspires one to treat people with kindness; she is truly a caring employer who spares no expense in ensuring the security and wellbeing of the people behind the scenes. “Kavita has been with me for 20 years and looked after my children. We are showing trust in people, and that way we have changed the way business should be done,” she asserts with conviction. “Whoever has come in through that door, we welcome. Yes, we have our feet on the ground, but we believe in the trust system and in that way the spiritual journey has been amazing.” Stressing further, Tess admits that the relationship between employer employee is a two way road that needs to profit and assure both parties. A strong advocate of the give-to-get principle, Tess has been a generous heart that wants to ease the concerns of her staff. She shares a positive, spiritual bond with all her staff and treats them with respect; they, in return, put their heart and soul into their work, and do not allow such trifles as time constraints to get in their way.
A philanthropist by nature, Tess also believes in sharing with the less fortunate; and it is with doting eyes that she speaks of a certain Montessori in the neighbourhood, which is run by a young teacher with meagre facilities. “There is this Montessori that we help. The teacher does a labour of love. There is nothing; they are very, very poor… They didn’t even have water and were going next door to the toilet,” she voices with compassion. “Out of his own money Manoj fixed the mains in, and we are going to take it up. We try to help her buy food for the children.” Her heart is to give, to be a soothing balm to a world that is fraught with inequality. She doesn’t expect anything for her kindness; only the assurance of making the world a better place.
“Relationships bred in positivity last forever; betrayal attracts more of its kind… nonetheless there is good in every human soul that yearns to be acknowledged…” this is what Tess aims to cultivate through her effort. A gamble in itself, she nonetheless has faith in providence and believes that the universe guides her cause. Marrying the charm of old-world Ceylon with new-world positivity, Tess de Kretser’s Olcote in Ceylon is truly a place of sun, light and laughter. Her vision edifies the soul and adds to the soothing aura of the mansion; thus enriched with a blissful experience, the heart of the wanderer will find itself drawn to Olcote in Ceylon and the rich cultural heritage it has to offer.
For more information please visit http://www.olcoteinceylon.com/