Features – Page 4 – Esteem Magazine

A Chat with Chandran Rutnam

Legendary Film Director Chandran Rutnam needs no introduction to those who are in the cinema industry and are ardent movie goers. As an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, a producer and one of the veterans in the industry, his achievements reach far beyond Sri Lanka, gaining high praise from international filmmakers. He has directed many international and local award winning films such as ‘’anelaya’’ (Witness to a Killing), “Alimankada” (Road from Elephant Pass) and “Sri Siddhartha Gautama” and international releases, “A Common Man” and his latest release “According to Matthew” which is based on a controversial true incident. He has been the Line Producer of several International award winning and box office successes on several international productions including the Sri Lankan location shoot of Paramount Pictures “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and the Academy Award winning “Indochine”.

As a child, Chandran always loved to watch films, which was the only mode of entertainment at the Cinema Hall, apart from the radio at that time. He came from an artistic family, where his mother was the sister of Donald Wijeratne, the owner of Donalds Studio whose family had been photographers for generations. Obviously, being artistic ran through his veins. His parents were very encouraging, and Rutnam considers himself as being a very lucky person to have such parents, and a student at one of the best schools of that time – St. Thomas’ College Guruthalawa. At the age of seventeen, he went to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Before that he got a job on the film ”Bridge on the River Kwaii”, which was one of the turning points of his life. His whole idea was to learn everything and come back to Sri Lanka and open his own studio. Living in America for many years, he was still very Sri Lankan and did not want to give up his identity. But for him, America was an amazing country – it gave him so much to bring back home.

A successful filmmaker and currently holding the position of President and CEO of Asian Film Locations Services, and Asian Aviation Centre, this cinema veteran joined us to have an interesting discussion to talk about his latest film, his career, his love for aviation and motion pictures, aspirations and the cinema industry in general.

The Q&A session is as follows:

Q: You released the film “According to Matthew’’ recently. Please tell us about it.

A: Well, I did not release it as yet. Because we had some issues and objections from various quarters which I have resolved now, and the picture will be released towards the end of September in Sri Lanka; America and other places, after October of this year.

Q: What was the response from the Sri Lankan audience?

A: The only screening we had was a preview, almost a year ago and it was a positive response, and the people seemed to like it. But then, they were invitees; I would actually like to see the reaction of the people who pay to get in. I also showed it in Australia and got a very good reception there, but now we are ready to go forward and release it in September or October.

Q: What was the response from the Catholic Church, especially since it was related to religion?

A: The Catholic Church published an article in the newspapers saying they had nothing to do with this project, and that this has got nothing to do with Catholics. I’ll go back to your previous question a bit. You see, we all want to distance ourselves from unpleasant events. But this has become a current subject in the world, because a lot of religions are hiding the fact that these abuses occur. I would say – all religions do that. Just because you wear a cassock, does not make you a saint. Just because you wear a robe, or a uniform, that does not make you superior and that does not make you different from others. Therefore, I’m very proud of this film, for one reason, because I want young people to know, that they cannot be too trusting towards people who wear uniforms of any sort, or authority. We have to respect authority, we have to respect uniforms, but we have to be a little bit more cautious and vigilant, and not give up on ourselves one hundred percent.

Q: How would you see the cinema industry in Sri Lanka then and now?

A: A very good question. In my generation, it cost a lot of money to make a film. If I remember correctly, a 400-ft reel of negatives cost Rs. 25,000. How can a young man get 10 reels for Rs. 25,000? The sad part about my generation is that there were a lot of unknown talent that didn’t even get a chance, not even discovered or bloomed, but that died away unknowingly. Now it is completely different. You can show your talent by using a telephone as a camera. You can demonstrate your talents. With new technology, it’s much easier to produce and say, “This is what I can do”. But in my generation we could not do that. It was too expensive for us to experiment and show what we could do. So the industry all over the world is much better with an abundance of talent emerging. Recently I visited an academy, where I was the chief guest, and I could not believe their level of talent present. You know, these are all talented people; they are as good as Hollywood. We just have not given them the opportunity. They’re full of enthusiasm, and I intend to make use of their talent. Also I must mention, if you visit Disney Studios or any of the studios that does animation, you’ll find that a lot of the people there are Asians. So they are utilizing our talent. Why don’t we utilize ourselves? I think we’ve got to think on those terms, and be very aggressive and have confidence in ourselves, because we are as good as everybody else or even better. So to answer your question, I think the industry today is very positive and it should grow and grow, much better than before.

Q: Do you think that the Sinhala cinema has yet to be competitive in reaching the global level?

A: We are award-oriented. We want to make films to win awards. I don’t make films to win awards; I make films for a wide audience. I want people to see my films. I don’t want just a jury, or a few people who come for the award show to see my films. And also we have to think of the producer. They are doing a business called “show business.” They do the show, and they also take care of the business part. If they do not take care of the business part of it, the producer will not come again. Also, I think, they should go for a global audience. I believe in that and I have. Yes, we can show our culture, but show it in an interesting way that the world will respond to, or that the world would want to see twice. Or where the world will recommend their friends to see it. I’m not saying they should not win awards. They deserve to win awards. But we are aiming our films at a jury. And also talking about awards, it’s not the best picture that wins the award. There’s a lot of influence. It’s nice to win an award, I have won and I’m very proud of it, but let’s not make that the only thing that matters. I think we should make movies for an audience. The greater the audience, the better it is. More people will see our hard work.

Q: As a location provider, what are the best locations which you have seen in Sri Lanka?

A: We have incredible locations like lush rain forests, ancient colonial buildings, and beaches as well. Several movies were shot in the hill country; for instance, Indiana Jones was shot in Kandy, and so too was Tarzan. So we have a lot to offer, and the colonial architecture of our county is very attractive to filmmakers. And also like I said, we possess experienced technical staff that is well-versed in their own unique art form.

Q: Do you think film tourism has been recognized in Sri Lanka?

A: Not at all. It has not been recognized in Sri Lanka, and I have been insisting on it for 50 years, and now people are listening, and if they allow us to build this bridge and make it a tourist attraction, it’ll be great. And even now, you can build a bridge in Kitulgala. It’s still a phenomenal thing. People go there. They know that the film was shot in Sri Lanka. Kitulgala is also beautiful. We are not utilizing these things and that is a shame.

Q.: Lastly, I would like to ask – What is your next movie project?

A: This year, I will be producing and directing Rudyard Kipling’s classic story, “Toomai of the Elephants” with Hollywood, Indian and Sri Lankan artistes. It’s a big production with a $50 million budget, for international distribution. This is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to it.

Written by Sureshni Pilapitiya

The Batik story –the Success story of Buddhi Batiks

When it comes to the Batik Industry, Buddhi Batiks had always been a household name. By becoming one of Sri Lanka’s leading Batik designers, Buddhi Batiks have been recognized for its quality, creativity, and the wide diversity of designs, patterns, thus creating its own identity in the field of fashion designing. Being the main inspiration in turning Buddhi Batiks into a household name, Deshabandhu Dr. Buddhi Keerthisena recollected the beginning of the Batik Industry in Sri Lanka as well as Buddhi Batiks, recalling an interesting journey towards the early years of Batik, gradually developing up to the international standard where it is now.

“When Buddhi Batiks were first established in the 1960’s, Batik was only a decorative item and was limited only for Sarongs, shirts, kaftans and Kurtas” said Dr. Keerthisena, founder and the brainwave behind Buddhi Batiks. “Actually, there was no fashion but there were dresses made out of Batik. Wall hangings were popular, and Batik was first started in Sri Lanka by Soma Udabage, and at that time, it was a new thing in the beginning of 1960’s. Afterwards, Vipula Dharmawardene, Ena Desilva, myself, Bandula Fernando, Douglas Fernando, Eric Suriyasena, we all came at the latter part of the 1960’s. But even at that time, there was no real fashion in Batik. We went all over the world, especially trade fairs. We participated in many trade fairs in the 1970’s. Vipula Dharmawardene and I did Batik exhibitions all over the world. At trade fairs, we got huge orders for supplying of Batik, including wall hangings, dresses, etc. But still there was no proper fashion”. Continued Dr. Keerthisena.

Vipula Dharmawardene devoted most of his time to promote Batik abroad, and gained huge success through his effort in promoting the material. Dr. Keerthisena also participated in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Dusseldorf fashion fairs, as well as those held in Brussels, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and many others, taking Batik all across the globe. During this period, they were able to bring back a lot of foreign exchange to the country, which was during the 1970’s. From the 1970s to mid 80’s, it was a very successful industry. But however much it became popular, still there was no proper fashion.

“My daughter, Darshi, started working at my workshop when she was very small.” Dr. Keerthisena reflected of the fond memories of the beginning of Buddhi Batiks. “Both my workshop and the house were together, so she obviously started associating with Batik. She started doing her own Batik. When she was five years, she started making Batik dresses and scarf’s for her dolls. Then she started making different things. Every day she goes to the workshop, to do some work on her own, and even without our knowledge, she started working on Batik”. Said Dr. Keerthisena, indicating the key reason that laid Darshi’s foundation for success in the Batik Industry, Developing Buddhi Batiks into one of the most sought after fashion labels in the country.

When Darshi grew up, she wanted to become a fashion designer and she started her career by joining the De La Salle University, after her A/L’s, ignoring her chance to enter the University of Colombo, since she did not find what she wanted there-fashion. She obtained a diploma from there and went to UK to do her Honors degree in Fashion Designing. Batik was considered as an artistic line, but now it has turned into a profitable business. Darshi came back from England, while having the opportunity to continue as a fashion designer there, she joined Brandix and worked there for 5 years. Afterwards she joined Buddhi Batiks, her family business. While she was working at Brandix, she had the feeling that there should be a change in the Batik industry in Sri Lanka.

“In 1983, there was a decline of the demand for Batik in the international market as well as the local market. There was a very big tourism market in Sri Lanka in 1983, and there was a big demand from tourists for our Batiks. But in 1983, during the ethnic violence in Sri Lanka, Tourism dropped to zero, and the export level was also curtailed. The Batik industry nearly came to an end during that time, but with my efforts, I started converting it to a local demanding market. I got a market survey done to find out what was the main issue for the decline since there were no tourist sales, and I had 350 workers in my workshop, unable to do anything since there was no money to pay followed by a lot of problems. So I got a market survey done to find out what was suitable for Sri Lanka. We found Batik shirts and specially sarongs, Batik sarees and Kandyan sarees in demand. So we started making them, and I got my friends from the cinema industry to support us”. He continued.

Dr. Keerthisena’s efforts to liven up the Batik industry proved to be fruitful, after including well known celebrities to cooperate and encouraging Sri Lankans to wear Batik again. Thus, well known icons in the cinema industry started wearing Batik to promote the industry once again to its former prestige. “Vijaya Kumaratunga, Sriyani Amarasena, Jeevan Kumaratunga, Ranjan Ramanayake, Malani Fonseka, Lucky Dias, Raveendra Randeniya, Sabeetha Perera, Sanath Gunathillake, all these celebrities started wearing Batiks which I specially designed for them. Support from the media was also was a big success, by taking photographs and publishing, doing commercials and advertisements, and so on. Everything was done free of charge, since this was for a good cause. Everybody was talking about Batik all of a sudden, and celebrities, important and high profile people in society started wearing Batik at parties, including specially designed sarongs and kurthas. A most special person to do so was late Vijaya Kumaratunga. People started talking about it again and the market also gradually developed. I could not supply, but the others in the Batik Industry benefitted through my publicity campaign, thus the once declined Batik industry came back. The lost revenue, demand for the Batik industry came back through this programme.”

But apart from this success, obstacles began arising again. The Batik industry again had to go through it’s hardships with the smaller scale vendors specially in the Pettah market selling the material for a much lesser price and was of poor quality.

“There was a demand, but unfortunately it was going to the hands of the Pettah traders. It again became a bad time for the Batik Industry because they produced very low quality Batiks through the small shops around the country, which they sold at a low price. By doing that, again the demand for Batik was declined. A lot of people left the Batik industry, not being able to survive. Vipula Dharmawardene passed away, and many people who were in the Batik industry gave up. But I was continuing, in a smaller way.”

It was then Darshi came back and revamped the whole thing into a new line. She wanted to give an identity for the real Sri Lankan Batik. Having an Honors degree in Fashion Designing, she took over Buddhi Batiks and became the Director, Design. Finally now it has become a household word, and then again it has become a high up market product with sustainable investment for the village community and enhancing their livelihood.

According to Dr. Keerthisena, Batik is teamwork. There’s a designer, there’s a person who decides the colours, but still, you need skilled artisans for this type of work. Artisans are the people who are really working in the production side. They are the manpower behind the scene. So with all this teamwork, Darshi is heading Buddhi Batiks. She’s the designer, consultant, advisor, promoter, all in one. Everything is done by her, and with her innovative thinking, theres a group of artisans using their skills converting a raw cloth into Batik, which has created wonders with its wide range of colours, designs and styles to choose from.

“After Darshi revamped the whole thing, those who left the industry also came back and started Batik again. Some of them even started copying Darshi’s designs, but Darshi was not angry or unhappy about it. She merely said “let the industry grow”. Today, you can market Batik from any angle-wedding sarees can be made, and you can market it for $150, 000 a saree. You can start from Rs.60, 000 to Rs.150, 000 a saree. That is where Darshi has brought the industry now. Her thinking is Batik, but Sri Lankan. Design, Sri Lankan. Promotion, Sri Lankan, but fashion, international. That is what I see in her. But she may have a different way of thinking” Dr. Keerthisena further expressed. With all her hard work after coming back to Sri Lanka, she has brought the Batik industry to an international fame. Marketing aspects, design aspects, the recognition, all has gone to international level also benefitting the people who are in the industry. “He further added. Established as the brainchild of Deshabandhu Dr. Buddhi Keerthisena, and further developed into a leading fashion label both locally and internationally with Darshi’s creativity and expertise in the industry, , the success of Buddhi Batiks is simply an example of sheer commitment, dedication and teamwork, proving that anything is possible, and face challenges if it needs to be.

By Sureshni Pilapitiya

Royal Classic Car Drive, October 2018

A group of 12 members of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon and their families, 22 in all, were priviledged to be invited to be part of the Royal Classic Car Drive from Bangalore to Mysore. My wife Roshi and I were happy to have been able to free the time to join the event, which took place from 30^th September to 2^nd October 2018.

The activities commenced with dinner at Kala Farm on the outskirts of Bangalore on Saturday, the eve of the event, where the participants from across India, Sri Lanka, France and UK had the opportunity to meet and greet each other, view the impressive collection of classic cars and motorcycles of our host Dr Ravi Prakash, President of the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India (FHVI) and enjoy his family’s warm hospitality.

The drive to Mysore commenced early on Sunday morning. We left the host hotel, the Radisson Blue Atria Bengaluru, to assemble at the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the Karnataka State Legislature, and the office of H.D. Kumaraswamy, its Chief Minister. Mr Kumaraswamy was there himself, to flag off each participant, and we were soon negotiating the Bangalore traffic, made a little easier by a police escort.

Leaving Vidhana Soudha, we drove to Mysore, stopping for a typical South Indian breakfast at Hotel Midway. Driving classic cars on the Indian highways was an interesting experience in itself. Their driving etiquette is unique with the horn being used as a rite of passage, and a constant reminder of one’s presence. To make our journey more interesting, it incorporated a Treasure Hunt. We were thankfully kept hydrated and refreshed along the way with chilled juices and king coconut, courtesy of Advaith Hyundai Mandya, the event’s main sponsor.

The welcoming at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel was grand. Rhythmic music, beating drums and garlands hailed to welcome 50 tired drivers and their passengers to a historic location. Built in 1921 on the orders of the Maharaja of Mysore for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India, the Lalitha Mahal is the second largest palace in Mysore. Being fashioned on the lines of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, it was the perfect location for the classic cars and their crews to take rest after their exhausting journey.

But the rest was short lived. By evening we were back in the cars, parading through Mysore town, and on to the stunning Mysore Palace. It seemed that most of the city’s residents were on the streets to greet the classic cars from Bangalore. The crowds were unimaginable… something that I certainly didn’t expect. It was a touching experience driving slowly past multitudes of people, most of whom referred to the Mini I was driving, as a “Mr Bean Car”, with the occasional petrol head recognising it to be a Mini Cooper, similar to the iconic cars from the ‘Italian Job’. And I felt like a celebrity, much as Michael Caine was in 1969. Many wanted selfies with the car. Kids wanted us to toot our horn. The Indian’s really seemed to appreciate the classic cars that drove past them.

If I were to pick one moment of the drive that was indescribably beautiful, and memorable, it was driving into the grand Mysore Palace, made all the more majestic by its illumination. As we parked our cars in the foreground of the Palace, we enjoyed the sound of classical Indian music performed live by the Police band. We ambled around mesmerised by our surrounds. The lit palace with the music in the cool breeze was a romantic memory straight from a fairytale. The Palace Elephants made an appearance to add to the experience, which could only be described as surreal. After some time, we returned to the hotel, to a sumptuous tandoori buffet, enjoyed in traditional dress.

For those prepared to make an early start (of which I was not one), the first item on the agenda on Monday morning was a drive to Chamundi Hill, for a bird’s eye view of Mysore City. I was told it was spectacular. Having returned to the hotel, those looking for an adrenaline rush were provided with the opportunity to compete in a Gymkhana – an event where the Classics were driven at speed through an obstacle course and the winner adjudged by the best time achieved. Classes were established based on the age of the competing cars.

With just enough time allowed for us to freshen up, it was off to lunch at the 98 year old Mysore Horse Race Club, where the cars were displayed for viewing by the members and their guests, whilst the participants enjoyed a ‘Biriyani Clout’, which as throughout the trip was offered in ‘veg’ and ‘non-veg’ versions. All tastes were catered for, both in food, and automobiles.

The grand finale of the event was a Gala Dinner hosted by the FHVI at the Windflower Resort and Spa. Here, the cars made their final appearance, encircling the open air event, seemingly like soldiers providing a guard of honour. Speeches were followed by awards, and a live band provided entertainment. Action stations catered for cuisine from several corners of the globe, and the participants now free of their responsibilities, enjoyed wining, dining, and dancing the night away, culminating in a baila session to the tune of ‘Surangani’.

Tuesday morning arrived too soon, and it was time to bid farewell to our new friends, with invitations extended for them to visit us back in Sri Lanka, and an enhanced respect for the ‘Classics’ that were now en route back to their garages, no doubt looking for some well-earned R and R.

To say the Royal Classic Car Drive was ‘rewarding’ would not be doing justice to the experience, which was rich from a motoring point of view, amazing from a cultural standpoint, blended with fellowship and friendship. I look forward to many more events like this, where ‘petrol heads’ can meet in different countries and experience the country through a classic car lens.

Finally, a big ‘thank you’ from us, the Sri Lankan guests, to our like-minded friends in India for their generosity, kindness and hospitality. We couldn’t have been felt to feel at home more!

By Sheran Fernando

Dr. Asha de Vos: Compassion backed by Science

I don’t have a lot of time in my life, and I am interested in people who are interesting – she quipped, and so started a 2-hour conversation with Dr. Asha de Vos over biriyani at Taj Samudra. An old girl of Ladies College, I’ve known Asha when she studied at Colombo International School; regarded as somewhat of a tomboy, she was very comfortable in the pool as opposed to walking on dry land. But that’s not really true; she is also part of a running community today that she is very enthusiastic about. With so many accomplishments under her belt, one wonders how she manages to do ALL of it. As she says quite convincingly – I run on Asha energy.

Genuinely in love with life, she is fascinated with the possibilities that are present. A lover of sports, she wakes up every day in the early morning to start her morning run. It’s all about creating stories that are valuable. But here is a side to Asha that even I did not know up to date: she is very family oriented, and it is her upbringing that has led her to be very humanistic and empathetic. Made to be self-sufficient and independent from a young age, she and her brother would help around the house. There was no sense of elitist pride found in her despite the typical associations that are made when it comes to the schools that she attended, or the fact that her father is a famous architect who was responsible for restoring the Galle Fort.

Truly global in terms of representation, she has a multicultural mix with her father being a Burgher Christian and mother being Indian and Muslim. It was deeply ingrained in her that she and her fellow sibling should always stand on their own feet. This was quite a progressive and liberal standpoint since we are talking about South Asian parents here. It is probably because of this type of liberal upbringing that helped Asha be Asha and go against the grain. As she states – Nothing should stop you from being you, and you really can’t be anyone else.

I cherished the fact on how she traversed a long winding road when it came to her belief systems. Forever the optimist, she really does believe in making a change. Someone has to care about the oceans and it is passion and persistence that has helped her share her views with everyone else she comes across. While the unknown is something that is truly frightening in a sense, this is something that excites her. While 95% of the ocean sits undiscovered, she believes being curious and knowing as much as she can about this vast paradise is imperative to save life in all its forms. After all, if there are no oceans, there will be no life at all.

It is exposure to life and various experiences that creates passion in the first instance, and it was the consumption of a great deal of literature from National Geographic that led her to be curious and want to become a marine biologist. You have to do what you want to do, she tells me between mouthfuls of curry. Life is temporary and one shouldn’t have any regrets on one’s deathbed. So what exactly is her goal? It is simply to be relatable and to engage the younger generation into saving one of the largest treasures in this world, which is the ocean.

Failure is a good tool, she nods; there is no positive change if one does not try and take risks. This I know is true when one plots her life. I remember how when we were both in school, you had to slip into one of three careers: you could be a lawyer, doctor or engineer, and nothing else was acceptable. If she didn’t take this leap albeit with a great deal of risk, she wouldn’t be able to be so involved in conservation and direct people’s consciousness towards the plight of the oceans and its marine life. So has her journey been rewarding? Indeed it has; there are so many calls coming her way where the younger generation have shown a great deal of interest in being a marine biologist.

What is disheartening is the fact that there are so many species that are going extinct – we are writing too many obituaries, she says – and it is up to the general public to be ocean heroes and help reverse the damage that has been dealt to nature. As dinner came to a close, she threw out a question: What happens if the solution to all the ocean’s problems are trapped in the mind of a student here in Sri Lanka? What an exciting thought that was, and it really did showcase why Asha is doing what she does – it is simply to spread compassion backed by the truth of science.

Text: Rohitha Perera

Photo Credits: Oceanswell | Steve de Neef | Yasha Hetzel

Tiesh unveils Sri Lanka’s largest Gems and Jewellery Emporium

Tiesh, the leading jewellers both in Kandy and Colombo, recently unveiled its massive 27,000 sq ft showroom and now goes on record as having Sri Lanka’s largest ever Gems and Jewellery Emporium, all under one roof.

Famously known as “Lakmini (Pvt) Ltd” since its launch in 1997, this showroom at No 676, Peradeniya Road, is now completely revamped and rebranded as ‘Tiesh’, and is a virtual haven for both walk-in customers, tourists and the eagle-eyed connoisseur.

Tiesh already holds the record for owning the largest showroom in Sri Lanka since the opening of the Gallery of Sapphires in 2016, a landmark achievement at the same premises.

This new venture expands its portfolio with the addition of over 14,000sq ft of plush showroom AND an additional 13,000sq ft of service areas featuring auditoriums and theatres. The current expansion includes the new state-of-the-art workshop and museum in addition to the existing laboratory, auditorium and the near-real replica of the gem mine.

“This resplendent outlet lays claim to Tiesh’s commitment towards enhancing the customer experience and feel of being part of something more than the mere purchase of a dazzling piece of jewellery. It is an immersive journey into a culture, spawned centuries ago, in a land which continues to appeal to the heart of gems and jewellery connoisseurs from around the world,” said its visionary Founder and Managing Director, Lasantha de Fonseka, adding that customers will be enthralled by Sri Lanka’s gemological story. “The success of Tiesh as Sri Lanka’s leading gems and jewellery provider, is also due to the dedication and passion of my family, staff, tour operators and loyal customers.”

Over the years Tiesh has burgeoned into a brand of great repute. The 27,000sq foot Emporium features an exquisite array of authentic gems and handcrafted pieces of jewellery set in both precious and semi-precious gem stones, highlighting the world famed Sri Lankan Blue Sapphires and more.

All items are intricately designed with precious metals ranging from gold (yellow, white and rose in 22k, 18k and 14k) to sterling silver. With a keen eye for detail, the one-of-a-kind jewellery is crafted to international standards and designed to mesmerise.

This family-owned establishment which began on 05 September 1997, has, over the past three decades acquired great celebrity status in the local and international sphere. Spearheaded by its Founder / Managing Director Lasantha De Fonseka and his wife Bryony, Tiesh is joined by the equally hands-on next generation, with daughter Thiyasha and son Ayesh who are committed to providing an unparalleled expertise and a personal interest in each customer who steps into a world of brilliance.

The Tiesh Emporium is designed with the intention of sparking an appeal to delve into the milestones of the gem industry; from the history of the stones to the entire production, prior to becoming a gift of love, a family heirloom or an indulgence to the customer.

As one of Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary jewellers, Tiesh is not only a jewellery store with a reputation to match. It is also an engaging and hands-on learning experience. It inspires that ethereal feel of being ensconced in a world of one’s own, in which gems and jewellery take precedence. A step into the showroom lures you to luxuriate in the story of every sparkle uniquely created just for you.

Five Fine Years

Everyone has a vision of their dream home. More often than not, it is something you have carried with you for years while growing up and finally being able to fulfill it and see it manifest right before your eyes is a dream come true. And then there are some folk, who have dreamed and envisioned not just their own home but also the homes of thousands of others. With such a vision to bring stylish homes to reality Martin Klement launched “Fine Furniture” five years ago.

The increasing demand in vertical living has seen the popularity of Fine Furniture literally sky-rocket in the span of half a decade. The quality of the products and services provided by the furniture and interior solutions provider has won it the trust of not only potential homeowners, but also of condominium developers, construction companies and the hotel sector.

Together with his partner Niluka, Martin found a gap in the stylish furniture market despite there being a considerable demand from those who wanted their homes to be a reflection of their taste and personality. Starting off with German-made HÄCKER Kitchens, the company soon found clients requesting for them to consider furnishing other parts of their homes. The high-quality kitchen units and appliances were just the beginning of a long-journey that today has Fine Furniture being a one-stop shop for stylish furniture, lighting solutions and accessories for all parts of your home.

The lifestyle store situated at 593/1/1 Nawala Road, Rajagiriya is today the go-to place for some of the most luxurious European home brands such as Koinor, Pacific Green, Flexa, Loddenkemper, Alpa Salotti, Bosch, Miele, Brandt, Bovictus Metaltex, Eurographic and Masterlight. Ranging from high-quality kitchen units and appliances, to plush designer sofas, chic interior solutions, modern lighting and even children’s furniture, Fine Furniture now has the entire gamut of a home owner’s needs within its lifestyle store.

Apart from individual houses that have been transformed to homes with a touch of class with Fine Furniture’s products, the company is also involved in some of the largest real estate and mixed-development projects coming up in the city. Fine Furniture has supplied complete interior solutions for projects such as Shangri-La, Clearpoint, Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 among many others.

In celebration of the five year milestone, Fine Furniture is also introducing an array of 29 different ready-made packages for homes to suit varying requirements. “Depending on your taste and budget, we can customize the packages that have been created, or if you tell us your requirement and budget we can match it with a package that we have already designed. What makes these packages unique is that we have sat with interior designers and decorators to create quality offerings no matter how much you pay for it. Although they are pre-designed we can make colour changes and adjustments so that no two homes ever look the same”, said Mahesha Perera, general Manager at Fine Furniture.

Having created a branch that truly resonates luxury, durability, quality and class, Martin Klement recently took a back seat at Fine Furniture handing over the reins to his new management team appointing Amila M Michael as Chief Executive Officer and Mahesha Perera as General Manager to overall operational management of the company. He remains as the Chairman of the company strategically branching out the brand. “It was time for me to take a back seat and look at the bigger picture. Fine Furniture has had resounding success in the furniture market and created a niche for ourselves. It is time for me to now look at the next step and let the day to day operations be run by those who have moved up the ranks in our company very successfully”, Martin added.

For more information on Fine Furniture please contact 011 3355249 or 0113355244 or visit their website www.finefurniture.lk or email: office@finefurniture.lk

By Nishu Hassim

Pradeep Edward – President SLIM 2018/19

Marketing is a key component of a company’s success – and its marketing strategies make it happen. Iconic Business tycoons in the business and marketing fields established themselves with their exceptional thinking and clever marketing strategies that made profitable investments and thereby brought positive results. In this area, one has to be aware of the latest market trends, to meet with the global marketing standards. Sri Lanka has a lot of potential in bringing talented entrepreneurs to the spotlight. The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) is the pioneer marketing body in the country which produces a large number of skilled marketers, entrepreneurs and industrialists who can contribute towards the country’s economic growth by their expertise and new concepts.

Being elected to head a distinguished marketing institution is no easy task. It faces challenges, being up to standard with the latest market developments, and initiating new goals to take marketing towards a new dimension. The best example for a multi-talented marketing personality who has the capability of shouldering such a responsibility is Mr. Pradeep Edward, who was elected as SLIM’s 40th president for 2018/2019, ensuring his support and dedication to bring SLIM forward with a new strategic approach and even more dynamic face lift under the theme of “Towards 50 years of Excellence: The year of Gratitude”.

Pradeep who currently holds the position as CEO of Lanka hospitals diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd, is a proud product of St. Peter’s College Colombo. He is a Certified Professional Marketer (Asia Pacific) Practicing Marketer (Sri Lanka), Chartered Marketer (CIM-UK) and a Fellow member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK), holds an MBA from Buckinghamshire University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing / Business Management and a Diploma in Finance.

Prior to his current appointment at SLIM, he held the positions of Vice President, Hon. Secretary at the institute. He was also a Past President of the Pharma Promoters Association of Sri Lanka, the Charter President of the SLIM MBA Alumni, Former General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry associated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and positions in the National Chamber of Commerce and also involved in activities in the presidential secretariat. Apart from these achievements he is currently a Member of the National Branding Committee to develop a strategic global campaign for Sri Lankan Exports appointed by the department of National Planning, Ministry of national policies and economic affairs in coordination with the Export Development Board.

Gaining over 20 years of work experience in both local and multinational companies, of which 15 years were in the managerial capacity with over 8 years at Board Level in General Management /COO and CEO Capacity, Pradeep has won international awards such as Specialized Marketing Manager award from IMS-UK and has been a Judge and Technical Advisor at both local and international programs such as National Exporters Awards / Asia Marketing Excellence Awards. Currently there is a considerable expansion in the number of students interested in marketing studies. The expansion in the competitive environment along with equally enhanced opportunities and exposure are the reasons for its expansion. SLIM which is the national body for marketing in the country has for the first time taken its educational products, training programmes and consultancy options beyond the boundaries of Sri Lanka.

SLIM is affiliated to several renowned local and international institutions namely, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Organization of Professional Association of Sri Lanka, World Marketing Association and Asia Marketing Federation.

In his discussion with us, Pradeep shared what his presidency would mean to SLIM and what present and future marketers and everyone else who is involved with SLIM from all levels are bound to experience during his tenure.

“In less than two years, we would be reaching the 50th year of operations in the country. What I felt, upon undertaking this new responsibility is that, firstly, I’m privileged and elated that I was elected to this position and secondly, would ensure that we at SLIM would strive to recognize each and every individual who has stood with SLIM from its inception and till now to bring it into this position what it is today,” he remarked.

Mr. Edward wanted to initiate a platform where everyone who stood behind the scenes as well, would be worthy of recognition and ensure that SLIM highly regards those efforts which had gone in and are currently going towards uplifting SLIM.

He added, “SLIM has been focused on CSR projects where there have been many other members for example, whether they held positions of Past Presidents or otherwise, have tirelessly worked and given back to the institute in numerous ways and they deserve to be thanked. We have had tremendous support that were extended to us, in ensuring that all operations at SLIM were run smoothly. The same goes to the staff, where they have demonstrated immense dedication to their jobs. SLIM would not be in the position it is today if it weren’t for those silent voices who worked at their own initiatives and still continue to do so.” He did not forget to add a special note of thanks to those stayed with SLIM since its inception and left the institute after making many sacrifices, and also to its previous staff members. He recalled the efforts taken by them in bringing the prestige which the company enjoys today.

“Today, SLIM stands on a very stable and prestigious platform but many years ago, it wasn’t the case. So, it would have taken double the efforts to ensure that this place thrived and continued with its vision. Walking down the memory lane, there would have no doubt been bottlenecks and hurdles which were met by many who were part of this great institution therefore, those who stood with SLIM definitely need to be recognized and expressed our gratitude.’’

SLIM today can also be regarded as being instrumental in the organization of major award ceremonies such as Brand Excellence Awards, People’s Awards, NASCO and the Effie Awards coupled with main CSR initiatives such as SLIM Gamata Marketing and Marketing Roks. Mr. Edward also has plans to strategize and meticulously improve standards of these very iconic events. Prior to receiving his appointment, Mr. Edward had long envisaged this idea and also disclosed the news of launching the SLIM Digital Awards this year.

Under his leadership, SLIM will also encourage more female participation by introducing female oriented events to entice more ladies taking up the field of marketing and join hands with SLIM. He said, “We undoubtedly wish to encourage female participation at SLIM and will initiate some programmes for them.”

Another key highlight of his visionary arrangements is to implement a SLIM Archive, where members and everyone associated with SLIM would cherish the opportunity of experiencing a taste of the bygone days when SLIM was first founded and years that followed, to this day. “The archive will be housed at SLIM premises and we also are working on laying the foundation for a new building which would be constructed to bring about a 11 story state-of-the-art premises in time for the 50th year celebration.”

Thus, SLIM will continue to be a resounding success with Pradeep Edward- who is all poised to make all marketing goals turn into reality.

By Sureshni Pilapitiya

KISHU GOMES: A TRUE ICON OF PROFESSIONALISM

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, is a leading blue chip company with 49% shareholding, and extending its market entry into Bangladesh as well. Chevron Lubricants, as an internationally acclaimed and a profitable organization has made its mark as one of the leading stakeholders in the private sector, thus bringing in a considerable revenue and profit to the country’s economic growth. The success that the company enjoys now is due to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of one great personality, and that is none other than Kishu Gomes – who was the former CEO/Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, being the driving force, and the brain wave behind the numerous achievements and endorsements received both locally and internationally, throughout the years. After a long and a successful stint at Chevron, Kishu stepped down to dedicate himself for more community and social work, and to educate young people who wish to join the corporate sector.

Having started his career at Coca cola, he worked his way up the ladder by holding a variety of key sales and marketing positions including two country assignments in Singapore and Vietnam. Positions held included public relations and event management, corporate affairs and sales distribution management etc. After joining Chevron he revolutionized the production oriented state owned lubricant business to transform it to be one of the most admired and profitable blue chip companies in Sri Lanka. He was appointed as the CEO/Managing Director at the age of 35 to become the youngest to head two multinational operations in Sri Lanka.

As a corporate leader, he has held may prestigious positions such as the past president of the American Chamber of Commerce, a vice-senior chairman of the Charted Institute of Marketing, UK- Sri Lanka regional branch, served on the Advisory board of the international music foundation, and also sits on the boards of the Cine star Foundation and Outstanding Song Creators Association (OSCA) to ensure the rights and welfare of the Cinema and Music artists in Sri Lanka. He has also chaired the judging panels of Effie’s advertising awards and brand excellence conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, and also contributes towards uplifting the quality of higher education as an advisory board member.

Having an MBA from the University of Leicester and being a fellow of the Charted Institute of Marketing, UK. Kishu has won many regional and global awards and unique achievements in different aspects of business, being the Inaugural Best young Director award by the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors in 2002, one of his memorable achievements till now. He also is an acclaimed speaker, sharing his leadership skills and experience with private and public sector organizations and public, professional and educational institutes in order to create a competitive Sri Lankan work force. Apart from all these achievements he is also a national 110 meter hurdles champion. He is also keen on travelling as well, but not out of the country since he officially gets to travel. He says travelling out of the country is the last thing he would ever want to do during his leisure. He likes travelling to Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa, to explore the culture and heritage which is one of his passions in his life. In spite of all his achievements he is also the embodiment of a variety of talents and skills. He is a singer, a writer and does modeling as a professional and in addition he is featured often in talent shows and radio talk shows as well. Going to the beach is another hobby, but that’s on the bottom of the list, he says. Despite his busy schedule, this amazing business tycoon took some time off to talk about Business, sports and his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and a leader.

Q: What inspired you to forget a promising career in the Tri-forces and join the business sector?

A: Well, I always wanted to be somebody who is impressive, who’s looked up to. Forces was kind of a natural drift, you know, where those days, if you do your advanced Levels in Mathematics or Biology, and if you have minimum of two or three passes, and a sports background, that’s the recipe for you to become an officer. It was just inclination, but obviously I got excited by this impressive personality that I saw, smart, well dressed, very confident young lad getting off a flashy car and dominating the scene, getting everyone’s attention etc. Then I wanted to do a research and find out as to what the job is, and then I found that it was a sales/marketing kind of job, so this guy was working for a multinational company-so that was inspiration. So I obviously joined Coca-Cola with that inspiration.

Q: When you first joined in, what kind of challenges did you have to face, as a newcomer?

A: Many challenges you know. One was, of course, getting adjusted to the organization and the culture, just coming from a school background. Getting into a business organization, and understanding how a business organization works, and understanding people’s systems, processes, culture of your organization and all of that. And then the second point. What you’re expected to do in your job, understanding how to do it, and also knowing well there’s competition for you, internally as well. Understanding your customers, product range, channel partners, etc. Those were the very initial challenges.

Q: Were there any obstacles you had to face from your other colleagues, and industry counterparts?

A: Yeah, many obstacles. Coca Cola was a very large organization, very much larger than it is today. In terms of obstacles, in a very large organization, you’d always see your colleagues trying to push you down, internal competition, and bad tactics deployed by people, and you know, when they see you shining, there’s jealousy, envy, all of that. Especially in that era, when things were not very transparent, the culture was that, you don’t know how your bosses read you, you don’t have any performance or agreements or anything, you can do your 100% but it all depends on what your boss really concludes for you. Whereas in the modern world, things are much different. You tend to know the rules and what to deliver, the supervisor, manager or leader, cannot stay without giving you the credit if you have delivered. The systems have changed. But at that point of time, apart from doing the job, you also had to be in the good books of your supervisors, so I didn’t enjoy that. There were challenges as such, and then of course, in my job, I became the special events manager at a very young age- just 19+, so the demand in terms of time, was at its highest level, juggling with so many event sponsorships, meetings, negotiations, all of that, and there was even a time when I used to work 20 hours a day. More exaggeration- you start up in the morning and you end up in a night club, not going and clubbing but, sponsoring an event, or some talent show, or a dancing competition, you know, something, these are the places where soft drinks are consumed, so I go home after one o’ clock and the following day you have to wake up at five o’clock to get back to work on time.

Q: How does it feel to become the Inaugural youngest Director in 2002?

A: Well, to be specific, the youngest CEO to be appointed by two multinational organizations. Yeah when I got it, it was a shock. But my leaders who selected me, who was in Singapore, where the regional headquarters are situated, so the president there gave me enough assurance and the expatriate CEO who was here at that time said, “don’t worry, you have it in you, take it up and you’ll do a good job”. So they gave me a lot of energy and kind of strength that I needed at that point of time, then it was given to me, but to be very honest, I was very worried and hesitant that I may not be able to live up to the expectations. That was the initial impression, but when I started to swim, I realized that this was something that I can do. And from the first year onwards I have been meeting all the way forward in taking this organization to the level it is today.

Q: What would your advice be for young entrepreneurs nowadays?

A: I would say, just use your head more than your body and emotions. Lot of entrepreneurs have a habit of just making decisions based on what they see and what they think. They don’t do enough study or research or assessment to exactly know what the opportunity is, how viable an opportunity is, if you have the capabilities to be able to be successful, in that area. Without that, if you see someone doing that business, being successful is just copying. And you’ll probably end up with a lot of unsuccessful stories. That’s why I always say, “head before your body you need to take enough time to understand and analyze, do assessment, check the pros and cons of your decision, the problems you might have to encounter, you have to anticipate those and make sure the safeguards in place, and then to make a start, and execute with commitment, dedication, all of that.”

Q: Apart from being an entrepreneur, you also excelled in sports. Do you think doing sports encouraged you to be the personality you are today?

A: Yeah, very seriously it has. The reason being that it’s a competition in any field. Be it sports, be it politics, be it any profession, be it social service, be it anything, it’s always competition, right? Any game operates within a pyramid. Only a very few can get to the top. So therefore, in order to win, in any game which you lay your hands on, you’ve got to compete. And to compete, you’ve got to have the right attitude. You’ve got to be very energetic, very healthy, efficient and productive. Your mind strength should be very good. All these are attributes sports can find. And there isn’t anything else that can give you all the elements that we spoke of. That comes with sports. Sports is so important, there’s always a difference between somebody who has done sports and somebody who hasn’t. You’ll see that in their personality, the way they walk, the way they conduct themselves, the way they fly, their speed, their energy, all of that are very clearly seen. All that is clearly distinguished between an athlete and a non-athlete. It gives you the personality, and it gives you all the right personal attributes to take over competition and to be a winner. So it’s all about attitude, human energy, your style, impressions, and personality as you said, all of that.

Q: Currently you’re a member of the “Youth with talent” judging panel. What do you think about the artistic talents of these young people?

A: It’s great. It’s amazing actually. That’s just one talent show, but there are so many other talent shows that are run in Sri Lanka. We have amazing talent, but unfortunately we have not given our youth enough opportunity, you know, open opportunities to showcase their talents. Staying away, to frame them, like, if you can sing “you can sing”, if you can dance, then “come and dance”. Rather than that, there has not been a stage in this country for any talent you have for people who have those talents to come on stage and display that. So from that perspective it’s the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, that has obviously created a huge impact across the entire country .So we need more and more stages, competitions, shows like that in order to provide the opportunities and at school level, province level, town levels and village levels, if we can create a platform, to search for this kind of talent and sharpen them, we’ll be able to obviously earn a lot of money using these talents, that all the countries where tourism is on the move. Those countries, you know, they use these things very effectively, and in our case, it has so far been Kandyan dancing, showing them the elephants etc. It’s very boring. South Africa has elephants, you go to any country and they have dancing. We need to be more vibrant, we need to have diverse talents.

Q: What does it take to be an accomplished person?

A: Well, it’s all about achieving your purpose of living. Achieving great heights and allowing the people to benefit from that. A certain portion of that benefit should be shared with your fellow countrymen, the people around you. Then you can be really happy that you’re accomplished. Otherwise, if you just keep your success to yourself, you haven’t done anything positively for anyone. I don’t think that’s something right.

Q: Who are your role models in success?

A: I don’t have any role models. You can’t be another individual. You can’t copy another individual. And this role model concept which has been there in the world. If you can tell me one person who has been able to copy another person, and being that individual, it has never happened. There has been only one Bill Gates, there has been only one Richard Branson, it’s just one person. So why would we be following them? We should learn from each and everyone. You learn from Bill Gates, you learn from Richard Branson, sports stars, all of them, and all good things. But when you learn, it should be things that you can make your own, because you have to be authentic. There are things you can’t acquire. There are things that are inherit ant and has a style. So you need to understand what that is, and try and look for examples you can make your own, and build that unique individual in you. Learning is not just what you learn out of success. Learning from failures has been something that has been hacked and used, in the context of role models. When you say role models, it has been people who have been successful. No, that’s not the correct theory.

Q: What kind of a person are you, as an individual?

A: I’m a person today, dedicated to my work, caring for my fellow countrymen, going beyond any personal agenda, and being that individual who creates value for the country, and creates value to 21.5 million people across the country.

By Sureshni Pilapitiya

Paul Upali Gouëllo: On Dance, Life, and Love.

Thanks to the power of social media, we are now more connected than ever. It was thanks to Facebook that I managed to connect with Paul. He had a very interesting story to tell, which was endearing from an emotional perspective, and also inspiring from a professional level, too. Although in France, he will soon be arriving in Sri Lanka to initiate a dance exchange. It was a pleasure and a privilege to connect with him, and to also pose some questions to him on his life and ambitions.

I understand you had a very interesting childhood, could you tell us more about it?

I had been raised in France. I was adopted when I was just a few weeks old. Both my parents are retired; my mother worked as a nurse while my father worked as a cook. I grew up with my sister in a very open-minded family in the Parisian suburbs; home was very close to forests, nature, and close enough to Paris for our mother to bring us to visit museums, castles, and instill an interest in art, culture, and science at a young age. It was a big and generous part of our education. We were encouraged to be curious. Mum was focused in teaching us to being polite and educated while abstaining from being rude or violent.

In an initial conversation, you said that you came to Sri Lanka and you met your biological mother. How did you deal with the emotions?

I always knew that my parents were my adoptive parents; I can’t remember the day I understood. That was natural. They told me I come from Sri Lanka, and that I had a mum who gave me birth, and with love, gave me to my French parents for a better life that she could not give me. My adoptive parents never pushed me to find my origins. After 27 years, I came back to Sri Lanka, which was a very emotional trip. The harder thing for me was not really to meet her, but to see what her reactions would be. Does she have a new life? Would she accept to meet me? She gave me that chance to live in France, to be adopted – Am I indebted? Do I owe anything to her? I had so many questions. Thanks to my family and my friends, I finally understand that I was right to take this risk. Just saying hello, without expecting anything. Finally, I came back without any regrets or fear. My Mum from France came to join me and to meet my biological mother after all these years. That was the best thing that happened to me in life.

Tell us how you got into dance.

I’ve started dance at the age of 6 but it was just for fun. I had the chance in high school to have an amazing dance teacher named Sophie Kratchkovsky. She became a kind of mother in dance, a friend and my very best confidant and advisor. After my high school degree in literature, I’ve started in my twenties a 3 year professional training at the International Jazz Dance School of Paris directed by Rick Odums. I went for 2 years to a contemporary dance school, where I learned modern dance, contemporary and ballet class under Agnes Letestu. During those 2 years many choreographers from all over the world – Russia, Israel, Germany, United States, Belgium, France, Canada, Japan, and Netherlands – came to teach and share their choreographies with the students. I was called in 2015 after a two weeks’ immersion to join Jean Claude Gallotta’s company (Groupe Emile Dubois). Since the very beginning, I wanted to work with this pioneer of contemporary dance. I always loved his work, and I am very proud to defend his choreography today for already 3 seasons now. I danced for him in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2019, I’ll be part of L’homme à la tete de chou, which is based around the very provocative French singer Serge Gainsbourg.

When you came down to Sri Lanka, you talked about how you wanted to do an exchange program. Tell us more about it.

I had the chance and the honor last February to meet different actors of dance in Sri Lanka like Asanka Warnakulasuriya, a young traditional dancer and choreographer. We are working on doing a hybrid dance, which is a mix of modern and traditional dance. He is very talented and full of ideas. We hope that the Alliance Française will support our project. The aim will be to do an exchange. I also met Kapila Palihawadana before leaving Sri Lanka, who did so much in Sri Lanka to bring something new to Sri Lankan audiences. With nATANDA Festival and Dance Theatre, he brings a new point of view of dance in Sri Lanka that I do admire. I met Deanna and her daughters Natasha and Natalie Jayasuriya, who are the directors of the Deanna School of Dancing. It is an amazing ballet school, with amazing students performing at a very great level. It was strange to have been raised so far from my island where I learned ballet techniques and then coming across this school.

What are your future plans?

I hope I will meet more and more passionate and fascinating dancers from all over the world. For the moment, I will keep dancing with Jean Claude Gallotta while working on my own projects and dreams about linking my adoptive France and my land of birth – Sri Lanka. The final goal would be to have my own company for sure. I will be back to Sri Lanka from the 24th August till the 18th of September. I hope to plan something great with Alliance Française with my friend Asanka Warnakulasuriya. I might do some ballet dancing at Deanna’s School of Dancing with Deanna, Natasha and Natalie; and I hope to have a possible exchange with Kapila Palihawadana and his amazing dancers.

Written by Rohitha Perera