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| Wednesday, 16 February 2005 |
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Jewel in the gold industry by Aditha Dissanayake To work or not to work? Here's a question almost every woman faces when
they get married and have to decide whether to pursue a carreer or to stay
at home and look after their babies. A question Mallika Hemachandra faced when she married Dr. Hemachandra in 1960. A question to which Dr. Hemachandra provided the answer. "Mallika should stay at home and bring-up the children." Respecting her husband's wishes, Mallika remained at home and lavished all her motherly attention on her son and daughter. But whilst being a dutiful housewife she began a workshop within her house in Horton Place, Colombo 7 and started to manufacture jewellery. With the knowledge she had gained when she studied for a diploma in an Art and Craft College in England, Mallika used the money she had saved from her husband's salary to start her business. After his demise in 1977, widowed with the two children she continued working from home and gradually gained a name for herself in the local jewellery industry. Today, a unique feature in her business is that among the 150 employees in her company, 90 percent are women. Begun in 1968, and respecting her husband's wish that she devoted all her time to bringing up the children, Mallika kept her workshop at home and did not venture out till 1996, when her children joined her in running the business and opened a factory in Hokandara and eight branches across the country. The jewellery, Mallika designs is unique and enhances the beauty of the wearer in remarkable ways. Not a single design is repeated. "My mother has begun to concentrate more on the generation close to her age in her designs these days" says her daughter Chamindri. "I look after the needs of the younger generation". Both of them continue to upgrade their knowledge by attending international trade fairs, workshops and exhibitions. Leading a balanced life, Mallika enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and indulging in her hobbies, dress designing and painting. Proud of what she has achieved as a successful entrepreneur whilst being a mother and a housewife, Mallika attributes her success to "team work". She also believes gender is irrelevant when it comes to business ventures and that women can stand on par with men in any industry. For more revealing details about this mother courage in the business world watch Situ Medura tonight at 9.05 on ITN. |
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