Turning tables

by Aditha Dissanayake

"I'm not hard to please. I'm easily satisfied with the best", said Oscar Wilde. So are we all. None of us are prepared to compromise. None of us are willing to settle for goods that are not the best of their kind. But how can we recognise excellence?

The answer is easy. Step into one of the two showrooms of Royal Fernwood Porcelain in Narahenpita or Mt. Lavinia, to see on display what can only be described as subtle points of perfection. Here are tableware and ornaments that would satisfy any present-day Oscar Wilde.

Gazing at the exquisite plates, cups and sources, stout kettles and sweet figurines it is easy to think of the British Porcelain designer, Clarice Cliff, whose hand painted tablewear originally meant for everyday use has today become collector's items.

Who would have thought a simple plate he designed would one day be sold for more than $ 2,000? Likewise, four years ago, who would have thought the tableware made in a factory in Kosgama called Royal Fernwood Porcelain would end up at Marks and Spencers, Royal Daulton, Crate and Barrel, and the House of Frazer to name only a few in the UK and USA in addition to thirty six other countries scattered round the world?

"No one", says Chairman and Managing Director, Jagath Peiris. " When the local management board took over from the Japanese Company seven years ago, no one thought we would be able to scrape through.

But today we are the only 100% Sri Lankan owned porcelain manufacturer in the country and our products reach the top most end of the market". Statistics reveal that the factory in Kosgama using material brought from almost all over the country, Matale, Balangoda, Digana, Galle etc, employing over eight-hundred workers manufacture 1.2 million pieces of porcelain every month, 90% of which are exported to UK, US, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, India and Pakistan.

"We are planning on introducing a new production line worth Rs 30 million in the next few months" says Jagath.

He looks back with pride at the day he broke into the international porcelain market by establishing a branch and a warehouse in UK and lists the awards his relatively young company has won so far. (i.e National Productivity Award 2003 and National Quality Award 2004)

No one seems more surprised than Jagath himself, at the way fate had changed things in his life. With a long line of educational qualifications under his belt, he is surprised that an "academically oriented person" like him had done well in the business world.

Until he took over Royal Fernwood Porcelain, he had been changing from one company to another, entering them when they were about to close down and turning them into successes.

"Most of the companies I worked for, were on the verge of bankruptcy when I took over the management. But I solved all the problems in marketing, producing and financing and turned them into profit making ventures.

When this company, also on the verge of collapse came into the market I decided to mortgage all my assets and buy it because I realised I could give this too the same treatment I gave the others." The only difference being that, this time he owns the company.

Undoubtedly the result of that rear combination of all the right components, designer, materials, know-how and inspiration all brought together at the right time, Jagath's decision to boldly go where everyone believed he would meet only failure, has today, paid off.

For more details about Jagath Peiris and his skills in challenging challenges, watch Situ Medura tonight at 9.05 on ITN.