War, a lame excuse of the unsuccessful

Shirajiv Sirimane

The local ship building industry can be turned around to be Sri Lanka's number one forex earner. The present security situation and limited access to the Colombo Port will not have any adverse effects to the booming ship repair industry.

War is a lame excuse put forward by inefficient entrepreneurs. "What the country needs is to put the local ship repair industry above the apparel industry as a proper marketing tool similar to tourism," Chairman Colombo Engineering, Kiran Atapattu said.

He says that Singapore is currently doing this successfully and Sri Lanka too could get there in just five years if a proper marketing campaign could be launched to attract ships to Colombo.

He said that Sri Lanka is in the middle of the East and West shipping route and this is the key to attract ships. This was why foreign rulers and Japan during the world war wanted to control Sri Lanka.

Many people are also not aware that the Dondra Lighthouse is the main focusing point for ship engineers world over to plan their journeys when travelling from West to East.

Atapattu explained that unlike container vessels which turn around in less than 24 hours, a ship heading to a harbour for repairs stays on for over five days. The crew goes on a holiday thus giving the country additional revenue.

"They pay for staying on local territorial waters, anchorage fees, refuel, make purchases running into millions of rupees and most importantly travel in Sri Lanka giving tourism a boost as well.

I also plan way ahead and when staff go for deep sea repairs they not only take additional equipment but also take deep freezers, gas cookers and food supplies sufficient to finish the job without returning to base.

He says that it is the businessmen who cannot plan their future and control overheads that lament of a negative economy. "The best profits for me from my entire 23 year-old career have come in the last financial year. So who says that the economy is nose diving?" he asks.

Recalling his childhood days, Atapattu says that getting into Royal College and the education he received moulded him to be the successful businessman today. "During my teens, foreign education or international school was not open for Sri Lankans. The only choice available was the universities and the Law College. However I did not want to be a professional as I thought that their jobs were not exciting.

Q: How did you develop a liking to the shipping industry?

Since I was staying in Colombo 4 by the sea I saw several ships going in and out of the Colombo harbour and developed a passion for ships.

When I saw a shipping advertisement, I decided to apply and I was recruited in 1975 for a Rs. 210 salary. After training I was offered a job in a ship and my first task was to wash the toilets. Thereafter I had to wipe the engine rooms and throw away the cotton wads. A few months later I was asked to oil the engine and in one year I was in a position to repair engines.

When I came back to Sri Lanka after two years being in the ship, my mother pressurised me not to sail again. This was the time I decided to set up my own company and I invested Rs. 10,000 (savings from my salary) to start Colombo Engineering with just two employees.

Today when a ship sends me an e mail requesting for a repair, by reading it I can forecast the repair, staff, equipment, material, time needed to mend it and the quotation to precision.

Two decades after forming Colombo Engineering, I can say that we are a leader the industry and I have been invited by Lebanon, Doha and Muscat to open ship repairing centers. However I cannot pursue these proposals since there is no qualified staff to recruit.

Q: What is the secret of winning so many awards?

I am the only entrepreneur in Sri Lanka to win 20 individual awards and this is due to my top class customer service, immediate response, dedication, total responsibility, prompt attendance commitment, and most of all a job done to perfection to international standards.

Q: What do you think of the Provincial Council system?

I do not follow it as it does not concern me and I do not know to comment on it.

Q: What do you think of the ethnic conflict?

All I know is that was going on for 25 years and a solution is needed. It's up to the politicians to handle it and not the businessman. Of course we like it being settled.

Q: How do you cope up with the high fuel charges?

This is not an issue for me. I am a person who is always prepared for the future. I read papers, TV and the internet and know that the oil prices are going to soar. As an experienced entrepreneur I see the future and I have stocked fuel to the value of almost Rs. 3 million to meet my requirements for the next three months. By the time my stocks are over the prices would decline.

Q: How do you see the high cost of essential goods?

This is a scenario happening all over the world. Whichever the Government in power it will not be able to provide essential goods at a lower rate. However the Government could have buffer stocks which can be released to the market if merchants are creating an artificial scarcity to raise prices.

Q: You are also an advisor to the Sports Minister.

As you know sports is loved by each and every person in the world. Promoting sports in the country builds a healthy nation and it's the biggest promoter of tourism.

Q: Recall an unforgettable experience you faced overseas?

Soon after the Anuradhapura Air Force Camp attack I was in Germany to woo ship companies to visit Colombo. They refused saying Colombo was attacked. I felt so bad as the international media has blown the incident out of proportion. However I was able to convince them that Anuradhapura is over 200km away from the capital and they decided to come to Sri Lanka.

I am not only marketing my company I always make it a point to promote Sri Lanka when I go overseas.

Q: What is your favourite destination overseas for a holiday?

I have travelled entire length and breath of the world. However everything found overseas is available in Sri Lanka. And for me the best destination is Sri Lanka and I prefer to spend that money in Sri Lanka.