The Master Potter

MR. AJITH MOHAN PERERA

1. To begin, could you tell us who Ajith Mohan Perera is?

I believe that I am a designer, a dreamer, and a concept builder. I have been able to capitalise and make them a reality by planting and cultivating them everywhere. As a result, I was able to gain the title “Master Potter” amongst everybody in my conquest in achieving these feats.

2. When you look back at your childhood and teenage years what was your ambition and was it the same as what you are currently engaged at?

My ambitions were of two forms of dreams; one was about my life achievements, which I have achieved today and the other being about my country. I felt that my country was not how I envisioned it to be. I do not visualise the world as data, but I view everything as a form of an image. When you gaze at an illustration, it can be observed how it has been carved into a beautiful picture. As an image, when I look at Sri Lanka, it does not look as developed as it is supposed to be. I want to redesign my country, like a potter creating beautiful pottery on a wheel. As an outcome of this operation, you recognise me while I embark on my journey of beautifying and redesigning Sri Lanka.

3. Pottery is not a very popular ambition to have. How did your family and friends support you in this dream? Also, whom are your role models then and now in your life?

Pottery is an art; it is not just an industry. People’s preferences to follow an industry or any other occupation is mainly based on economic benefits. Even if you do not prefer it, everybody likes to pave the way up if there is any financial benefit. The Pottery Industry is not recognised as an economically viable industry. So, no one is interested at following this industry. I helped evolving this industry to an outstanding Sri Lankan platform by taking it to the next level. I manifested the people on what are the economic and other benefits that can be gained through this industry. I took efforts to display the difference in this industry from its contemporaries. When we speak of the parties who succoured me, I have no one to mention other than my parents, who made me a strong person with a good personality. That was the most significant support I received to achieve my dreams. Especially my parents mentored me on how to manoeuvre in the world. On my way up, neither did anyone support me nor hinder my activities.

4. You are the founder of the Anuradha Ceramics (Pvt) Ltd and The Pottery Shop, principal designer of “The Line – A mindful Retreat in Deniyaya”, The Barnhouse Studio in Panadura and many more. Can you tell us how you achieved all these and how you got to the current status?

There is one major and remarkable fact in everything that I have done so far. I do not consider people’s remarks on my endeavour. Also, I work according to my notions without taking anyone’s criticism into account. I do not possess any academic qualifications regarding any of the platforms I am following. I do community development projects, but I do not have any expertise or knowledge regarding the subject. I complete my work according to my intuitive skills which is the reason why I stand high today. Every child inherits an intuitive power from birth. Intuitive ability guides you to do anything without any academic qualifications.

I find that today's education system does not support this concept. The present education system always neglects the intuitive power with you and mainly focuses on books. When a person loses his intuitive power, he cannot think of anything innovative, other than obtaining a job, which helps to earn money for another and help others achieve their dreams.

This depicts that you do not fulfil your ambitions. What you do is work to achieve another person’s dreams. Since I refused this education system, I was left with my intuitive skills, which empowered me throughout my journey. The Barnhouse project is a worthy initiative to study for academics. It is an investment, done for Rs.85Mn, on ten years leased land, without any documented plan, structure, drawing or any email exchanges related to the project plan. Today it is one of the most successful banquet halls in Sri Lanka. The entire investment has been recovered within three and a half years. Currently, we are in 2nd & 3rd stages of this project. All my success is based on risks. However, many people think twice to do so. Sometimes banks also avoid offering financial support to me as my stakes are high. When I initially opened my potter store 35 years back in Majestic City, no one believed pottery could be sold in Sri Lanka. Recently I opened a pottery shop in One Gall Face shopping mall. The main concept is that one should not damage the process of the business by their activities. I always make decisions and execute them. If those decisions fail, I make new decisions and execute them again. I engage myself in many activities all the time.

Currently, I am planning to move Anuradha Ceramic Company to another location which is about four and a half acres of land. I have a desire to make it a school where students can acquire vast knowledge in pottery. I hope to create a product development unit in it. In a business or entrepreneurship, the essential factor is that you must have a product and have someone to buy that product, and the income from that product should be more than your product’s cost. There is no requirement to obtain a philosophy, a business plan, or a system. The Barnhouse, The Line, Anuradha Ceramic (Pvt) Ltd are some beautiful products I have created. It would be best observed if you are willing to take risks to start a business; a business only requires a product and a clientele. In my scenario, my ability to take risks everywhere made me accomplish my journey.

5. We would like to hear about the reasons to choose to choose this unique path.

Well, I must say I inherited an artistic intellect. Ever since I was a child, I always created or embroidered something. However, It paved me the path to be a potter by accident. I joined Ceylon Ceramic Corporation, a well-known ceramic company, as a contract base unskilled labourer. Though I wanted to study during that time, I couldn't join a college because I lacked qualifications. I took the clay balls from the factory and made my creations. This industry started from the clay balls which I took. There are no specific reasons for me on why I became a potter. I got here by accident and then I made it my own. You should not do what you love most but do what you can to achieve most profitably. That is entrepreneurship. Always be like water, because the shape of water changes according to the pot you choose to fill.

6. What is the difference between you and the other traditional pot designers?

Currently, the traditional pottery industry is based on family background. There is a heritage, and it is also considered a cast. However, they did not have the opportunity to open to the new world or go on different paths. I did not come from a traditional pottery family. As I grew up separately from other potters, I got a valuable opportunity, that is not acquired by other conventional potters. It is the responsibility of the government to give them that opportunity. However, over the years, the governments also failed at fulfilling this task. Therefore, I am working to make up for that failure. The main problem in Sri Lanka is that we get stuck in a comfort zone, right after educating ourselves. We do not practise what we have learnt soon enough. Therefore, reaching an advanced educational level is of no use if its not put into practice.

7. You have been doing this for years. When everything, is vastly changing in the market, especially consumer preferences, what are the strategies that you use to expand the market and retain in it?

The main strategy or idea would be maintaining and expanding human relationships. One of the main aspects that helped me to make my journey successful is that I maintained good human relationships with the people I worked with. Also, in return, people loved and respected me. Another business model I carry on is, where I vend coconuts to everyone who comes to buy breadfruit. When a customer comes to you and has no idea on what to purchase, you can cultivate a new market in the customer’s mind. I have never targeted the customer or the market. However, if I have a weakness, I charge more from the customer because I sell that fault or my flaws as a unique product. The primary focus must be, on creating a team of clients who loves you. They will collaborate with much trust

in you and your product will flourish everywhere. I consider myself as a Brand. Likewise, it would be wise to build your brand and business on what you are doing. You must evolve the design of your product occasionally. Selling newly designed products to meet the need that people never anticipated, rather than selling what people wanted will help to retain customers. This is the primary reason why I have never had a competitor for the past 40 years.

8. What kind of challenges and opportunities did you face, and are yet to meet, when it comes to this industry?

As far as challenges are concerned, we have tackled many obstacles like laying a cable over the Grand Canyon and crossing it with one leg. All we need to survive is money for food, clothes, and other requirements. It is not about survival. Advisers are people who experienced failures and not who always succeeded. We rarely see people who succeeded advise other people. There are two types of risks. First, risks taken without any investigation or research and the calculated risks. When I started the Barnhouse, I took a huge risk. I initially planned for Rs. 30Mn but it amounted to Rs. 95Mn. I had to borrow a massive sum of money while proceeding with the project. My vehicles were mortgaged. I did not even have the money to have a security guard to take care of it. During those days, I was the security guard at the Barnhouse.

I worked hard to make my image a reality. If I had given up that project in fear of debt, I would not have had a profitable company today. It is because I accepted such challenges that I have reached the top of my industry today. You must never be afraid to take challenges. You should be your adviser. To make good decisions, you need to have a very clear mind. It would be best if you had discipline, have an invisible controller within yourself. As the saying goes, until the water level is below your nose, you are capable of doing anything. The only factor that you cannot change is time. To think like an entrepreneur, you must first be forgiving to others.

9. As an entrepreneur, you must have made thousands of important decisions in your career. Out of them, which decision do you think is the best you have made?

The best decision I ever made was to initiate The Barnhouse project and solve the problems that came to me after I started it. I was the Chairman, Chief Designer, and the Partner at the Barnhouse. Despite all this,I officially left Barnhouse by withdrawing my shares. I made this decision at a time when the company is making huge profits.

I had to come up with that decision because what I had done was successful and I had nothing more to give. Also, I wanted to pursue other new projects. My decision to start the Barnhouse and leave were two of the most important decisions I ever made in my life. One of the important recent decisions I made was to launch the project “Let’s Redesign Sri Lanka”. This is considered as a political movement. It is a project that works for a system change. The young generation has many dreams, but only a very few can make them a reality. The most important fact to consider when making decisions is to make decisions on time. Decisions made after the right time are futile.

10. You have won many awards, and you have brought recognition to our country. Who helped you on this journey, and what was the feeling when you won these awards? Tell us about your experience regarding this.

You are the greatest award I have ever received. When I travel to different places, people always approach me and ask about me. If a person receives love from his country’s people, it is the most significant award he/she can receive in their life. The rest is materialistic. Putting a smile on your face is my most unparalleled achievement.

11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now, and what do you think is the next do what you love step in your life?

I want to rise to the most but do what top of Sri Lankan politics in the next five you can to years because I want to change this educa achieve most tion system. The next five years will be a profitably very challenging journey. I want to “unlock” the younger generation. To provide opportunities for them to succeed and learn new concepts and help them start their businesses. This is one of the goals of “Let’s Redesign Sri Lanka” project as well. After making this change, in terms of my profession, I would love to follow “Super Potters” like Bernard Leach and Tomimoto Kenkichi and become a “Super Potter.”

12. What is your message to the younger generation and future chartered accountants?

Accounting is a much-needed subject in society. However, it needs to be humanised. It is very difficult to humanise a subject like accounting when you work in an organisation. However, if you want to become an entrepreneur, you must humanise this subject in your industry.

Interviewed by:

Malshi Shyamika (Keerthi Mihiripenna & Company), Surami Nethmini (Jayasinghe & Company), Sanduni Madushika (BDO Partners), Teshani Wickramaarachchi (Kreston Sri Lanka), Ruqayyah Hameed