'Step
into my shoes'
Meet
Samarawikrama, a ladies' shoe specialist and designer who brings his
service to your door
By Ruwanthi
Herat Gunaratne and Vidushi Seneviratne
We are atop a hill. CTB buses whiz past below. Behind
us is a workshop situated in an outwardly ordinary house. Once inside
everything changes.
The
cluttered workshop and (inset) Samarawikrama the 'shoe-maker'.
Pix by M. A. Pushpakumara
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Welcome
to the world of Nasa. No it's not a space station that has been
relocated in Sri Lanka, but a cobbler's paradise. It is the workshop
of K. G. C. Samarawikrama, a ladies shoe specialist and designer.
"No I'm
not a cobbler by profession," says Samarawikrama laughing at
our bemused expressions. "I was initially employed at a garment
factory. I started at the bottom and gradually worked myself up
over 18 years. Then it was on to 'Ashan', an aluminum workshop that
made anything from ironing boards to saucepans."
A few years
into that job and Samarawikrama resigned from his position, went
home and
pondered. He wanted to do something different, innovative and profitable.
Shoes seemed like a breath of fresh air. His only contact in the
shoe business though, was his nephew, who had background experience
in the craft. But that was enough. He also needed a name and a logo.
"I noticed that all the shoe shops had only two letters in
their names so Nasa seemed appropriate." As for the logo the
Swastika seemed interesting. So that it was. He employed an experienced
cobbler named "Mahathun" and he was on his way.
Mahathun hung
around only for a few weeks but that did not hinder the progress
of Nasa. "That's one of the key features in the shoe business,
the workers come and go. But as long as you set and keep your standards
you can thrive in the business." And thrive he has with two
successful years behind him and orders coming in day by day.
Samarawikrama
did not want to be just another participant in the wonderful world
of shoe making. He wanted to create shoes under his own label with
a guarantee of quality, creativity, after sales service and the
promise of the shoe being delivered right to your door.
Unbelievable?
It's true. His custom - fitted and designed shoes are delivered
to you at no extra cost. Why not go about it the regular way? Introduce
the brand to a shop and let them do the handling and costing? "I
did attempt it during the initial stages but the entire procedure
became a farce. I would give them the finished products at a subsidized
rate and they would sell for double the price. I soon realized that
I could supply the products to the customer's doorstep with a guarantee
of quality at a more competitive price," he explained.
So what is
so special about this shoemaker? To begin with, all you need to
do is call him at home in Pannipitiya, and he turns up at your door
within minutes if necessary in a trishaw. Then begins the process
of taking your order. First he spreads his samples on your verandah.
Once you spot the design you like, you get to choose the material
and heel of your choice from the wide array he has. Not satisfied
with the collection he presents? All you then need to do is leaf
through his catalogues or simply design your own shoe. Have a personal
favourite that now looks a little out of date? Update it with the
latest in shoe material and add the trendiest heel to enhance it.
After carefully
noting down all your requirements Nasa (since that is what he is
called) then goes about drawing your foot on his specially made
blue tinted sheet of paper. Once that is done you are asked to fit
on a sample shoe to get the perfect fit. "The problem in buying
shoes off the shelf is that they are not made with your foot in
mind. Shoemakers work with specific blocks ranging in size from
1 to 8 etc." He points out our feet explaining that though
we both might share the same shoe size that does not necessarily
mean that the same shoe might fit us both. Our insteps, the width
and the length might differ even in millimetres.
Once this is
completed everything is packed into a large cardboard box and Nasa
and his collection of shoes zoom back to Pannipitiya in the three
wheeler.
All the day's
orders are then processed. And the following morning as Pathirana,
Sunanda, Priyantha and Anura walk in for work at 9:00 a.m. they
are each given around four orders to work on. Work has to be completed
within the day. The more intricate designs are only attempted under
the watchful eyes of Samarawikrama himself. "Quality cannot
be compromised at any cost," says this tough taskmaster. On
seeing a slight mistake Priyantha is promptly asked to redo an entire
shoe. The workshop is cluttered. Shoe making utensils are strewn
around making a perfect mess. Anura works on a low bench on the
floor whilst Priyantha and Sunanda have tables all to themselves.
"I ask them to work in a way that is most comfortable to each
of them. Their best work is turned out only then."
Samarawikrama
himself purchases the items needed for the shoes from Pettah himself.
Using a special gum, a hammer and minute nails the shoe is completed.
Samarawikrama then gives it the final test and it's ready for delivery.
That done,
out comes the three-wheeler once again, this time on a delivery
trip. Samarawickrama himself goes from house to house making sure
that the customers are satisfied with the end product.
But where does
he get the designs? "I issue ten new designs a month and they
are each given specific codes. These are drawn mainly from customer
input. Their own specific needs are what guide me towards getting
that perfect shoe."
He has made
shoes for ladies he met on the elevator and young girls with no
idea what they were in for. "I take the order as it comes,"
smiles this entrepreneur, "I sometimes visit with the objective
of selling one pair of shoes and end up selling five or six. Luck
plays a big role."
The future
looks good. "My next step is start up a children's shoe business,"
he says. "And yes I will open a shop," answering our unasked
question. "But it will be a sample shop - where you could walk
in and pick the shoe, the material, the colour and the heel and
have it if necessary within an hour, custom-made especially for
you!"
Samarawikrama
is in a class of his own. His amiable nature and cajoling manner
have become the trademarks of his success. As we get ready to leave,
he asks, "Sapaththuwak hadamuda ehenang?" (So what about
a pair of shoes?)
Join
the SLANA run today
Drugs;
one for the main causes for the ruin of youngsters in our country.
It's sad but true. To fight this menace, the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics
Association (SLANA) has for the past twelve years been organising
a National Health Run targeted at creating an awareness of this
killer amongst all Sri Lankans.
This year the
run is being held today, September 1, starting off at Galle Face
Green. "The run is 14km long, but there is also another route
which is 7km,"says Ms. Dharshini Guniyangoda, Director of SLANA.
The main objective
in holding this event is to encourage public participation to shape
opinion against drug abuse, to highlight the dangers of drug abuse
to health and productivity and promote healthy alternatives.
The run will
take participants around the streets of Colombo and will end with
a grand cultural show by the Police Cultural Troupe and an exhibition
by Police dogs.
"I have
been a part of the National Health Run for four years now,"
says M. Shafraz, a student studying in the Commerce stream at Zahira
College, Colombo. " When I initially began it was simply to
boost my own energy levels since I am a strong believer that education
is not complete without an essential sport element. But after the
first run I realised that there was a lot more to this project."
Shafraz now says that a project of this nature was instrumental
in bringing together a number of youth from varied communities.
He says that amongst his best friends are those that he had met
during the run itself.
SLANA is a
non-profit organisation working in drug abuse prevention and human
development since 1987. The organisation has been involved in many
national activities to promote youth development and drug prevention.
It is together with the collaboration of the Police Narcotics Bureau
and City Traffic Police that this event is organised. Bank of Ceylon
is the principal sponsor.
Registration
began at 5:00 a.m. today at the Green but if you can rush down right
now you might still be able to catch the action.
-Ruwanthi-
Many
a winding path that leads home
We
had to get a task done by an organization located off the main bus
route. We normally went there by trishaw, which we hired at the
junction, but this time we were out
of luck. After a few futile attempts to get a trishaw at the usual
price we decided to walk. The road was long and I slacked. My companion
kept a steady pace as she punctuated the journey with encouragement
"It's just a little way now..." while I tried not to think
of the work that had to be done before the day ended.
City people
tend to live by the clock. We get up at dawn making mental notes
of all the things that have to be completed during the day. Any
variance from the schedule and we find ourselves feeling on edge.
I resolutely tried not to think of the time that was being breached.
Instead I made myself enjoy the serenity of the countryside.
Cows grazed
in forlorn paddy fields. The few paddy fields that have been cultivated
this season do not show much promise. The failure of the southwest
monsoon is mirrored in the stalks that are lean and tending to be
choked by the weeds. The pungent smell of thin sheets of wood shavings,
left to dry in the sun greeted my nostrils. "These are used
to make Popsicle sticks," my companion informs me. Passing
by, I ask whether the owner would object if I touched the sheets.
I was fascinated by the grain on the sheets. It looked very pretty.
In the city I never would have imagined that such sheets were used
to make the mundane sticks that we so carelessly throw away, even
before the last morsel of ice has melted away on the tongue.
We walked through
a state plantation of rubber. Those wooded acres gave one a sense
of peace as the sun dappled leaves formed a canopy that gave the
traveller a restful shade as they passed by, transient but nevertheless
welcome. On smallholdings these trees are being felled relentlessly
after being "slaughter tapped". Rubber is no longer an
attractive proposition to those who have smallholdings. An economist
would cry, "halt" as it plays a major role in the production
of local rubber goods. But the stakeholder would say: "Give
me an incentive to hold on to it. If it does not give me a profitable
return I cannot benefit". So there goes the "chop".
I am just a traveller and I mourn the passing away of the rubber
plantations. They have a beauty and an atmosphere all their own
The tea plantation does not have it as the sun shines directly down
affording very little shade - they are nice from a distance. The
coconut plantations are stark and one cannot walk entirely at ease
under their branches. But the rubber ... that is different.
Ouch my feet
ached! I tried to keep abreast of my companion and almost stumbled.
"Is it a long way more?" I ask, longing to hear the word
"no". My companion laughs: "To us this is nothing,
if we spend money on travelling short distances, we will not have
enough to buy our needs."
True, travelling
in the village is very costly. If one travels anywhere other than
on the main highway the only mode of transport left is the tri-shaw,
which is also few and far between, because customers are few. The
village is only in need of a tri-shaw in an emergency. At other
times they prefer - nay they are compelled to walk. The tri-shaw
is too expensive for general travel, unless of course the driver
is a relative and offers to take you to your destination.
Some of the
State's main poverty reduction strategies centre on transport, as
it would help the poor go places. But, as yet, the only buses that
operate are on the main highway, and they are a law unto themselves.
Ever since
Mr. Choksy spoke of price reductions no one is quite sure what the
fare to town is -It used to be Rs.6/-. Now, it varies between Rs.6/-
and Rs.8/- depending on the whims of the conductor.
Truly, a bus
at least twice a day linking one village with another would be welcome,
as successive governments have spent a considerable amount of money
broadening footpaths in order that vehicles can gain access to village
hamlets. But the chances are that the service will be under-utilized.
Because the bus service will not keep to time and the people will
prefer to walk, as it will save their time.
They walk not
on the main highway, but on well worn tracks that only the village
folk know. They can take you from point A to B sometimes faster
than the crow flies. In the village there is many a winding footpath,
but they all lead home.
Marisa
de Silva joins in the fun at FONCA's annual holiday camp for needy
children
Sing-songs and sightseeing
We arrive at the Deaf and Blind School Anuradhapura early
on a Tuesday morning to meet some 65 children who are enjoying a
rare holiday. The FONCA (Friends Of Needy Children Association)
annual holiday camp is organised especially for children from various
homes who have nowhere to go and no one to take them in, during
school vacations. Their holiday is funded by contributions from
the public.
Pix
by Ishara S Kodikara
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This
time around FONCA had 65 children ranging from 9-19 years from the
Punyawardanaramaya Children's Home, Kidelpitiya, Bandaragama, Kalutara,
Don Bosco Boys Home, Maggona, St. Mary's Boys Home, Kalmunai, Batticaloa,
Keerthi Lama Nivasaya, Rambukkana and Sri Premananda Children's
Home, Dambulla.
The children
were ready that morning for a sightseeing tour of the 'Ate masthana'
(8 destinations of religious and historical significance). The ritualistic
chant of "Sadhu sadhu sa...", by the Buddhist boys began
as soon as the bus began to move.
'Sing-song'
sessions were definitely the order of the day. Whilst one half of
the bus was filled with lusty singing from the young lads from the
east, the other end was adding to the merriment by singing 'baila'
tunes with much gusto. Although the Tamil and Sinhala songs being
sung simultaneously was not exactly a piece of musical genius, it
at least sent out a flicker of hope towards a more peaceful tomorrow.
Our first destination
was the 'Isurumuniya Raja Maha Viharaya', built by King Devanampiyatissa,
the first rock temple built in Sri Lanka. Mr. Lokubandara, our guide
gave the children a lengthy and descriptive history on every sight
they saw and the boys were quite receptive, some even taking down
notes.
The boys from
the east had a leader amongst them who understood and spoke all
three languages and he translated from Sinhala to Tamil. This was
taken in good spirit, with the Tamil children showing no resentment
that they couldn't understand the guide and the Sinhala children
not minding the lengthy translation. Then it was time for some one-on-one
interaction.
Sendoor (17),
the translator for the boys from the east, said that in Kalmunai
(where they were from), the war had not affected their studies and
lives to such a great effect. However, whenever there was an attack,
they had to stay in their homes or take shelter of some sort. They
followed the normal curriculum and had students from around the
island in their school. Students from Matara, Negombo and even Bandarawela
came to their school in Batticaloa due to the lack of Tamil schools
in their area, he said.
Sugath, a caretaker
from 'one of the homes, was literally 'the-boy-from-next-door' as
he was from the 'Pinnawela Elephant Reserve', located in the neighbourhood
of the home. He helped out at the home whenever he was free and
had accompanied the boys on this trip as the Buddhist monk in charge
of their institute had found it difficult to do so himself.
Some of these
children are refused entrance to schools in their areas as they
have no birth certificates. But with or without a birth certificate,
they still have a right to an education.
Leelaratne
(17), was unable to get into a school in the area as he had no birth
certificate. The 'Pirivena school', run by the Buddhist monks in
certain areas too, had refused him entrance as he was over age.
So, what becomes of this young mind? Nothing much really. It will
just remain semi-educated and stagnant, awaiting a change in the
system.
Likewise, Anton
Herat (16) from Maggona said that of the 85 boys at his home, 80
were schooling and the remaining five who didn't possess birth certificates
helped out in the kitchen or farm work. They also received extra
lessons in basic communication and writing skills from a tutor who
visited the home a few times a week and were also all sent for Sunday
school classes.
Give
them this chance of a lifetime
This type of opportunity to help make each day brighter
for someone else doesn't come by too often. For FONCA this has been
their main intention for quite a while now.
Founded in
1993 by Mr. and Mrs. John Perera, FONCA's membership has grown over
the years.
FONCA now helps
45 of the 200 homes islandwide by providing them with necessities
unique to each home.
They identify
what each particular home requires most and try their best to provide
it for them.
It just shows
how far a little bit of love and generosity can take you. This annual
event, organised by FONCA, not only gives these boys the opportunity
to see sights and scenes they have never seen but build strong,
maybe even lifetime ties with children from differing backrounds.
Everything
FONCA does and especially this holiday is made possible by generous
members of our community who offer to sponsor a child or many children.
On the last
day of the holiday each child writes a letter of appreciation and
gratitude to their sponsors telling them of what they saw and did
etc.
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