It's a precious passion

By Roshan Peiris

Petite and creative Mallika Hemachandra is a big time entrepreneur, who has broken adroitly into a predominantly male bastion - jewellery making.

In 1968 she learnt to make jewellery under an American lady, Fran Hooker who held classes at the Y.W.C.A. Since then Mallika has competed with well-known names such as Pattakannus, Unique and Bullion plus all the little jewellery shops found along Sea Street, Pettah.

The secret of her success apart from an inborn talent is that she is good at designing. "I also don't let go a piece of jewellery until I have supervised every detail of it, before the stones are set. I also don't keep to traditional jewellery alone. Creativity and novel ideas intrigue me. In fact believe it or not, I have designed a gold and sapphire pendant to look like the famous Titanic," she said.

This is typical of Mallika. She now has four local outlets at Liberty Plaza, Majestic City, the Ceylinco building and at Nugegoda.

She also has a shop called 'Joyau' at the Sheraton Complex at Bahrain. Her jewellery is sought after by buyers in Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Dubai.

Wife of the late Dr. P. Hemachandra, she is a graduate of the Holborn School of Art and Craft Jewellery in Britain. In 1976 her talented craftsmanship received recognition, at a special showing for the heads of state of over 80 Non-Aligned countries.

She has also the distinction of displaying her jewellery for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh when on a visit here.

In 1997 Mallika won the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce gold award and the title Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of her outstanding performance.

Now her talented daughter Chamindri, a gemmologist who has a degree in accounting as well as jewellery casting and enameling learnt in Italy, is gradually taking over, helping the mother for starters.

Mallika's innovative creations entice the sophisticated tastes of the elite and her traditional designs are appreciated by more conservative clients.

Mallika Hemachandra Jewellers also have the licence to manufacture the much coveted Walt Disney jewellery in both silver and gold. Mallika proudly claims "we are the only shop here to manufacture Walt Disney jewellery."

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