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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Himani's road to success... : From sewing pillow cases to creating body armoury for the forces by Farah Macan Markar White, blue and green. They are the colours of Sri Lanka's forces. At war or at peace, the soldiers of our country are on the alert, either fighting a war or preparing for one. We see them everywhere, dressed in their various assortment of uniforms-the combat suits worn in action, the fatigues worn at rest or the smart, crisp uniforms of ceremonial wear.
Just where do these uniforms and other accessories our forces wear, come from? Some are imported but the rest are turned out here and the woman behind their creation is Himani Wijetunge, whose shop Harsha & Mohandas is Sri Lanka's first and only body armour manufacturer. Himani began her business in a small way at home, using cut pieces of fabrics to stitch pillow cases and small garments in 1986. Mohandas Ajith Wijetunge who was her boyfriend at the time and later became her husband gave her, a helping hand with the business. As she had no vehicle of her own, she travelled by bus to purchase the necessary raw materials. Her first earnings was splurged on a scooter of her own, to use during work. This red scooter can still be seen at the premises and is, as she says, "A souvenir of the old days". In 1989 Himani was able to build her own factory, which she did at Kadawatha since it was near the Ranmuthugala Army Camp. Sampath Bank came to her aid by providing her a loan to purchase 27 sewing machines. The road to success however was not smooth. When Himani first got her business registered for tender, nothing came her way for the first two to three years. Then suddenly she got a break, with a Rs. 3000 order to manufacture army flags. Next she got a Rs.300 000 order to supply the Army with Khakie shirts. Gradually Himani built herself up to becoming the only supplier in Sri Lanka, and a woman at that, for uniforms and other accessories for the Armed Forces. Today the business has evolved into a family concern with her husband, and his two brothers, Harsha Jude Wijetunge and Ushara Sujitha Wijetunge pitching in. Himani and Harsha do the canvasing, business and the administration. Mohandas does the foreign sector and is in charge of technical matters. Ushara is in charge of the manufacturing side in the factory. When asked what its like being a woman in charge of such a business, Himani says, "It takes a lot to have deals with the army. There are so many men. I have to be strong as a woman, which I am. I am not the type of woman to sit down and wait without saying anything when I am wronged. I fight for what is mine and I fight for what is right". A woman of perseverance, determination and dedication, those qualities are reflected in her business which has expanded to two sister companies Harsha International and Mohandas & Sons. On speaking about her business Himani and her husband say, "What we do is not only a business, but also a service to the country. Through us the government can save money, for we give our products at a cheaper price. Through our equipment we help protect the lives of our soldiers". Himani's main line of business is supplying Military Uniform/Combat B.D.U. suits and other accessories to the Armed Forces, which she says is a twenty four hour chore. Her company has a work force of over 300 people. Her motto is "To provide quality goods at a reasonable price and within the time stipulated". The secret of Himani's success is the way the company does its work. "When we want certain items from foreign countries, we go there personally to check the item, study it, see whether it can be developed here and choose what is suitable. Our aim is to get good quality products and at the lowest possible price", she says proudly. In recent years Himani has diversified her activities from the supply of military uniforms, combat suits and other accessories to supplying body protection kits and other technically sophisticated items like ballistic helmets, bodyarmour, flackjackets and fire retard materials. Thus the company, whose roots lie in a woman who used to stitch pillow cases at home has developed to what it is today. When asked what she has to say about her success, she says, "I owe a lot to my husband, who was my funder and guidance behind everything". |
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