Setbacks: the real force behind success

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He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Reputation and wealth had not touched his family when he was born to a farmer family reduced to extreme poverty in the remote recesses in Kothmale. Here is that inspirational interview the Sunday Observer had with this prolific businessman.

Q: Could you elaborate the early stage of your life before you came to Colombo?

A: During my childhood, I ran the gauntlet of poverty by wearing the only one school uniform to Hedunuwewa Central College. I took special care not to trouble or exploit my parents for money or extra food but adapted to the family situation even preparing to face the worst. The stoical nature inherent in me made me even more optimistic to life's non-stop challenges. I got a little money in return for some minor work I had done for others and with this pinch of money I bought pens and stationary for school work. Back at home after school, I used to graze the cattle, help father in the field and in the evening, go to the temple where I learnt to read and do school work under the guidance of monks. My siblings were helpless to guide me at school work because they themselves had been deprived of schooling at the earliest childhood.

The chief monk at the temple, who was the sole undisputed scholar in the whole village, volunteered to guide and counsel me. With fine counselling and mind building the chief monk opened new horizons for me and further inspired me to win the new world which was very far from the Kothmale villagers.

Once my mother said "Son, be a winnowing fan rather than a sieve which retains the trash and dispose of what is best. But the winnowing fan does the other way round. You must reach a supreme position in society".

Having been imbued by my mother's words of emotional urge, I pursued my studies and got selected to the University of Sri Jayawardenepura in 1970 in commerce stream being the first student to gain access to a university from Kothmale area.

Meanwhile, the government examination for recruitment of clerks had been gazetted and I applied for the examination. I went for the examination wearing only a short trousers because I did not have a long trousers. I had a traumatic experience at the bus when some boys burst out with insulting remarks "Hey, Godaya, Hinganna, are you going to do clerk's job in short trousers?"

This insolent wording by the boys did not effect any emotional breakdown in me but only accelerated the process of my mental build up, courage and determination to rise above my humble background. Strangely enough, the person in short trousers was the only lucky candidate who had passed the recruitment examination from the whole Kothmale seat.

However I received the calling letter for the interview but I had only one trousers and a shirt which had been tailored with the money my mother had collected in a till. Having wrapped my only asset in a paper, I desperately sent my hand to my pocket only to feel it empty. In despair, I resorted to a course of actions that nobody would have dared to think of. Money has to be earned to answer my immediate need, which is a matter of self respect. I sold two of my economics text books for Rs. 20, the clothing I wore for observation of Sil for Rs. 10 and decided to go round the village to collect the rest of the money needed to buy a new trousers and a shirt. Tragic enough, no villager except one uncle, gave me any money to go to Colombo. Finally I came to Colombo with the bit of money.

Q: How were you able to save a big amount of money?

A: I came to Colombo in 1970 as I got a job as a clerk in government service. My salary amounted to Rs. 247.50 and I carefully maintained a record of the money I earned and spent in a book which I cherish even today.

My father gave this preliminary idea of record. Afterwards as my salary increased, I deposited more in a bank and sent more money home with no increase at all in the amount of money spent on my personal needs. By year 1985, I managed to deposit my whole salary in the bank and the bank provided interest of Rs. 1,600 for my personal needs. By then my wages was around Rs. 3,000.

 Q: How did you feel to enter the university?

A: At the latter part in 70s, I entered the University of Jayawardenepura, keeping a hilarious record of being the lowest ranker. My A/L results was 4 Ss. The day I entered the university, I resolved to focus my attention to two things in my life; to obtain highest marks at the degree and to develop professional education in the country which was being enjoyed by a limited crowd from well to do families. So, I worked hard to execute my ambitions.

Q: Could you elaborate the initial stage of your endeavour?

A: It was all my hard working. I determined to achieve what I wanted with a concrete state of mind an ordinary adolescent would most probably have no courage to build up.

I studied while working. I worked from 8-4.30 and then attended lectures at the university from 5 a.m. - 8 a.n. After I went home I, with my group of friends started a scheduled study programme at the boarding hose which became very successful.

Q: When you find a group of students to study, you should be mindful to chose those who are really interested in studies, otherwise the whole programme could be sabotaged when you have a wrong selection for the group. On what basis you chose that group of students for the study sessions?

A: The criteria was not taken into much consideration. When I observed the capacity of various students at the university there were huge variations in their A/L results.

Having scored the lowest marks at A/Ls, with the intention of becoming a high performer, I wanted to start a society which would be able to help those who did not showcase super talents at the A/Ls. I could gather some students of that nature with high level of enthusiasm for studies.

With that group of students I formed a small society to study at night.

Q: You mean to say that the schedule is somewhat different?

A: Yes, of course! That was a schedule that everyone in the group had to abide by. We studied at night from 8 p.m. - 1.30 a.m. as a team.

After lectures, everyone was required to attend the study session. At a particular place we assembled and one student was supposed to teach a particular subject while others were listening. Thus we worked on a daily basis.

It was a four year plan and we didn't change it for the convenience of the students in the group. We printed it and laminated the schedule paper so that it would not be spoilt or damaged.

Q: What is the importance of having a schedule?

A: When you plan your education you must have a life planing system. I worked according to a plan and passed out of the university as the top scorer of the year with merit passes.

Q: How did you overcome the challenge of illiteracy of English?

A: I faced a challenge of learning English while I was studying for the degree. So, I attended an extra class by paying Rs. 10 a month as class fees. I assertively express that the best way to keep something in memory is to teach it someone else. I taught three children what I learnt in the class and made extra income of Rs. 30.

Q: While you were at the university, as a result of political terror, many students were taken into custody with or without reason. You too encountered with that unexpected mishap. How did that drawback help you become what you are today?

A: That was a dramatic twist of my fate. I was imprisoned for nearly 8 months. Although I didn't consider it as a major setback in my life. While being in the jail, I observed that there were some students who came from poor families were suffering with numerous problems due to lack of good assistance and guidance. I would rather say that lack of good contacts. Some of them were well educated though unemployed. They hardly received political assistance to get government jobs.

Associating those youth and identifying their burning problems,another germ took root in my mind while I was in the jail. It was to pave the path to gain access for the professional studies for the children who come from unprivilileged families. That was a major milestone in my life for driving me towards achieving my goal - that's what I'm today. That's why I say that setbacks were the determining factors of my success.

Q: After being released from the jail, you set your concept in motion. You were able to put a stepping stone to your future trade. Could you elaborate that initial painstaking endeavour?

A: After I was released from the jail, I thought of starting an institute for professional studies. I started classes on a small scale in an abandoned weaving mill at Gangodawila, Nugegoda. I put up a small banner and distributed handouts about my new class. There were 2 students at the beginning. And it became three later on. But I was not at all discouraged by the number of students but, instead I was happy that I had two at the beginning and expanded it up to three in one day. I carried out a small calculation that I could increase the number of students by 50%.

I think that my attitude helped me in a great deal for achieving success. My thoughts were very positive. I thought to myself, "Jayasekera is marvellous. He can attract people within a very small span of time". Believing myself and my capability, I started the class with three students.

Thus I stated JMC at the age of 21 while I was still a student and I'm really proud of myself that I cater to over 25,000 students annually with 25 branches all over the country.

Q: At the beginning JMC was only for Professional Accounting and Management studies. How do you analyze the progress of the business today?

A: I am very proud to claim that JMC is the leading Professional Accounting and Management institute in Sri Lanka. JMC has a school for computing, vocational training centre, 21 International schools, 21 external degree faculties. And I have introduced a novel concept that "Saturday English school". That's for those who are studying in Sinhala medium in government schools. While they are studying at government schools, they can study the same subjects in English medium at the Saturday English School.

Q: Have you gained a prominent achievement today when you look back at your career?

A: Yes of course! I'm very happy due to various reasons. I bear the pride of being the first person to introduce professional accountancy in Sinhala medium which was a land mark in bringing professional studies to the village level. I'm also a proud teacher who produced the world's youngest charted accountant and also some distinguished figures like the President of the Institute of Charted Accountants.

I have produced more than half the number of charted accountants in Sri Lanka. I consider it as a huge achievement.

Another achievement is that JMC has been able to set up educational institutions in almost all the districts in the country.

So that those who wish to pursue their studies do not have to come to Colombo. I can distinctly mention those badly neglected areas such as Polonnaruwa now have JMC institutes for higher studies as well as International schools.

Q: What is the message you can give to the youth as a guidance?

A: I vehemently believe that everyone in this world is born with equal potential but the real challenge lies where people are backward in realising their inner capabilities that may be developed and lead to success.

The secret behind my success is hard work and dedication. We are people of a tropical country and the nature has given us the marvellous scope for working hard without stress or strain.

I'm of the infallible view that today's youth have positive attitudes but they tend to embark on large scale business projects rather than starting from a small business which will gradually expand to a massive enterprise with the passage of time and experience both positive and negative.