Life and times of a breakthrough thinker
by Sri Sangabo Corea

Patrick Amarasinghe
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A little boy attending Ananda College had developed an unusual
fascination for carpentry as his hobby, and spent all his pocket money
on buying expensive tools. While some of his other friends were
collectors of stamps, coins and cricket pictures, this young lad was in
a world of his own, spending much of his time, experimenting on
furniture designing and innovating styles!
His parents, thought it was unusual for a boy of that age to get
hooked on to carpentry but they did not interfere. His father insisted
that he should be a doctor but he pursued the engineering stream and
just one week before the university entrance exam decided not to sit for
it as he felt he was not adequately prepared. This, infuriated his
father to such an extent that he stopped speaking to the son for almost
a year.
During this crisis two of his friends suggested that he should take
up to Accountancy and this he did, joining the Polytechnic to follow the
course and choosing A.I.Macan Markar, the well known firm of accountants
and auditors, to gain practical experience. This was young Patrick
Amarasinghe's second major decision in his life!
After 5 years, he joined Lawrie Muthukrishna & Co to audit the
Kalutara and Kandy district CTB depots soon after the bus services were
nationalised. When it was time to prepare the half yearly Audit Report
on behalf of the Auditor-General, the company's senior auditor, Mr
Nambiar, who was assigned to the task fell sick and the responsibility
of doing the honours fell on the shoulders of the young and enterprising
Patrick.
His report, considered the best, was highly commended and he was
given a raise in salary and a promotion - something the young man never
expected. That, was Patrick's first taste of success and from there
onwards he never looked back.
After a little over 2 years he joined The Associated Newspapers of
Ceylon Limited as an Assistant Accountant. Although he was doing a good
job and was well liked by all, his conscience told him that he should
venture out seeking more ambitious goals.
When the country was saddled with an insurgency in 1971 Patrick began
to realise that there was a dire need to generate employment for young
men and women. One morning when the situation in the country was worse
than the day before, Young Patrick, following the dictates of his
conscience dared to venture into an area where even angels feared to
tread. He decided to start up his own business even though he had only
Rs.65 of his hard earned money to begin with. He started Woodplex as a
backyard operation, armed with nothing more than the basic tools.
First impressions
Being by nature a firm believer that First Impressions Die Last, he
set up a secretariat cum office, giving it a posh appearance and
Woodplex was ready to go with all pistons firing ! For Patrick's luck a
Japanese who had been a long standing friend gave him all the
encouragement and support to purchase machinery on easy payment terms.
He, even went to the extent of obtaining export orders that would enrich
Woodplex with much needed foreign exchange and entrench the business on
a firm footing !
Patrick, very wisely started using for the very first time, rubber
wood which until then was commonly used as firewood. Starting with the
manufacture of wooden educational toys he later switched on to producing
utility knockdown furniture for the export market. A Japanese expert was
loaned to train and maintain international standards which helped
Woodplex to become a force to reckon with.
Realising that the domestic market was just as important as the
export market, Furni Fits was started, giving its products a
consumer-oriented image. "Woodplex toys that Teach" started with just 5
employees and later went on to employ 500 young men and women who did
Sri Lanka proud with their brand of loyalty and commitment. The raw
material that was purchased from firewoood depots went to transform an
impossible dream into a reality and both Woodplex and Furni Fits became
a trusted word in the domestic and export markets, ensuring good value
for money.
Patrick's next move was to build up the Small and Medium
Entrepreneurs who had enough and more bureaucratic obstacles in their
way. He formed the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) to fight for the
rights of exporters and as its founder President gave the Chamber a
brand of dynamic leadership removing most of the obstacles that were in
the way. The fact that Patrick was the unanimous choice to be its
Presidentr for 16 continuous years is a testimony to Patrick's astute
leadership.
He also served as President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce
for 6 years, yet another rare achievement.
He is the architect behind the introduction of the world renowned
Junior Achievement Programme to Sri Lanka, a subject that has been very
close to his heart. Now spread over 300 schools in the country, and
almost all functioning at peak efficiency YESL is one of the best things
that happened to young students with the flair for dynamic
entrepreneurship. With this kind of exposure to professional thinking,
planning and execution they are being groomed to play decisive roles in
managing businesses in the future.
Major breakthrough
A major breakthrough is that 100 of them are from rural areas. This
programme helps children to learn English, teaches them to be
independent, to work as a team member and develop self-confidence.
Patrick has spent his own money and time in introducing and nurturing
YESL. Their overwhelming success is a glowing tribute to Patrick's
sincerity of purpose for a worthwhile subject introduced to the school
curriculum.
Patrick has been doing so many things for others and neglected his
own affairs so much so that he has had no time to take a critical look
amongst all his admirers and contenders and select the right partner for
himself! He continues to be a bachelor and lives in his countryside
residence by the Kesbewa lake, tailor-made for a well deserved relaxed
lifestyle.
His house, in a sense has been created with woodplex and Furni Fit
innovations that he Patrick himself has designed. His library is so full
of his incredible achievements. He continues even in retirement to be a
source of inspiration to all those who are in contact with him and come
to him for advice.
Patrick Amarasinghe is a national minded citizen who will always have
the interest of his country foremost in his mind. He is certainly an
example for others to emulate!
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