Amrith Masala Talk and Mr. Chico Texas in town soon

by Surekha Galagoda

The latest dining experience in town - Amrith Masala Talk and the second Mr Chico Texas outlet will be launched by the end of this month at Vajira Road, Colombo 6, said its owner, the chairman of Jaycey Group of companies Mahinda Ramanayake. A Mr Chico Texas Outlet will be opened in the Maldives before December.

The Chairman of Jaycey Group of Companies Mahinda Ramanayake started his career in 1969-1970 as a Program Producer at the SLBC, but was interdicted six times. "I got fed up of the job after getting interdicted again and decided to go on my own."

Therefore, I bought a small printing machine for Rs 50,000 and started supplying cardboard cartons for the Government factory after setting up Jaycey Industries Limited on February 12, 1982. Initially we were engaged in offset printing of all types of cartons boxes, leaflets, brochures and posters.

During this time the GM of International Garments, Nimal Rajapakse, Ananda and Chandrasiri Ganegoda, Directors of the Mayura Group helped me a great deal by giving me the initial orders.

This was the time I wanted to move into the manufacturing of detergents but I found that the packing material was a problem. I met a person who was supplying packing material and requested him to provide me with 1,000 bottles per month but he refused and this also demoralised me. This gave me more determination and I succeeded with the help of a carpenter who made a hand filling machine.

As fate would have it 15 years later Ramanayake purchased all the machines from the person who refused to supply the bottles.

Corrugated factory

After some time he experienced a problem with the outer cartons. His solution was to start a corrugated factory and his philosophy was that we should be self-sufficient or else we become a burden to others. Therefore we have to venture out and supply whatever we want.

During one of his visits to India Ramanayake met 2-3 persons who were involved in the restaurant business and were keen to set up a restaurant chain in Sri Lanka and that was the birth of Amrith.

When we started the Amrith Restaurant at Dickmans Road we needed bottled mineral water which led to us to venture into the mineral water business 15 years ago as a pioneer.

At present the Sogo brand by Megaway Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd has obtained all certifications such as SLS and ISO. The company is also the pioneer producer of Sogo Oxgen which is more purified water. It is purified under a special seven stage filtration process and is super charged. Oxygenated drinking water has no added chemicals, electro chemical augmentation or hydrogen peroxides.

The factory of Shaa Cola Beverages (Pvt) Limited at Miriswatta, Horana produces carbonated mineral water Shaa Cola, Shaa Tamarind, Shaa Tamarind and many other flavours in 1500 ml mega bottles. In addition for the first time in Sri Lanka they also produce fruit cocktails in lemon, lime, peach, mandarin and other flavours with less than 4% alcohol. The factory employs 110 and has a production capacity of nearly five million 1500 ml carbonated drink bottles per month.

He said that once when he was in Singapore he saw a newspaper advertisement of the franchise of Mr Chico Texas. "The love to do difficult things made me apply for it.

We negotiated the terms and conditions and purchased it outright and today I am the SEA Franchise owner for Mr Chico Texas." He purchased the franchise for Mr Chico Texas for the entire South East Asia region which includes China, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh.

First outlet

Ramanayake said that the first outlet of Mr Chico Texas was opened in Sri Lanka on January 21, this year in Nugegoda. He said that it was the hottest concept in the fast food industry in Sri Lanka with world class advisors and professionally proven restaurant management.

The gourmet/western cum coffee and dessert corner with a children's play area which provides appetising fast food with worldwide appeal is conducted with brand and management endorsement from an international group. The interior decor is by K.S. Tan of Malaysia while the equipment consultant is Dick Seow of Singapore. Internationally reputed Johnny Tong is the consultant.

Ramanayake said that as no business can be done sans advertising he ventured into the field of TV and Radio network with MAX radio and TV and assured that both will give islandwide coverage by October. It has its own broadcasting station studio and control room with the most sophisticated equipment at Nugegoda.

Miyura Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd, another subsidiary of the Jaycey Group of Companies records compact discs and cassettes. The production capacity is over 2.5 million cassettes and compact discs per month.

MGM Credit and Investments (Pvt) Limited, a limited liability company plans to be a prominent and stable financial institution by next year. The company provides financial and advisory services for small and medium scale business ventures, financing vehicles and machinery, real estate and property development, personal loans consumer durables and educational loans portfolio management, business loans and mortgage of properties.

Squard Yard Security and Investigation Service (Pvt) Ltd, a prominent security organisation handles corporate personal security and supplies bodyguards and civil security personnel. The company also provides armed security for cash gems and valuables in transit.

All companies employ 750 people and we have a very strong asset base.

His advice to would-be entrepreneurs is start a venture with the money you have and don't get into debt but you should be fully committed.

Future plans

Explaining his future plans, he said that he has nothing to achieve as he has achieved everything but his only dream is to establish a fund for people who need money to undergo operations and see that our children do better than us. A proud father of two sons and one daughter he acknowledged the support he receives from his wife Sriyani. He has three grand daughters.

Hailing from Matara his father was in the army while his mother was a housewife. He has three sisters. Ramanayake was educated at Ananda Shasthralaya Kotte and Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya and is a graduate of the Katubedda University.

He was recently honoured with the Asian Gold Star Award by the Vice Chancellor of the Malaysian Open University John Hoppson.

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