Moulding designs and generations of artisans from the 60s
View(s):By Tharooshie Mahahewage
Do you have an eye for ceramic and porcelain ornaments- love to collect them or looking for functional yet beautiful china for your home? Midaya Ceramics could be your Shangri-La then.
“We were established in 1968 by my father Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya and still continue as a family business,” says the Managing Director of Midaya Ceramic Co. (Pvt.) Ltd, Anura Warnakulasooriya, who adds that theirs is the longest surviving ceramic factory in the country producing mainly earthenware, porcelain, terracotta, and stone ware. “We have also received many awards,” he says proudly.
A unique touch: Hand painted items and customised service Pic by Ranjith Perera
The company caters mainly to an export market but times have been tough the last 10 to 15 years with China’s entry into the market. “They can produce the same items we produce for a lower price and their low quality didn’t bother buyers that much. Now though, our products are recognised again by the international market,”Anura says.
He gives the example of a ‘Winnie the Pooh’ ornament they turned out for Disney, U.S., which they sold at one dollar per piece. Disney in turn sell it at 10 dollars while China offered to sell at 50 cents. “Due to incidents like this, we lost many U.S. customers but we now have acquired many U.K. partnerships. Now our main dealership is centred on European nations.”
Here in Sri Lanka, their products could also be found at select stores such as ODEL, Laksala, Bargain shop, Paradise Road, The Legend and Arpico but the good news is that the company has recently opened an outlet on Union Place. “We opened this showroom due to requests from customers. Earlier we only exhibited at sales and exhibitions,” says Aruna.
A unique feature about Midaya Ceramics is that their products are hand painted. Therefore they can provide a customised service and no two designs will be the same.
“We employ around 250 workers, about 90 percent of whom are girls and a second generation of employees as well where both the mother and daughter now work side by side. We have given employment to a lot of people,” Aruna says. Midaya also recently started a village project in Uda Walawe where they buy the clay products made by villages. “The special clay is imported from Thailand. The villagers not only get a higher income through this -where earlier they would earn only five rupees for a pot now they earn about 50. They also gain recognition in the market as pots made by them have their own unique symbol.”
Called Glazed Terracotta this is both microwave as well as dish washer safe. Corporate gifts like mugs and souvenirs, gift items, ornaments, dinner sets, kitchen ware, bathroom accessories, flower vases, Christmas crib statues and other religious statues are some of the many products they offer, being perhaps the only factory in South and East Asia which has such a diversified product range.
Their latest gift item is hand pressed clay. “I have little reliefs of my children with their hand print on them. It’s beautiful and heartwarming. We can show our children one day and since they can touch it, it will be different from a mere photograph,” says Neluni Warnakulasooriya, Aruna’s wife who is the manager of the new shop which also has gift vouchers and a gift wrapping service.
See also www.midaya.com.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus