Express yourself - it's all in the name

It certainly was an odd name for a shop. Any shop. Each time I passed it I would crane my neck to catch a glimpse of what was inside. No such luck. I had to drop in, and one day I did. Ironically that is exactly what Dilith and Waruni had expected their prospective customers to do when they named their shop 'Article 14-Freedom of Expression'.

Dilith Jayaweera and Waruni Amunugama Fernando, long-time friends and business partners, couldn't have hit upon a better name for their newest business venture: wrought iron furniture. Managing Directors of Triad, their own advertising company, they were seeking ways to diversify and make further use of their own creativity. 

So in came the idea of wrought iron furniture. 'Hammer', their outdoor advertising workshop came in handy, serving as a workshop for the new venture. But after some time they realized that a showroom would attract many more customers. Enter 'Article 14 -Freedom of Expression', bringing together a classy collection of wrought iron furniture. From simple but elegant garden chairs and dining tables to quaint candle holders and lamps ideal to fill corners of the living room, 'Article 14' offers a treat in iron. 

Clients are also free to give shape to their own ideas and designs. "If you don't like the back of this chair we'll change it the way you want it," assures Dilith. Now brush off those pangs of cynicism: you will not hit the roof when you hear the prices.

They explain that it's all in labour management. "We have given our artisans a feel for quality. They look upon these pieces as works of art. We are very happy and proud of our team and we have good customers and many orders - thanks to our team," says Dilith.

However, Dilith says that technically 'wrought iron' is the wrong term to describe their line. "Wrought iron is raw iron, heated and cast in a mould. But this is not available in Sri Lanka. Making furniture with wrought iron is not that easy. What we use is actually imported mild steel which can be easily moulded. But since people have got used to thinking of mild steel furniture as wrought iron, we stuck to the term," he explained. 

And what's with the name which evokes the passage in our constitution, which grants freedom of expression to all? Dilith and Waruni explain that they were looking for a name which stood out and reflected people's freedom of expression. Pointing at the paintings displayed on the walls, Waruni says that rural artists too have the chance to display their work at 'Article 14'. 

The fact that they are both law graduates, though they never went into practice, may also have contributed to their choice of name. 

"Also, with this name we have the total freedom to get into anything else we want in the future, not just wrought iron," says Waruni. Says Dilith, "We want to make it in the real sense of the word, actual freedom of expression." Putting a word in for the connotations of this particular name in iron business, he says "Iron is a hard way to express yourself: not like using pen and paper." So, as they imagined "Article 14" fits nicely into the plan. 

What if the constitution changes? Smiling, they assure me, "Article 14 is in-built in people's minds as the article for freedom of expression, so we won't change."

Bravo, Susie!

The canteen was packed to capacity as usual. What was not usual was that nobody was at a desk, studying, eating or talking. Everybody was in front of the TV, sitting, standing, squatting. The sports buff, who had been faithfully following the Olypics, as well as the bookworm who didn't know diddly about it, was drawn to the TV as if to a magnet. It was impossible not to be a part of that magical moment. 

The atmophere was electrifying, unbearably tense. None of us could keep still. Those who were seated edged forward in their seats. Those who were standing struggled not to topple over their neighbours. Never in my life could I remember myself acting like such a basket case as I did on that memorable Thursday aftenoon. 

Isn't it amazing how one person could rivet the attention of an entire nation for a few breathtaking seconds? Susanthika had us in thrall. Lunch was forgotten. Lectures were neglected. All that mattered was that- she was in the final. 
"Will she do it?" 
"Of course she will. It's only a matter of seconds. Just keep quiet, will you?" 

The crowd would do anything but that. From the moment the starting gun went off, it was "Come on, Susanthika" all the way. During the last few metres everybody was on their feet. The canteen boomed with the absolutely delighted male and female voices crying out in unison. Those at the far back who couldn't see properly what was going on screamed anyway. There seemed to be no doubt whatsoever that she was going to make it. Make it she did in style. 

It took a few seconds for the shouts of glory to die down and a few more seconds for the idea to sink in. An Olympic medal for Sri Lanka after 52 years! Awesome! Nobody could get enough of it. Everytime the replay was aired we were flapping around with the wonder of it all. At the victory ceremony the sight of Susanthika standing on the podium next to Marion Jones, her face all ablaze with excitement, while the Lion flag was being raised along the Stars and Stripes, seemed almost surreal. 

It was not just her sister's knees that went wobbly, it was not just her father's heart that missed a beat, it was not just her mother's eyes that shed tears of joy - we all felt that and much more! If only you could have seen just how jubilant your countrymen were! You would have been just as proud of those people you won over along with that medal. 

Just how much granite was underneath that dazzling smile of hers? She ran against all odds and made good her promise. It was no mere swagger. Susanthika is one tough cookie. She proved it time and again. 

Bravo, Susie! We're so proud of you!.

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