In a horse carriage made for two
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By Dilushi Wijesinghe
Meril Fernando
Meril Fernando is one who helps make such dream weddings a reality. Growing up in Nainamadama, a coastal town in the North Western Province, he developed an abiding love for horses at quite a young age. Having completed his schooling at Maris Stella Negombo, he went into his family’s fibre business but this did not limit him from later branching onto a new track – a horse and carriage line.
Mr. Fernando started in a small way during the latter months of 2016 when he offered horseback riding at hotels such as the Galle Face in Colombo, contributing to tourism experiences. His first purchase to kickstart his business was a pony from Negombo.
He got thinking about this niche market when he was unable to meet a request for a horse carriage for his church, the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Nainamadama where one was needed for a procession in the beginning of 2017. Determined to contribute at some point, he decided to meet the demand and Royal Horse Carriages was founded.
At present, Mr. Fernando owns 12 carriages, two of which have been imported from the United Kingdom, and the rest designed by him and turned out locally. He has also expanded his stables and currently has nine horses, two of the Indian Marwari breed and seven of the breed known as Three Quarter. Mr. Fernando’s carriages are hired out for various occasions such as weddings, school walks, photo shoots, parades, funerals and church feasts in any part of the country. They have figured in school walks with schools such as Maris Stella College, St. Thomas’ Catholic International College, with many others in Negombo, Seeduwa, Matara, Wennappuwa, Kurunegala, Narammala and Pannala also using them to add some excitement to celebratory events.
Mr. Fernando’s talent and hard work and the support of his team of seven has enabled him to take on a variety of events.
His horses and carriages have been featured in three teledramas including ‘Papa’s House’ filmed in Nuwara Eliya and ‘Ran Bandi Minissu’, filmed in Nikaweratiya, Giriulla and Dambadeniya. They also featured in Sunil Perera’s song ‘Bongiorino’ and have played their part in five Christmas song videos, he says with pride.
Meril Fernando can be contacted on tel: 077 789 9322, 077 770 0709 or via email - horseridingsrilanka@gmail.com
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