The nostalgic call of the homeland can be compelling indeed.
To Rufus Pereira, the new General Manger at Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo, coming home after a twenty-five year sojourn overseas, and to a challenging job at that, seems to have been more alluring than the rich harvest of greener pastures.
Even though his return was unplanned, Mr. Pereira feels this is an opportunity for him to make use of his experience in the international hotel industry for Sri Lanka's benefit.
Mr. Pereira says his advent into the hotel industry is by default, and gives his father full credit for it. His father, as long ago as the late sixties saw Sri Lanka's potential in the hospitality trade. "He told me we would be the 'flavour' for a long time to come".
The hot blood of youth in Mr. Pereira refused to accept the validity of this perception, though now he concedes his father could not have been more right. Even unwillingly, he joined the Ceylon Hotel School to please his father.
But once there, he realised he was into something he could like a lot. He came through with flying colours as the most outstanding student of his batch and was awarded a scholarship to Germany to further his career. With the sizzling enthusiasm of a young man "oozing to learn", Mr. Pereira began his apprenticeship at Intercontinental Hotel in Hanover in 1971. Afterwards it was a stint at the Steingenberger Park Hotel, Dusseldorf, Germany, and then, the dream of any youth in the hotel trade Mr. Pereira found himself in Austria, at the Inter Continental in Vienna where he drank deep in the purity and refinement of the trade.
Time it was for him to move on and to Australia it was, and during a ten year stint at Old Melbourne Hotel, he worked his way up to the position of General Manager by 1984.
Recalling those busy yet rewarding years, Mr. Pereira believes he really proved himself as General Manager at Cumberland Resort Lorne, Victoria during 1989 - 1992, for it was during his tenure that the Victorian Tourism Commission awarded Cumberland the 'Resort of the Year' award. "It was a proud time for me."
Riding the wave of success, he them found himself the General Manager at Palm Lake Hotel, Melbourne and in 1994 decided to go it on his own as a consultant to Australia's hospitality industry. In 1996 he rejoined the trade as General Manager, Sheridan Plaza Hotel, Cairns, and from there, he returned to Sri Lanka and onto his present job.
Mr. Pereira is pleasantly surprised at the degree of professionalism in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry today. Infact he seems fascinated by the distinct sparkle of maturity the industry has acquired over the last two decades. "We have very willing people with a high standard of technical quality." He believes this is one of the strengths of Sri Lanka's hospitality trade. He was cautious in commenting while still finding his feet back home, yet he had seen enough to say "Probably what we lack is a recognition of performance at senior management level and the knack to give people the confidence to spread their wings."
Having been around the world, having sampled the hotel trade in the west, Mr. Pereira feels what Sri Lanka offers tourists is second to none. "Only it is a shame we can't get more dollars for what we are offering." He seemed amazed at the variety of food and beverage offered, the class and standards of rooms and facilities of the city's star hotels. "I can't see any room for customer complaints on what they get." Infact, in his opinion, tourists are getting good value for their money, the same standards and facilities for which they would pay so much more in other countries.
With two decades of experience to go by, he says Sri Lanka is a unique destination in the world hospitality trade.
It is only that there is a lot of image building to do among potential customers. In Australia, he says, each state promotes its own tourism and he feels that Paul Hogan has served his nation well in 'Crocodile Dundee' for that was excellent promotion for Australia globally. Australia's tourist industry had boomed after the film was released. "It was a very natural way of promoting the country."
The negative aspects of tourism as we see such as drugs and paedophiles, Pereira feels "is not really tourism but the fast pace of development."
He says tourism can only benefit a country and Sri Lanka has to be conscious of it all the time. "You can't do wonders and pull markets with a one-off bang. You need to be at it all the time."
The world must be reminded over and over again that Sri Lanka is there with her natural and cultural heritage and a professional hospitality industry to heighten the experience.
As for himself, Mr. Pereira is more than pleased with his job. "I have been given a pretty woman. I have to take care to maintain the make-up."
Mr. Pereira, with his work made easier for him by his predecessor Daniel Roche, plans to build a more technically professional team of people who will be proud of the place they work in and feel a sense of belonging.
"It is a great place to work and it's good to be home."
Although his family is still in Australia, Mr. Pereira is contented on home ground. The whimsical quirk of his smile said it all.
The four major private Banks; Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited, Sampath Bank Limited, Hatton National Bank Limited and Seylan Bank Ltd., released their provisional financial statements for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1996. Following are some of the highlights extracted from financial statements
The highest turnover recorded by the HNB which is amounting to Rs.4.792 billion. The next highest turnover was Rs.4.412 billion reported by Seylan Bank. Commercial and Sampath reported Rs.3.365 billion and Rs.1.916 billion respectively. Of the four banks HNB has reported highest increase: ie - 34.3% in turnover during the period under review. Changes of turnover compared to previous period is given below:
The four banks under consideration earned profits during the period. Except Seylan, other three banks were able to increase their profit before taxation. Highest increase of pre-tax profit was 18.6% reported by Commercial Bank. However, Seylan reported decrease in pre-tax profit by 33.4%.
The highest increase of after taxation reported by the Commercial Bank. HNB and Seylan reported decrease of profit after taxation.
The Commercial Bank paid dividends of Rs.80.3m. during the year. Seylan Bank proposed a dividend of Rs.43.5m. while making a bonus issue of shares by applying Rs.39.6m. out of profit. HNB made an iterim dividend of Rs.40.0m. and proposed a final dividend of Rs. 40.0m. during the year.
Increase of shareholders' funds is one of the significant features of the progress of the commercial banks under consideration. Among those Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd., recorded 47.2% growth in terms of shareholders' funds. The following table shows the camparative figures together with changes.
1996 1995 % Rs. Million Rs. Million Change Commercial Bank 580.3 489.0 +18.6 Sampath Bank 406.0 381.9 +6.3 HNB 572.8 563.5 +1.6 Seylan Bank 253.2 380.6 -33.4
1996 1995 % Rs. Million Rs. Million Change Commercial Bank 433.8 329.0 +31.7 Sampath Bank 281.9 241.3 +16.8 HNB 452.8 483.2 - 6.3 Seylan Bank 205.2 289.7 - 29.1
1996 1995 % Rs. Million Rs.Million Change Commercial Bank 3,031.7 2,058.5 +47.2 Sampath Bank 1,221.8 939.9 + 29.9 HNB 2,587.0 2,138.0 +21.0 Seylan Bank 1,299.5 1,138.4 +14.1 </PRE>
1996 1995 % Rs. Billion Rs. Billion Change HNB 4.792 3.567 +34.3 Seylan Bank 4.412 3.386 +30.0 Commercial Bank 3.365 2.727 +23.3 Sampath Bank 1.916 1.631 +17.4
Return to the Business contents page
Please send your comments and suggestions on this web site to
info@suntimes.is.lk or to
webmaster@infolabs.is.lk