I considered migrating to Southern Ireland

(Excerpted from the autobiography of Merrill. J. Fernando)

I first sent Malik and Dilhan to the St. Bridget’s Convent kindergarten, where they did quite well. Subsequently, when they were old enough, I admitted them to S. Thomas’ Prep. Colpetty, a reputed school headed by the excellent Mr. J. S. L. Fernando. After the first couple of days at school, both said that they would like to have some daily pocket money, as their fellow students would buy drinks and eats at the college ‘tuck-shop’ and also treat their friends. I agreed and gave them one rupee each, as I wanted to ensure that they learned the value of money at an early age, as well as the undesirability of flaunting one’s wealth, especially in an environment where there was bound to be inequality.

Malik did extremely well in school from the beginning whilst Dilhan was a slow starter, although he more than made up for it later on in his educational-career, especially in university. Malik was also very assertive from an early age and would impose his will on the more restrained younger brother. I had to occasionally provide Dilhan a comforting cushion. However, despite the responsibilities and difficulties of being a single parent, I was convinced that it was more desirable than bringing them up in an environment in which parental values were obviously in conflict.

Children who are denied full parental care and loving are, themselves, unable to extend such affection to their own children. I think it is a serious problem in our hectic modern society, especially in affluent families where parents are busy pursuing personal interests and ambitions, often to the detriment of the children’s interests. I have always been of the view that children who neglect parents in the latter’s old age are those reared in family environments without love and caring.

In bringing up my children I drew knowledge, inspiration, and strength from my mother’s role in my childhood and early youth. Whilst I took it for granted when living with my parents, it was only after I became a parent that I realized the full value of the unconditional — but occasionally stern — love and care I received in my formative years.

Children of divorced parents, quite commonly, experience emotional trauma in adjusting to the circumstances of separation and I could see the impact on my two sons. Understandably, it became a matter of serious concern to me. Finally, my apprehensions on this account compelled me to consider even selling up my growing export business and leaving the country with my two sons, to settle down elsewhere.

I decided on emigration to Southern Ireland and went to the extent of seeking admission for Malik and Dilhan to suitable schools in that country. On a previous visit to the UK I had traveled extensively in Southern Ireland with my friend Moritz and his wife and, because of its scenic beauty and the natural friendliness of the people, formed an immediate attachment to it. The fact that it was largely Catholic and, hence, consistent with my own upbringing was another comforting factor.

Obviously, in view of these plans, the sale of MJF Company became a prerequisite and I obtained a valuation of Rs. 2.3 million for it. However, my anxiety to move out of the country with my children was such that I agreed to sell 50% of the company to the owners of H. W. Cave Ltd., the brothers Lancelot, Brian, and Jayantha Fernando, for Rs. 900,000.

Once the sale agreement was signed, it transpired that they were unable to pay even the initial deposit of Rs. 300,000 and payment was made in installments. On conclusion of the initial stage of the transaction, in 1976, I retained 50% ownership and agreed to sell them the balance on full payment, at the end of five years.

By the time these formalities had been completed, circumstances in my personal life had improved considerably and I felt comfortable enough to shelve my plans to move to Ireland with the children. I remained in the country and continued to work in my company, in association with Jayantha Fernando. In retrospect, unarguably, that was the most imprudent decision I have made in my entire business life. I soon became completely disillusioned by the collective unreliability demonstrated by the Fernando brothers. My experiences during this period will be described later on in this narrative.

Purchase of Melton Estate

In the midst of other upheavals, in both my private and business life, I purchased a tea estate in Lindula. In view of the looming threat of land reform and the nationalization of large private plantation holdings, many of my friends considered it to be a risky investment but I have never regretted the purchase as, whilst it was in my possession, it gave me so much pleasure and satisfaction.

A good friend of mine, Mr. Murugiah, a proprietary planter who owned both Kelaniya and Braemar Estates in Maskeliya, recommended to me the purchase of Melton, 328 acres of tea, owned by Mrs. Jean Maitland, an Australian lady. The main attraction was its magnificent proprietor’s bungalow. Mrs. Maitland accepted my offer, which included the transfer to me of every item of the bungalow furniture as well.

Since ownership transfers of estates in the highly-unionized up-country plantation environment were tricky at the best of times, especially in view of potential resident population objections, I also sought the assistance of Mr. S. Thondaman, the powerful CWC Leader. He was very kind and facilitated a reasonable benefit payment to the estate workforce, enabling me to establish good faith and to allay the workers’ fears regarding the possible consequences of the ownership change.

In the meantime, whilst the transfer was in progress, Mrs. Maitland was searching, without success, for an alternate home. To assist her, I spoke to my friend Kenneth Ratwatte, Chairman of Colombo Commercial Company, and persuaded him to rent out the Langdale bungalow in Radella to her. Some of my friends whom she had approached for living accommodation, privately advised me to be careful in my dealings with the lady as, apparently, she had a reputation for being unreliable. Unwisely, as it later turned out, I disregarded those warnings.

Soon after the conclusion of the deal, Mr. Bolton, whom I appointed as the Estate Manager, phoned me with the shocking news that in complete violation of our pre-transfer agreement, Mrs. Maitland was removing all the furniture from the Melton bungalow. I did not wish to get into a confrontation with this deceitful lady and asked Bolton to deal with the matter. However, despite his pleas, she removed every stick of furniture in the house and I walked into an empty bungalow.

Some months later my friend Murugiah informed me that the lady had decided to move to Colombo and was offering her furniture for sale. I drove up to the Langdale bungalow and was first met by another lady who advised me that Mrs. Maitland was not in. I disregarded her information as I realized that Mrs. Maitland was avoiding a meeting with me. In fact, I found her hiding in the kitchen and politely told her that what she was doing was plain thievery.

She was quite unmoved though and, eventually, I ended up purchasing the furniture again, at market price! Mrs. Maitland moved down to Colombo and soon afterwards disappeared from view. Subsequently, I heard that she had exploited an estate worker who had won a station wagon in a lottery, using the car for years as if it were her own, without adequately compensating the man.

At the time I bought Melton, the tea was somewhat neglected and yielding only around 450 pounds per acre. I immediately set about improvements, both in the field and the factory, and the yield increased to 650 pounds per acre within a couple of years, whilst the prices too rose significantly.

I invested heavily in the property as, despite the warnings of many friends of mine, I refused to believe that the left-oriented Bandaranaike Government would be foolish enough to nationalize the plantations and otherwise tinker with an industry, which was then the biggest foreign exchange earner. I was, of course, soon proved wrong.

Melton was also a great asset to my business. It was a wonderful holiday destination for my family and friends, whilst many of my overseas customers also loved to visit. I had an outstanding chef in the bungalow, who was equally competent at both Western and Eastern cuisine, and many of my visitors used to say that they would like to take him back to their homes. Despite the problems involved with its purchase and the subsequent nationalization of the major portion of the property, it paid me great dividends – not all of it quantifiable.