Try and try again – Never give up!
Face your fears with confidence and don’t be afraid to change your business model midstream are the twin tips Saraii founder Charitha Abeyratne has to offer all budding entrepreneurs hoping to make their start- up a roaring success.
“Fear is the only thing keeping us from reaching the top whether it in the hospitality industry or any other. There definitely will come a time when you feel like giving up and you wonder what you are doing with your life. But don’t wallow in that and look at any problem as an ‘opportunity’ to learn something new,” are her words of wisdom.
With competition intense in her business, Charitha believes that carving out a niche and listening to the customer has given her an edge. She also insists that the best way forward is to be flexible enough to change to the “needs of your customers and be unafraid to change your business model”.
Charitha stressed: “do not be deterred by negativity that might come your way from industry experts, friends or colleagues. If you are passionate about what you are doing, you can achieve your dreams”.
It was while she was involved with Saaraketha Organics that she had the bright idea to start Saraii. “We worked with rural farming communities, empowering them to adopt sustainable methods of production,” she explained. The end product is 300 pots of curd which will be transported to Colombo the very next day.
Saraii has 16 staff in total, all employed from the area. This is one of the key facets of the enterprise – giving the local community employment opportunities. Even the curd tour gives a financial boost to Gamini – he gets half of the 600 rupees Saraii charges guests.
It is more expensive to go on an angler’s potluck tour – a few thousand rupees more. But early next morning, we are up bright and breezy, a relative term as the warm May night had been still, ready to face a boating excursion with the fishermen of Weerawila.
The lake is beautiful and there is an abundance of fresh water fish teeming below the surface. Net fishing has been banned for a few months as the government had just introduced fry, young trout, into the lake. So we had to make-do with wooden poles with hooks lined with squirming worms.
After a few unsuccessful casts, I emulate Kumara, the fisherman, and gleefully pull
“I was very keen to support these rural communities with additional revenue sources which led me to focusing on eco/agro tourism. Since I had no formal educational or work experience in hospitality or is setting up a socially sustainable business I felt it was crucial to gain some meaningful knowledge and I found an MBA programme in Colorado State University that offered in- depth know-how on setting up a social business.”
Challenging start
Charitha’s stay in the US had an added bonus. As a Fulbright scholar, she got a monthly stipend which she squirrelled away. “I saved as much as I could and I also got a graduate assistantship which earned a monthly pay. These savings was what I used to fund the initial stage of Saraii, four units plus a hang- out area,” she said.
“Initially it was challenging to get people to believe in the concept. Some people treated the business simply as an MBA project and did not follow through on what they needed to do. There were times I would go into certain government agencies for approvals and I was asked if it was my father or husband who set up the company for me as a gift. They were surprised when they heard of how I started Saraii and I could see their amusement turn into respect. The lesson from all of this is the ‘ never give up’. Perseverance is the key to building a successful venture.”
Trip Advisor has rated Saraii as one of the top 10 treetop hotels in the world. Another couple of fans in the bedroom area and I would wholeheartedly agree. Perhaps the next Saraii Village – plans are afoot to build in five more locations around the island – in Ella might be just perfect.
up my first catch for the day, a small freshwater fish the span of my hand. It is the first of many but the one that got away, with my hook in his mouth, brings regret and a premature end to the wonderful experience.
Pol sambol fit for a king
It is not over, however. Back on shore, Kumara pulls out a knife and deftly cleans the fish pulling out its insides which he throws to an elegant egret watching from a bark above. The hotel has provided all the ingredients for a fish curry which is soon bubbling over a makeshift stove. A mat is placed and we sit around with plates in our hand while the curry is ladled in. Thick slices of bread and a piquant pol sambol make it a meal fit for a king. Like Oliver Twist, I ask for more.
The experience is worth every cent. Saraii takes pride in just that – giving their guests something to remember for the rest of their lives. A full-board stay for two is between rupees 16,000 and 30,000 (depending on tree house or mud chalet) and excursions are extra. I have to return to Colombo soon otherwise a more leisurely stay could have meant more time to take in a bird tour, a wildlife tour, a lake tour, barbecue by the beach tour at night among others.
Trip Advisor has rated Saraii as one of the top 10 treetop hotels in the world. Another couple of fans in the bedroom area and I would wholeheartedly agree. Perhaps the next Saraii Village – plans are afoot to build in five more locations around the island – in Ella might be just perfect.