Among the many who sailed to Ceylon from our shores seeking Fortunes in the second half of the 19 th century and made good for themselves and for their kinsmen, and thereby earned an indelible name in the annals, perhaps the most notable one would be F.X. Pereira of Tuticorin.

F.X.Pereira went to Colombo in 1888 and established a modest F.X. Pereira & sons in 1889, which specialized in the direct import of drapery and millinery from different stations of Europe and developed an outfitting department for gentlemen and ladies, first in Main street, Pettah and later in Ridgeway buildings in First Cross Street in Colombo .

The outfitting unit however , later bloomed into a departmental store, provisioning fancy goods, electro plated wares, enamel wares, jewellery, stationery etc. F.X.Pereira & sons was the alighting station for many a youth from Tamilnadu’s Southern shores before he sought greener and new pastures in the Island . F.X. Pereira & sons, employed more than sixty such youth as employees in the stores.

It used to be said that F.X.Pereira used to be affable to one and all and look after every one of his employees very well materially ,though he demanded sternly, absolute loyalty and sincerity in their avocations, discipline and decorum in their personal behavior and extreme piety and deep devotion to our Lord.

F.X. Pereira efficiently managed his men, business and establishment and brought it to eminent prominence not only among the local population but also among the members of the European community in the Island.
F.X. Pereira & sons was specially appointed as drapers to Sir West and Lady Ridgeway , Governor of Ceylon. Lady Ridgeway , wife of the Governor of Ceylon who used to frequent F.X. Pereira & sons was so impressed by the honesty, sterling business quality, invariable courtesy etc of F.X. Pereira that she caused a testimonial to be penned appreciating the extraordinarily satisfying services rendered to her by F.X. Pereira & sons during her husband’s tenure as the Governor of Ceylon.

The success with which F.X.Pereira crowned himself was not built on a single day. It was a result of arduous labour, careful planning, deft management of men and matters, strict adherence to time schedules, respect for rules and regulations, courtesy to customers, sleepless long nights, sweat, and toil, coupled with uncanny instinct to counter competition, and above all deep and infinite , unshakable faith and hope in the abundant showers of blessings of our Lord!
After pioneering the business and firmly establishing it on solid rock, F.X.Pereira passed away in 1906,in Tuticorin.

His sons took up the business under the captaincy of the eldest son , Ignatius Xavier Pereira and flourished it further both in Colombo and inTuticorin .
In Colombo ,the departmental stores became a household name along with Rupee stores which was modelled after Woolworths in England.

In Tuticorin the brothers grew well into the business of manufacturing cash chests and iron safes,and running Agencies for Dodge cars, their spares and accessories. They engaged in export of coconut fibre in shiploads and import of Cement and building materials from different parts of the world. They were Agents for Universal Fire and General Insurance and for Burma Fire and General Insurance. They were partners in Scindia Navigation Company and were the Handling Agents for:–
1. Scindia steam Navigation Company,
2. Scissons Brothers&co Ltd , Hull, UK.
3. John Share&sons, Woolverhampton, UK.
4. Godwin&co, Birmingham.UK.
5. British Manufacturing Agency,UK.
6. Lewis Baker &co Ltd, London.
7. Deutsche Einken largeself schaft ,Hanover.
8. Plate & VanHeusde, Amsterdam.
9. Lida &co Ltd, Yokohomo.
10. Evans & Woels Ltd, London.
11. Franz Galhort& Sohna, Bernestein.

(The success of FXP is recorded to encourage many to emulate him. May his tribe increase! — Editor.)

By – A.X.Alexander