Maithri Liyanage
Having gone around many car sales and advertisements, I was finally lucky in finding some what similar to the car I wished to have in order to take me for a drive on a Sunday morning. On 17th December 2005 I purchased a MINI with the advice received from my childhood friend Mahen Madugalle Our friendship is so strong, he was my bestman at my wedding and continue to be my confidant. His son too joined me in finalizing the transaction and I was reasonably a happy man to own a MINI. Incidentally my friend Mahen, who has two MINI’s on his own, is the immediate Past President of the Mighty Mini Club, Sri Lanka. Since I am a novice in this game not knowing the difference from one MINI to the other, I requested my friend to advice me as to what I should do in modifying the car to look better than what you see in Sri Lanka. The two of us sat down and having scrutinized the car, listed out what we could do in getting a face-lift. Mahen’s two sons, Delan and Pravin who is also having the fathers know how, joined in jotting down what has to be done on the vehicle one by one. Few days later I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to go to Singapore. Prior to my departure I gave instructions to my 19, year old son Mithun to get the car documents sorted out and to fix a better sound system by going to the local car audio agent.
I was very disappointed in not being able to get the accessories I required, having checked practically every car accessory outlet in Singapore. However, I was very fortunate in getting my hands on a copy of the December MINI WORLD. Having read the MINI WORLD, I was able to educate myself and get up-to-date information on modifications giving attention to detail on MINI’s.
No sooner I returned to Sri Lanka, I met up with my friend Mahen who gave me many copies of the ’MINI WORLD’ which educated and gave me further information with regard to modifications to MINI’s. Once I got an outline of my requirements on discussions with Mahen, I was introduced to a maestro in MINI cars, Mr. Rohith De Silva. Rohith is a house hold name in the racing field in Sri Lanka. He is the nephew of a veteran racing car driver Lesly N. De Silva.
Having spent a good part of the new years eve Saturday 31st December 2005, I was convinced that I had found a person who was an all-rounder with technically sound and has hands on experience in MINI cars, be it on the racing tracks where he was adjudged ’the world fastest MINI car driver’ at Mellory Park, UK in 2001 or MINI modification. I couldn’t think of a better person to get on with the modifications to my car. Rohith is an expert in body styling too who has to his credit of being the brain child of FIBEX, and very popular firm in Sri Lanka.
Rohiths expert technical advice, having meticulously planed the job to be undertaken and hands on approach has made my car look like a Rolls-Royce version of a MINI. Every attempt was made to have a color theme constant with the painting of the body to be with ’Rosso Bright’ with silver/chrome accessories. The interior to be in beige in order to blend with the Burr Walnut dashboard and steering wheel which was purchased on recommendations made by my Cousin Brother, Niranjan Caldera.
I would like to share with the readers of the MINI WORLD some photographs taken at the time of purchasing the vehicle and how it is looking now after the modifications.
Then...
I am sure my wife Anudini Liyanage who had been very quiet since purchasing the vehicle will hop in with my younger Son Pasan in going round the streets of Colombo now that the finishing touches of the car is completed.
My grateful thanks go out to Mahen and Maithri for the unstinted support, advice and the commitment in getting the car to the present state. You have made me a proud owner of a MINI.
Now...
*All above details have been provided by the respective member & hence The Mighty Mini Club will not hold itself responsible for the contents of the above article.