As a young pre-teen, Perera would lend his parents a helping hand whenever he could. “I started helping out around the bar when I was ten years old,” recalls Perera, who was born and raised in the shophouse above the bar itself. “But after I left school, I actually worked at a local jeweller’s as a salesman.”

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Perera continued to work jobs outside while his father operated the bar. To this day, Perera still maintains his job as a clerk at a local law firm. When asked why he chooses to continue operating Sinhalese Bar despite having a job of his own, the soft-spoken Perera simply answered: “To keep my family’s traditions going.”

Outlasting countless bars, cafés, and restaurants, Sinhalese Bar seems to have cracked the code to surviving the fast-paced F&B industry and the ever-changing preferences and standards of consumers. Perera’s answer to maintaining his place in the evolving environment: community.

“I have built a community of support around me,” smiles Perera. Even during the tumultuous time of the recent pandemic, Perera coasted through with donations and takeaway orders from his regulars. Despite movement control orders and restrictions on dine-ins, Perera’s loyal patrons kept their orders going, using his bar as a way to stock up on their drinks at home. Perera, a known figure beyond the bar’s walls in Ipoh, also constantly gives back to his community, participating in charitable movements and events, especially during Wesak Day.

Today, the Sinhalese Bar regulars, tourists, and curious explorers keep the bar’s heart beating. “I love the atmosphere, surroundings, and peacefulness,” shares Suchdev Bedi, a Sinhalese Bar regular. “I respect uncle Perera and aunty a lot. Whenever I visit, they would take care of me and have a conversation with me. It’s just a nice, quiet place to be.”

Despite his age, Perera shows no signs of stopping. However, like any good businessman, he has a plan in place in which the bar’s ownership will be passed on to his daughter. Even then, we can count on seeing the Sinhalese Bar legacy being preserved for years to come.

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