My Story

Written by Martin Fullerton      

Owner of Lords in Negombo

 

Every day many customers ask me why i decided to move half way across the world and set up Lords Complex here is my story ...

 

Born in July the year 1967 from Amersham, Buckinghamshire. As a child my Three passions in life started early! My Love for Dogs and Animals, My Passion for Travel, and to do things very different from everyone else !!

 

In the UK I grew up in Buckinghamshire as a child and moved to Westbury, Wiltshire when I was a Eleven years of age. My working life started when I was 15 years of age in Swindon, Wiltshire as an Apprentice Printer, but I had been doing various jobs to earn money since I was 12 years of age always trying to earn that extra penny !!

 

After a few years as a Printer I decided I had the natural ability to sell, so sell I did and very quickly making a name for myself within the Printing, Publishing, Design and Marketing Industry. I lived and worked in Tower Bridge area of London for a couple of years then decided enough of the partying life and set up my first business a Design, Marketing, Printing and Publishing Company called Metropolis, based in Swindon, Wiltshire when I was 24 years of age. Over the next decade, I worked very hard and became a very successful Business Man, and every year traveling to exotic places. I was also a well-established Spiritual Psychic Medium Teaching and holding workshops around the UK

 

One of those exotic holidays bought me to Sri Lanka in 1990. Immediately I fell in love with the island and always had a dream that one day I may return to set up a business. I traveled many countries in the world but my heart always came back to Sri Lanka . I was fortunate to be in a position to sell my Group of companies when I was 35 years of age and decided to invest the money in

Sri Lanka into Land and Design and Build The Lords Complex. Therefore early in 2003 I packed everything I owned into one Crate and flew with my 2 dogs a St Bernard and Old English Sheep Dog to Sri Lanka I purchased all goods from Negombo where possible and wanted to help the local community I also employed 330 employees .After One year of approvals and Building, The Lords Complex was Officially Opened by the Honorable President of Sri Lanka in May 2004. During the first six months of operations, about five thousand people would visit the Complex within a period of one week.

 

Then disaster came when Tsunami hit the island in December 2004. Over night all tourists left the island and has never recovered. The Ceasefire agreement stopped in November 2005 and very quickly after the war started again. Over the next four years it has been very difficult to operate a Tourist business in Sri Lanka with only 386,000 Tourists visiting the island in the whole of 2008, compared to Thai Lands 19.8 million Tourists, this number did not invest enough capital into the Tourism sector. In January 2007 we made a tough decision and closed the Banqueting, Night Club and 3 Restaurants at Lords Complex making all employees redundant and operating the next 2 years with only One Bar and Restaurant employing only Three !.

 

In May 2009 the war finished in Sri Lanka and we all look forward to a new brighter future with many more Tourists visiting this beautiful island again, so please spread the word and tell everyone to come here and help the Sri Lankan people grow this little island again. It is very safe to walk freely and enjoy this beautiful culture.

 

In October 2003 I came across a litter of puppies on the back of the Lords land all in desperate need of a home so I decided to adopt the mother (named Hope) and four puppies. Therefore, that took me to seven dogs overnight. I now have eighteen rescued street dogs and Two cats!! and still going strong !!, I rescued a Beach dog in September 2009 which had been poisoned and  a 3 week old Black German Shepherd puppy which was in very desperate need of a home !!. In rescuing these animals and feeding street dogs outside the restaurant everyday, it has become a mission to help Stray Dogs and Cats in Sri Lanka

To carry out this good work, neutering, rescuing and feeding the The Strays of Negombo I need help to develop this worth while charity

 ( The Hope Foundation ) over the next few years, and it takes funds !! to cover the Vets bills and food. I therefore request anyone visiting the Lords Complex to help me with this good work and donate any small amount possible ( Donation box on Bar Counter ) it all goes to help saving lives of innocent animals in distress!! Thank you

 

We have started recruiting new Sri Lankan staff and all look forward to welcoming new customers to Sri lanka and Lords in Negombo for a brighter future.

 

Discover the difference … of Sri Lanka, Negombo and Lords

 

Martin Fullerton

Owner of Lords in Negombo

 

October 2009