Leading Sri Lankan multinational and diversified conglomerate, Hayleys PLC celebrates 140 years of business excellence and innovation this year.

Established in 1878 by Chas. P. Hayley, a British entrepreneur in Galle, the company at its inception served as trading house for the import of valuable goods, and export of locally produced goods such as spices, coir yarn and essential oils.

Over 140 years, the Hayleys Group has grown with a global presence of manufacturing and marketing offices across 5 regions with business interests spanning a total of 16 sectors.  Today it stands out as one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent success stories, having been the first listed Sri Lankan corporate to surpass US$ 1billion in revenue and accounting for 3.3% of the nation’s total export earnings.

“In our 140^th year, Hayleys continues to display vibrant growth, agility and innovation across its businesses. Our continuing success has been a result of a concerted focus on consistent operational excellence, long relationships with our principals and business associates, strategic investments into fresh growth opportunities and an unwavering commitment to the delivery of economic and export development in alignment with needs of Sri Lanka as a nation.

“Throughout our history, a theme that consistently recurs across all of our businesses is one of localised value addition, to capture increasingly globalised markets. Our organisation is geared towards seeking out new methods to sustainably harness this nation’s  potential and transform it into lasting value that will lend vital support to the aspirations of our country and all of our fellow Sri Lankans from every walk of life,” Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage stated.

Catering to over 7.6 million customers world-wide, the Hayleys Group today stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most crucial economic centrepieces, providing direct employment to 32,000 Sri Lankans, in addition to providing indirect employment to over 20,000 people.

The group’s diverse array of subsidiaries have each developed an independent reputation for business excellence, positioning Hayleys at the apex of Sri Lanka’s domestic and export economy.

The group’s Eco-Solutions sector stands as Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer and exporter of value-added coconut fibre products, distributing over 105 products locally and internationally.

Meanwhile, the Hand Protection segment represents one of the largest glove manufacturers in Sri Lanka, maintaining a global market share of 5% through a product portfolio that spans 109 categories of gloves and 240 versions of natural and synthetic latex.

The group’s ability to command a strong and competitive presence in global markets is further bolstered by its Purification segment which stands as the world’s leader in coconut shell-based activated carbon solutions. The segment currently produces 42,500 tonnes of activated carbon and currently retains a 16% global market share for high quality activated carbon.

The Group’s Textile Manufacturing business supplies fabric to some of the world’s leading clientele, including global fashion and sportswear brands, producing over 2.8 million meters of fabric per month.

The Hayleys Group’s construction sector is comprised of Sri Lanka’s leading aluminium extrusion manufacturer, offering a wide range of Architectural, Residential and Industrial Products, catering to the top and middle tiers in the Construction Industry.

Similarly, the group’s Agriculture business has served as a proud forerunner for innovation in the field of agriculture, serving as Sri Lanka’s largest exporter of processed fruits and vegetables accounting for approximately 45% market share.

Meanwhile, the group’s award winning plantation sector stand among Sri Lanka’s largest and most successful companies, spanning 44 tea and rubber estates and collectively accounting for 3.8% and 3.4% of Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber production, respectively. Similarly, the group is also engaged in the fine art of producing classic Pure Ceylon Tea under its flagship brand: Mabroc Tea.

The Hayleys Group’s Transportation and Logistics represents one of the country’s most influential industry players straddling diverse areas such as International Freight Management, Terminals and Engineering, Marine, and Integrated Logistics Services.

The group also stands as a trend-setter in the Leisure sector offers end-to-end tourisms solutions spanning tour operator and destination management services to the management of 8 resort properties – including one property in the Maldives - through the Amaya Resort chain and its five-star city hotel, The Kingsbury.

Following the historic acquisition of Singer Sri Lanka over the last year, the Hayleys Group also stands poised to drastically scale up its presence in the domestic retail market

Notably, the Group has also developed Business Process Outsourcing sector, supporting clients to reach new heights of efficiency and quality in order to derive stronger business outcomes utilizing a range of innovative, cost effective solutions.

Having established significant mini hydro, wind and solar power generation capabilities – Hayleys has pioneered the use of renewable energy in Sri Lanka through the establishment of landmark projects including Sri Lanka’s single largest solar power facility in Welikanda. – The Hayleys Group now contributes 2% of Sri Lanka’s renewable energy with a combined 50 Megawatts of power already being created, and plans underway to explore further opportunities for clean, renewable energy to be added to the national grid.

In addition to its Leisure sector, the Hayleys Group also maintains a strong presence in the Aviation sector, serving as a General Sales Agent to some of the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Similarly, the Group also manages separate businesses supplying Sri Lanka’s booming construction industry, providing design, mechanical, electrical and plumbing solutions to a diverse and growing portfolio of local and international clientele.

Additionally, the Hayleys Investments and Services Division overlooks and manages Financial, Legal, Tax, Information Technology, Business Development, Corporate Affairs, Human Resource Management, Corporate Communications, Auditing and Risk Control, Group Security and Export Shipping Services.

Sustainability – both social and environmental – are also fundamental to the Hayleys approach to business, which has been recognised as Sri Lanka’s Best Corporate Citizen on multiple occasions.

Community engagement and rural empowerment have similarly been ensconced within the business model of the Hayleys Group. To date, the group has invested US$ 2.3 million towards corporate social responsibility, including its flagship CSR project, Sath Diyawara – a vital programme aimed at delivering safe, clean drinking water to communities in Sri Lanka’s dry zone that have been harshly impacted by the outbreak of Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu).

“Over the past decade, and even more so over the recent past, Hayleys has been making cautious yet ambitious investments and driving group synergies such as the acquisition of Sri Lanka’s biggest retailer Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, another 140 year old company in Sri Lanka thereby laying the foundation for a new growth paradigm in Sri Lanka. In addition, Hayleys has exclusive representation of world class brands – Philips, Proctor& Gamble, Fuji, etc. which has enhanced the lifestyle of Sri Lankans. As individuals, as a company, and as a nation, there is always more than we can do to secure prosperity for ourselves.

“Our challenge is now to unlock new methods of capturing opportunity, enhancing it and preserving it for future generations. That is the challenge that we have set for ourselves, and in future we assure all our valued stakeholders that we will constantly strive to new heights. We thank our employees – past and present- for their continuous resolve and we look forward for their commitment and dedication to better serve our nation for centuries to come. Moving forward we will strive to be true to our vision of ensuring that Hayleys serves as Sri Lanka’s Corporate Inspiration at all times,” Pandithage said.

Photo captions:  L – R Lalin Samarawickrama, Managing Director, The Kingsbury PLC, Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director, Hayleys Advantis  Ltd, Mohan Pandithage Chairman/Chief Executive, Hayleys PLC, Sarath Ganegoda Managing Director, Dipped Products PLC/Executive Director, Hayleys PLC, Jayanthi Dharmasena, Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture Ltd , Darshi Talpahewa, Head- Human Resources, Legal, Corporate Communications & Sustainability, Group Security, Hayleys PLC