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By Shirajiv Sirimane

"We believe in optimism, skill, resilience, and faith in the face of adversity. This is the success story of our business and the prime reason for our existence even after 161 years," said the Chairperson of the Mackwoods Group of Companies, Mrs. Sriyani Nonis. "No one can survive without it."

Mrs. Nonis said adding that "The company has withstood two world wars and has seen the changing demands and vicissitudes of three centuries. "We have served the country through these eras of rapid change, and we have been constantly prepared to adapt, while still maintaining our core business philosophy "Tradition with vision".

Mackwoods, the second oldest company in Sri Lanka was established in 1841 by William Mackwood on his arrival in Ceylon. He traded in a variety of merchandise and was also an agent for coffee estates owned by his former employer "Tindall and Company". After the Coffee blight, he moved into the tea business in the late 1800's. The setting up of an agency house then followed and Mackwoods carried on as a family concern.

Mackwoods was Ceylonised in 1956 by Mr. N.S.O. Mendis, a visionary entrepreneur, who was one of the first Sri Lankans to take over a British Agency House. He expanded and diversified the organisation, so that continuity was ensured.

A Barrister-at-Law from Gray's Inn and a mother of four, Mrs. Sriyani Nonis, daughter of the late N.S.O. Mendis, took over as Chairperson in 1991, after previously serving as a Director and Deputy Chairman. The core businesses of the company are healthcare; agribusiness, industry, exports, plantations and information technology. "The strategy we have pursued is one of constantly strengthening our position within each core area by selective diversification into related fields", Mrs Nonis said.

"This reduces our dependence on particular products, provides for efficient use of manpower and existing expertise and provides better leverage within each field."

"For instance, in healthcare we span pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors. In agribusiness we serve the farmers, the cultivation sector and the plantation sector with agro-chemicals and agro equipment. In Industry, we span industrial chemicals and machinery. In Information Technology we cover programming and multimedia education with Aptech of India and software development. The exports division is actively involved in the export of coconut products, essential oils and now organic products," she said.

Mackwoods returned to plantation management in 1992 and today manages 17 tea and rubber estates in the three planting districts of Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura and Kalutara.

It is now a three crop company having last year planted oil palm, and has a three way joint venture for future oil palm processing together with John Keells and Aitken Spence.

The Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre located en route to Nuwara Eliya is a much looked forward to place by both Sri Lankans and tourists. "During the season we have over 500 tourists visiting us weekly and it is a popular stop for a cup of tea and a visit to the factory and estate."

"There are two manufacturing businesses which really are downstream from the Plantations. We have ventured into related areas such as plywood manufacture and a company set up to manufacture centrifuge latex." Though she speaks freely about the company's past and the future she is somewhat reticent when it comes to the Mendis-Mackwoods Charity Fund as no publicity is sought for the work carried out. Her father, the late N.S.O. Mendis, founded the fund in 1983.

"We continue to provide assistance to a multitude of charities at any one time and provide scholarships to university students in the fields of Medicine, Law, the Arts and Agriculture. We focus at grassroots level on the marginalised and disadvantaged, with the hope of contributing, even in a small way to their uplift in society." Mrs Nonis said that "Although this is a family-controlled company there are non-family members on the Board too. We regard our people as our greatest asset and believe in a participatory style of management."

When asked about the future of the company and the country, Mrs Nonis said that they were following the progress of the peace process. "As citizens of Sri Lanka, peace is what we are all hoping and praying for. From a business perspective, it will give a boost to the economy. The opening of the North and East will create tremendous business opportunities for the entire country and the prospect of peace will inspire investor confidence and see an increase in foreign investment in Sri Lanka." Mrs. Nonis was optimistic and hopeful that this would be achieved. 

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