|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 3 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Tea entrepreneur wins bronze and silver awards by W. T. J. S. Kaviratne, Ambalangoda Special Correspondent
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka has been the birthplace of intellectuals, professionals and entrepreneurs of the highest calibre. W. Jinadasa who won the Bronze and Silver Awards for becoming the Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the Year - 2002 was born to a family of 10 in a lesser known hamlet called Andaradeniya in Deniyaya, well-known for low country Tea in Sri Lanka. Jinadasa was the most industrious having inborn talents. After receiving his secondary education at Deniyaya Maha Vidyalaya left school in 1977. He joined a tea estate in the area as a 'trainee field officer' and worked there for six months without pay and at the end of the training, was paid a monthly allowance of Rs. 100. After one year he was paid Rs. 200 per month.
Jinadasa was able to gain knowledge in the tea industry and in 1982 left to venture out on his own, he started to collect green leaf from tea small holders is the area. Initially he was granted a loan of Rs. 10,000 from the Deniyaya Branch of the Bank of Ceylon. Jinadasa said that the tea industry was never easy but he was prepared to take risks. His initial capital investment of Rs. 10,000 showed considerable profits and helped him to further expand collection of tea leaf for a chain of tea factories in the area, he said. By 1990, he was quite successful and was able to purchase 100 acres of neglected tea land in the area. His personal attention was diverted to developing this land extent to ensure a good harvest.
Small tea holders of the villages of Viharahena, Andaradeniya, Imbularawa and Yaulla had confidence in this young collector because of his amiable attitude. Gradually 90 per cent of the Smallholders of the area sold their Green leaf to Jinadasa who by now provided employment to over 100 persons. He then decided to purchase the Mahakanda Tea Factory at Neluwa. The Mahakanda tea factory was running at a loss and even the tea estate of about 12 acres around the factory was neglected. Jinadasa bought the factory and the tea plantation and developed his investment to be a profitable venture. The Mahakanda Tea Factory was renamed Batuwangala Tea Factory which is located in an area of natural scenic beauty. The misty range of mountains overlooking 'Andaradeniya Estate' has potential to promote Eco-Tourism, Jinadasa said. The Bank of Ceylon granted him a Rs. 47 million credit line and out of this investment he increased his daily profits and today the Andaradeniya Factory of Neluwa has become the highest tea producing factory in the Southern Province. 'Batuwangala Tea Factory', Neluwa, 'Fortune Tea Factory', Urubokka, 'Devonia Tea Factory, Kotapola, 'New Wawulagala Tea Factory', Imaduwa and 'New Nivitigala Tea Factory', Nivitigala are some of the factories bought by Jinadasa. Jinadasa who is 44 is still a bachelor and all his brothers and sisters are employed under him. He said over thousand persons were employed in his factories while many more were indirectly employed. His annual tea exports are over Rs. 600 million in foreign exchange. There were numerous factors he attributed to his success. In addition to his dedication and hard work, his success was also due to the financial assistance of Banks and other institutions in the tea industry. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
