Investing in bad time paid for Laugfs
Shirajiv Sirimane
Chairman, Lanka Auto Gas Fuel Systems (LAUGFS) W. K. H
Wegapitiya
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A young marketing graduate from the Sri Jayawardhanapura University
set up Sri Lanka’s first auto gas converting plant in 1995. Today it is
on course to taking his local brand name global.
“I want to make Laugfs a world renowned name similar to 3M and Caltex
long time ago,” Chairman, Lanka Auto Gas Fuel Systems (LAUGFS) W. K. H
Wegapitiya said.
For a person hailing from a remote hamlet in Balangoda it was an
impossible dream even to think that he could take his business overseas
within a short span of eight years after starting a business.
“Its determination that drives entrepreneurship. If you think you can
do something focus on it and then any thing can be made a reality,” he
said.
For companies like 3M and Caltex it took them longer period to make
an international impact. It was stated that the President of 3M had to
wait almost 12 years to provide decent salaries to their employees.
However for Laugfs they have already reached the global mark in a
shorter time and they boast of diversified companies in the Auto gas,
LPG, Lubricants, super market, tyres, real estate, apartments, and
leisure with a turn over running into a couple of billion rupees.
This he has achieved by purchasing a lubricant company in Melbourne
Australia and then getting in to the auto gas conversions market in
Australia.
Q: Looking back what was behind your success?
I think things started to click as I invested during bad times and I
took risks. My first business venture was to convert motor vehicles to
Auto Gas. Though it was a new business, I was confident that it would be
successful and invested on it.
However I had to start from scratch as both the customers and
authorities did not know about this new product educating officials and
obtaining licence was a very tough task.
I must also thank DFCC Bank for providing with financial assistance
during the time with Rs. 20 million.
Q: What were your next initiatives?
Customers next wanted filling stations for their converted vehicles.
This is how I got in to the filling station businesses. Then I felt that
vehicle owners needed lubricants and other services for the auto
industry. This was how a complete auto package came about from Laugfs.
I also saw that while drivers were attending to their auto care needs
there was time for families as well as drivers to do household purchases
and this was how the super market concept was born.
Q: What made you go overseas?
I think Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have talent and skills to capture
the world market and they can compete with internationally known
figures.
I also saw that the Australian Government was providing subsidies for
auto gas converters and then decided to engage in operations in Perth
Australia. It was very successful with the Australian public in Perth
believing in a Sri Lankan as my Auto Gas business is fast gaining a good
market share in Perth and we would be soon moving to other areas.
I am personally happy while I am doing a successful business I have
the opportunity to provide employment for local workers.
Q: What next from here?
With the lubricant plant I bought in Melbourne I have entered the
Australian lubricant market and would soon export to Europe as well.
I am next hoping to enter the supermarket business in the Maldives
and now waiting to clear the bottlenecks there.
Q: You are a major promoter of the ‘Buy Sri Lankan’ concept?
Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have international talent and by purchasing
their products customers can promote these entrepreneurs to reach
international standards.
In contrast the multi-nationals are promoting international products
and they say to take powdered milk instead of fresh milk. They say to
consume bread instead of rice.
Q:Do you think Sri Lankans have many ways for entertainment?
What the people are forced to enjoy for leisure is far below
potential. What is shown in media and television is only violence.
There was a television channel, which repeatedly telecast a footage
where a man was burning as a result of the Nugegoda Bomb explosion.
Over 2,000 people died at the 9 -11 explosion in USA and did the
Western media show a single body. No. This is the discipline and
responsibility the Western media showed. I do know when the local media
would mature to this standard.
Q: What do you think of the ethnic conflict?
I believe that 95 per cent of Sri Lanka’s problems including the
ethnic conflict were created by the colonial era. These were cancers
left behind by our colonial rulers.
Since 1905 to 1948 all the foreign rulers preferred to divide
communities and rule since it was so easy to govern when communities do
not have unity.
I am sorry to note that this mentality still remains and people
should move away from this ‘divide and rule concept’ if the country
needs to prosper.
However the petty politics and divide and rule Mindset is creating
problems to the country and is hampering development.
“ I am sad to say despite everything Sri Lanka is still using the
railway and the up country network the foreigners built and we are yet
debating as to how the Colombo-Katunayake expressway is being built.
This is because there is no political unity among communities.
Q: Where would you like to spend your perfect holiday?
I like to be in Kandy and prefer Australia if I am looking for an
overseas holiday.
Pictures by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa |