Tea with W. T. Ellawala, Chairman, CEO of C. W. Mackie & Company

Lanka must have private universities

Hiran H. Senewiratne

Sri Lanka’s university education system should be opened to the private sector to take the pressure out in State universities like in other developed countries, Managing Director Ceylon Trading Company W.T. Ellawala said.

He said the university education system has changed dramatically when compared to late 1950s and early 1960 with the free educational system. Therefore, due to the high demand for education, the Government should take some interest to allow private sector to set up universities to create more opportunities for youth in the country.

“Today we see enormous pressure in getting to local universities.

“The education system needs to be restructured to make it more suitable for current employment needs locally as well as globally.

“Allowing the private sector to setup universities and other tertiary educational institutes, will benefit the country in the long-term like in Western countries,” Ellawala said.

You are involved in various business entities. What is the main business area you are involved in the country?

I would say that my various positions all flow as the Managing Director of Ceylon Trading Company (CTC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aarhuskarlsham of Denmark.

Therefore, I am the MD of the CTC and responsible of Aarhuskarlsham Investment in Sri Lanka. CTC and Aarhuskarlsham are the principal shareholders of C.W. Mackie and Company and my position as the Chairman/CEO of C.W. Mackie by virtue of the fact that I am the Managing Director of CTC.

I am also the Director Maresk Lanka (Pvt) Limited as a result of CTC being a joint venture partner with A.P.Moller Maersk of Denmark. CTC has been in business in Sri Lanka for more than 95 years while C. W. Mackie has been in Sri Lanka for over 106 years. C.W Mackie is a public listed company in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

As far as my role as Janashakthi Insurance I have been a Director from inception and subsequently I was elected as the Chairman of Janashakthi Insurance since 2005.

How would you manage all these entities with official and non-official commitments?

My role in Janashakthi Insurance is a non-executive role, which I was involved in because of my longstanding association with Chandra Schaffter who invited me to join the company from its inception.

My role with C.W. Mackie is a full time job. Even my role in Maersk Lanka is a non-executive job.

To manage them, time management is important. How would you manage your time despite these busy schedules?

Managing time has a lot to do with personal disciplines with all the official responsibilities. I, as a business leader and also with non-business activities heading the country’s most prestigious cricket club Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), I do a lot of planning between official and non-official work.

This has helped me to end the day without being stressed out. Therefore what has to be done during the day, I finish it on the same day without postponing it.

What do you think of Sri Lanka’s accounting standards and the new Companies Act?

Both ensure good governance and high business ethics. I as a business person strongly advocate good governance and ethics, which has to be encouraged to all the business personnel in the country.

As a leading businessman in the country how do you treat your subordinates?

I believe very strongly that people working for the organisation is the best asset. People have to be managed to get the best out of them. Therefore I head a group which has a work force of 425 in all levels who have supported me to conduct my business I run. I am very caring and sensitive to people’s needs. I have always tried to do the best for them.

You were at one time Chairman of the Rubber Trader’s Association. What is your contribution to Sri Lanka’s rubber industry?

C.W. Mackie is a major player in the rubber industry in Sri Lanka for many years I held the post of Chairman of Colombo Rubber Trader’s Association in 1990s for a period of six years. I am currently the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Society of Rubber Industry (SRI), which is the apex body of the rubber industry in Sri Lanka.

In my long association with the rubber industry, my principal aim has been to work with our partners in the rubber industry to find ways and means to increase the output of rubber in Sri Lanka since 2005.

SRI has taken major initiatives of supporting a project to grow rubber in non-traditional areas like Moneragala.

Today, SRI is in partnership with the Ministry of Plantation Industries for project to grow 40,000 hectares of rubber in the Moneragala district under the assistance from USAID.

What do you do during your leisure ?

I have little time for leisure. But during the leisure time, I go for walks one hour a day to keep fit. I also watch international programmes on television. More than that, I take great delight with my six-year-old granddaughter who has brought enormous pleasure to my life.

What is your belief in life?

As a practising Buddhist, I always follow Buddhist philosophy.

As a devoted Buddhist, I like to follow the Buddha’s way of life. I have been guided by the principles of Buddha’s teachings and practices and have fashioned and designed my life conforming to the principles of the Buddha’s way of life.

What are the countries you like to visit?

As a businessman I have to undertake overseas travels to promote the company’s business. This has taken me to number of countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Japan, USA and India.

Most of my extensive foreign travels have been business travels. I always find time to learn something about the culture of different countries. I also like to visit countries that have long traditional histories, which have contributed to develop various civilisations in the world.

What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy is that a honest day of work receives honest rewards.

As a leading businessman in the country what is the solution you suggest to solve the ethnic crisis in the country?

As far as the ethnic conflict is concerned, I have strongly believed it should be resolved through a politically negotiated settlement. I have always believe that both parties to the conflict must work towards a negotiated settlement to resolve the conflict.