Present approach, best to tackle ethnic conflict

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Successive Governments have adopted various strategies to bring about a settlement to the ethnic conflict and present system adopted is the best way to solve this issue. Previous Governments have adopted concepts such as peace at any cost while some have gone to extremes to solve this issue but they have failed.

“However the present approach is the best since the LTTE can not be trusted and are not keen on peace,” says Chairman, Shermans Logistics and Transport Pvt Limited, Eshana De Silva.

Educated at Royal College, Eshana took wing to Australia for higher studies. After his return he got involved in the family business with Sherman and sons at the Colombo Duty Free.

The family business, which had its origin in 1931, was structured into a family partnership with the launching of Sherman de Silva and Company Limited in 1936.

The company expanded from its traditional business, being the export of Rubber, Spices and Coconut products to import and trading sectors, and was able to establish itself as one of the leading companies in Sri Lanka and earn its international reputation, which it still enjoys.

In 1946, the partnership business was incorporated into a private limited liability company, Sherman de Silva and Company Ltd. By the year 1970 this company was ranked as the leading exporter of natural Rubber, Cinnamon and Coconut products.

In 1973 the progress of the family’s business resulted in Sherman de Silva including his children in to the business, by creating a new company under the name and style of Sherman Sons Limited.

After the demise of de Silva, his sons decided to restructure the Group in order for its co-business activities to flourish independently. As a result of this, Shermans International was formed as its third generation business venture. Sherman Sons Limited developed itself, to have a tremendous capital/asset base, with a diversified portfolio until the year 2006.

Q: How do you feel to be blessed with a silver spoon to take over a third generation business?

I was not blessed with a silver spoon. This was the time the management was being restructured and new thinking was being induced. During this restructuring, I secured both the Shermans Transport and the Port Cargo Divisions. However their potential was not fully utilised. They were mainly concentrating on the family business with the turn over being less than 250,000.

Both Transport and logistics are areas of growth and I saw the vast untapped future potential in them. I re-branded the Port Cargo Division as Shermans Logistics Pvt Ltd, and converted it to an International Freight Forwarding and Cargo Logistics Management Company to provide overall customs handling of goods for export, import and re-export.

Shermans Logistics wants to be a “Total Solution Provider” when it comes to marine logistics support for customers operating in the south Asian region. Soon after taking over I decided to introduce novel thinking and started hiring competent people to head various divisions, which turn around the company.

To succeed in entrepreneurship one has to invest in qualified and competent people. Armed with innovative strategies, the vision is to be an aggressive market leader. We are now looking forward for a new CEO to take these two companies to the next level.

Shermans Transport (Pvt) Limited, too was restructured and today it has a focus on ground transportation. The company currently owns many vehicles that are commissioned towards local projects.

Q: How do you see the future of business?

I am now currently developing my own brand Eshana with the intension of diversifying and very soon it would be launched.

Q: How do you see the local shipping industry?

Having one of the most developed and vibrant ports in Colombo, and efficient information technology driven administration system, Sri Lanka provides opportunities to the global logistics industry, operating in the region. This is an area the Government should seriously concentrate on.

The current Free Trade Agreements (FTA) between many regional players made the traffic soar in South Asia region. Sri Lanka can easily be converted to be regional shipping hub, like Singapore and Dubai to tap this market and beyond.

The current security concern in the Port is not some thing here to stay. These are temporary measurers taken to boost security and investors should not be jittered about them. Investors should invest during a lull period and when the country situation improves the investor would be placed in a tremendous advantageous position to reap benefits. I am an investor who is very aggressive when the others are slow I know that the silver lining is near.

With the expansion of the Colombo Port and the building of Hambantota Port shipping would be a future thrust area. The world is facing a food crisis and the focus on agriculture too should not be ignored.

Q: You are a board member of the Board of Investments (BoI) and how do you review its operations?

There a so many new investors knocking at the door of the BoI which gives an indication that Sri Lanka is still being seriously looked at as a destination for investment. Other countries in the region too are trying to tap these investors and the competitive terms offered to them is the key for them to select a country to invest. An unchanged policy which is evident in countries like India and Vietnam to is an encouragement for them.

I also have observed that infrastructure is being provided at a snail pace. However the Government should provide ‘policy infrastructure’ which can be done in the Parliament faster than providing infrastructure may be in a few months. A new and more simplified Exchange control regulation is an area where ‘policy infrastructure’ can be come in.

Q: Where would you like to spend a holiday?

I have traveled to many parts of the globe as well as within Sri Lanka. There are so many places to discover in Sri Lanka and for me I would like to spend my holiday in Sri Lanka and the beach is my preferred location.

However I also like to travel in Asia since this is the only part of the world where true hospitality is being offered free of charge. The Western world hospitality is being sold.

Pictures by Chaminda Hittatiyage