Letter of Appreciation:

R. Sivaratnam - an outstanding leader with a passion to inspire

Sivaratnam was an exceptional personality - an inspirational and a visionary leader. As displayed in his youth in the field of sports, in his professional life as well he believed in team work and had the remarkable ability to inspire his subordinates to rise above themselves. Sivaratnam stood tall and reached the highest echelons in the business world without compromising on his integrity and the values he stood for.

In his long and successful career at Aitken Spence his achievements were many. He pioneered the tourism sector in the group making Aitken Spence one of the largest Tourism companies and took Sri Lanka’s hospitality expertise overseas. He advocated organic growth.

He started the tourism sector with Neptune Hotel and then went on to develop Internationally popular iconic hotels such as Triton (now renamed Heritance Ahungalle) and Heritance Kandalama. These hotels indeed bear testimony to his vision and his ability to marshal his troops to achieve the impossible even in great adversity.

Similarly, Aitken Spence Travels and Ace Travels and Conventions the two leading travel companies in Sri Lanka were his brainchild which he nurtured from the beginning. The very successful Power sector within the Aitken Spence Group was conceived and brought into fruition by him.

As Chairman of Aitken Spence and Company Sivaratnam was fondly remembered by every one not only for his exceptional leadership skills and the unprecedented heights he took the company to but as one who treated everyone with fairness and dignity and for his humility. He was an outstanding leader who was ahead of his times.

He advocated the need for economic benefits of business to percolate down to the common man, treat the environment with respect and work with competition for the common good of industry far before corporate jargon such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development, Coo-petition etc. were even coined.

Sivaratnam insisted in not compromising in Quality. When discussing market leadership he advised us to tread cautiously and reminded being an excellent no two or three is better than being no 1 not living up to expectations. He was firm when the situation called for but was always fair and guided us to do the right thing irrespective of the circumstances.

He not only showed us how to treat our own team members well but also to respect and work with our competitors in business.

Sivaratnam selflessly served the toursim industry and the business community at large through the many honorary positions he held as President of Association of Group Tour operators, Chairman Employers Federation, Chairman - Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Chairman Export Development Board etc. His wise counsel was always available to anyone.

Sivaratnam will be long remembered as a great sportsman and one of the finest business leaders this country ever produced. However, he will be most loved for his wonderful humane qualities for he was truly a great human being.

- Director Aitken Spence Travels, Gehan M. Perera