‘Quality, fundamental for success’:

Sachet producer achieves 10 percent annual growth

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The printing industry in Sri Lanka is mainly based on publicity, material and packaging for value addition of Sri Lanka ‘s produce. Although the industry was confined to printing books in the 60’s the printing industry is now diversifying from offset to more sophisticated systems. There is ample opportunity for those who are willing to diversify in to specialized sectors, rather than copying others creating undue competition.

Priyanga Perera

Managing Director, Paramount Print Pack (Pvt) Ltd Priyanga Perera is one of the largest sachet producers in Sri Lanka following this principle. He has achieved 10 percent annual growth in the company over the years.

He was interviewed by Daily News Business.

An old boy of St. Joseph‘s College, Colombo 10, Perera was the only son in a family of seven. His father passed away when he was barely 12 and having completed his Advanced Level examination in 1983 he joined a printing company as a trainee. Perera followed a course at the Sri Lanka Printing Institute. After gaining five years’ experience in the company he proceeded to Japan to continue higher studies in printing.

Sky Paramount

Perera returned to the country after two years and in 1992 set up a small printing business ‘Sky Paramount’. “My initial investment was one million rupees which I borrowed from my mother and started with one offset machine and two employees,” he said.

“I supplied sachets to the hospital industry in Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the beginning and today we are equipped with the latest printing technology in the world and have become the number one sachet supplier for all leading hotels in the country.

The sugar, coffee, salt, pepper, toothpicks and drinking straws sachets have the relevant company logos. He has provided employment to 90 people, he said.

Workers at Paramount Print Pack (Pvt) Ltd

At present the company caters to leading international chain restaurants, and all other restaurants, hospitals and Airlines in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Their products are exported to Australia, Dubai and the USA.

A - Z solutions

The company provides A - Z solutions for printing - from the hospitality industry to apparel, consumer durables and export organizations with the support of its two sister companies Paramount Print (Pvt) Ltd and Paramount Packing. The product portfolio is extensive, specialized and varied and focuses highly on quality.

“Quality is the core to our production because we are the final link in a long chain - the link which is the penultimate process and the customer should be impressed. “We produce generic and personalized products, hygienically packed and sachets which offer the correct portion control, there is low wastage and the table presence is excellent,” he said.

Perera’s future plan is to be the most innovative print solution provider in Sri Lanka to whom quality is fundamental for success contributing to economic prosperity and uplifting the social fabric of the country.

He is confident that with his professional, knowledge and motivated young team he would be able to achieve this objective. The company has implemented this concept and is awaiting ISO certification in the near future.