ADVERTORIAL

CEAT Kelani fetes top dealers with weekend at Kandalama

One of Sri Lanka’s top tyre manufacturers CEAT Kelani Holdings has celebrated the achievement of domestic sales exceeding Rs 6.2 billion in 2010-11 in the face of many challenges, with a gala felicitation of top dealers.

Accordingly, best-performing dealers and their families were treated to a fun and entertainment filled weekend at Heritance Kandalama and Amaya Lake for their contributions to the company’s stellar performance. CEAT Sri Lanka reported that domestic sales and exports had grown by 52 percent and 15 percent respectively in 2010-11.

“We meet once again to celebrate our success in a year in which we grew by leaps and bounds despite the difficult global environment and high raw material costs,” CEAT Kelani Chairman Chanaka de Silva said in his welcome address.

He disclosed that in 2010-11, all product segments had achieved growth, while CEAT radial tyres had achieved volume growth of 27 percent to emerge as the single largest radial brand in Sri Lanka.

He said the company had invested substantially to improve technology and product quality and expanded its portfolio despite the challenging conditions, offering better value to customers and higher earnings to dealers.

Consequent to enhancements in compounds, recent product tests had shown that CEAT tyres manufactured in Sri Lanka were delivering a tremendous improvement in mileage, on par with any Indian-made tyre brand, de Silva said.

CEAT Kelani Managing Director and CEO N. C. Venugopal told dealers that the company would complete another year of good performance on 31st March 2012, although the business environment was even less conducive than in the preceding year.

Rubber prices had risen sharply in the first half of the year and the halving of duties on imported tyres had narrowed the price gap between imports and local products.

Unprecedented fuel price hikes, higher tariffs for electricity and the depreciation of the Rupee had added to the challenges, he said, disclosing that 60 percent of the company’s raw materials are imported.

Nevertheless, CEAT Kelani has the resilience to succeed and maintain its market leadership, Venugopal said, pointing out to dealers that “it is in adversity that we should come together to face the challenges and emerge victorious.”

Pulsating musical entertainment, dance acts, and raffle draws for all dealers at which 19 valuable prizes including air tickets to India, Singapore, Bangkok, the Maldives and Dubai were presented, were part of the awards night, which was followed by a day of relaxation at the two host hotels.

A National Business Excellence Award winner in 2010 and 2011, CEAT - Kelani Associated Holdings is an Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture between the RPG Group of India and Kelani Tyre – Sri Lanka.

The company operates three manufacturing units manufacturing truck, light truck, radial, motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural tyres and employs a workforce of 900 people.

Besides its dominance in the radial tyre segment, CEAT’s market shares in the truck and light truck, three-wheeler and motorcycle tyre segments stand at 58 percent, 40 percent and 15 percent respectively, making it the single highest selling brand in Sri Lanka in these categories.

Ceylinco Life funds house for war-hero

As the third-year commemoration of the end of the military conflict in Sri Lanka draws near, Ceylinco Life has paid tribute to the sacrifice of one gallant soldier by providing funds for the construction of a house for a war-hero who was disabled in the liberation effort.

With Rs 1 million provided by Ceylinco Life, a new house was constructed in Hevanapalassa in Nikaweratiya recently for Pte R.D.C Sanadheera of the Gajaba regiment of Sri Lanka Army.

The contribution was made by Ceylinco Life to the ‘ Seva Vanitha ’ Unit of the Ministry of Defense as part of its CSR initiatives.

The house was handed over to Pte Sanadheera by Ioma Rajapaksa - Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit in the presence of officials from Ceylinco Life, Indu Rathnayake - Vice President of the Seva Vanitha Unit and Major General Jagath Dias - Commander of the Gajaba regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Among other recent community initiatives by Ceylinco Life, one of the market leaders in Sri Lanka’s life insurance sector, are the awarding of scholarships of Rs 8.5 million to 170 future leaders of Sri Lanka under the company’s ‘Pranama’ programme and the sponsoring of a road safety awareness seminar for 250 schoolchildren from 27 schools in Jaffna.