Kandurata Umbrella opens factory in Nawalapitiya

The Kandurata Umbrella group would be opening a state of the art factory in Nawalapitiya today mainly targeting their growing export market.

The company was founded in 1978. Its current chairman M. T. M. Nawshad said that their main aim was to capture the South Asian market which was looking out for quality products.

He said that they already export to Malaysia, the Maldives and Gulf countries.

"We also export to UK and manufacture profits to other leading department stores under their brand names in London."

Nawshad said that if their plan to enter the South Asian markets gets going they would also manufacture fabric and increase value addition in Sri Lanka. "Currently most of the raw materials are being imported from China and Taiwan," he said.

Currently over 1,000 are employeed in Kandurata factories in Kadugannawa, Gampola, Geli Oya and Weligalle and the Nawalapitiya factory would provide another 200 employment opportunities.

He said the company has already made diversifications to manufacture mosquito nets, socks, underwear, vests and are now looking at manufacturing shoes and slippers for the local market.

Sujeeva Dharmawickrama, Head of Marketing, said that they manufacture over 80 varieties of umbrellas.

"Two decades ago, the umbrella was only used as a cover from rain. But today it is a fashion and I know several people who have more than 30 umbrellas to use at different functions," he said.

The company also introduced a special umbrella for car uses with a plastic container which stores rain water without spilling it in the vehicle.

"This product has the facility to drain out the collected water later, is popular and are available at super markets," he said.

He however said that they have to pay somewhat unfair taxes when importing raw materials.

"The irony is that when we export too, we have to pay taxes which make the product a double taxed item," he said.

He said that their current production is around 1,200 dozens per day and with their new factory this would increase by around another 40%. (SS)