Jagath, a preferred mega transport supplier

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

He was one of the few high ranking police officers in Sri Lanka to request for a transfer to move into conflict areas during the late 1980’s. The reason for this was that he always wanted to face challenge and never wanted to run out of difficult situations.

Jagath de Aiwis wanted to go to places where the others did not want to go mainly to give back some thing to the country.

The knowledge he gained as a police officer working at Muttur Police Station during the most challenging times gave him strength to move out and start his own business.

He ventured into business after retirement from the police when the conflict was over.

“I felt that I had made my contribution as a citizen of this country and then decided to start my own business.

“One other key aspect I wanted to leave the police force was to be with my family,” said de Silva.

He said one of the first businesses that he thought of was ‘security’ but after a careful thought he decided to move into the transport sector. “I needed capital and raised it by selling some proprieties the family had in Maharagama and obtaining bank loans,” he said. SNT Tours was first started as a cab company. “However my first venture was not very successful mainly due to ‘highly under cutting of prices’ and drove me away from this business. But I still saw the potential and then moved to be a transport provider for mega events and companies,” he said.

He said that this has proved to be very successful and today he has ownership and possession of over 80 vehicles ranging from cars, double cabs, vans to large passenger buses. Basically we have vehicles from Maruti to Hybrid.”

He said that today he is also involved in the ‘rent a car’ business which is very challenging. “There are genuine customers as well as bogus ones and it is very difficult to distinguish the two,” he said.

There are people who come with fake ID cards and documents and take vehicles and pawn them or use them for other purposes. There are also ‘customers’ who remove valuable parts of the vehicle and replace them with used parts.

“Sometimes ‘rent a car’ vehicles are also used for crimes and the knowledge he gained in the police is very useful during this time,” he said.

Jagath in a short time has been able to ‘grab’ most of the top corporate events such as the recently concluded Asian championships. “We are the preferred transport supplier when it comes to ‘mega’ events,” he said.

He said that they are very happy with the opening of the Southern Highway which has helped the transport industry a great deal. “It saves us time, fuel and also helps to lower maintenance cost,” he added.

Asked how he became so successful in short time in a competitive industry like the transport sector he said that it was sheer innovation. “I did not copy anybody but came out with novel packages that were well respected and accepted by the corporate and organizers of mega events,” he said.

He also said that they are not ‘expensive’ and another key to their success is their staff whom are being ‘well looked after’.

SNT tours located in Cemetery road Mirihana, Nugegoda has also acquired adjoin land to expand their business. “We are also looking at diversifying to the leisure industry,” he disclosed.