Hayleys' fibre sector wins three NCE awards

Three companies in the Industrial Fibre sector of the Hayleys Group were honoured for their contributions to Sri Lanka's exports in 2011 at the 20th NCE Export Awards presented by the National Chamber of Exporters.

Toyo Cushion Lanka (Private) Ltd won the Gold Trophy, medal and certificate in the 'Agriculture value added, Medium Sector' category, while Bonterra Lanka Limited was awarded the Silver Trophy, medal and certificate in the same category. Lignocell (Private) Limited also received a Silver Trophy, medal and certificate in the 'Agriculture value added, Large Sector.'

Members of the award winning Hayleys Fibre team with the awards (from left) Bimal Nanayakkara, Kithsiri Palihawadana, Dumindra Abeysekara, Chaminda Peiris, Tharindu Atapattu, Prasanna de Silva (Managing Director, Fibre Sector), Wasaba Jayasekera (CEO of Toyo Cushion, Lignocell and Bonterra), Ranga Dias, Wasantha Kalyana and Kelum Kumara.

"The Hayleys Group's pioneering role as an exporter of coir fibre and fibre-based products in Sri Lanka dates back to well over a century and it is inspiring to see these companies at the forefront in value added exports today," Fibre Sector Managing Director, Prasanna De Silva said. "The fibre sector has weathered many challenges to remain an area of immense potential for Hayleys, and the spirit of innovation that Hayleys is reputed for continues to burn strong in this area of enterprise."

The Group's Gold award winner Toyo Cushion Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is a Sri Lanka-Japan-Holland joint venture that manufactures mattresses and cushions, erosion control products, horticulture and garden products and specialized packaging products.

Some of these products are sold under the brand name of 'Hayleys Fibre.' The company achieved record turnover and margins in 2011, 12, emerging as a stable global player for rubberized coir products.

A processor and exporter of Coir Fibre Pith in compressed forms such as briquettes, blocks, bales, discs, mulch blocks and grow bags, Lignocell (Private) Limited improved turnover by 50 per cent in 2011-12 and recorded its highest ever profit. While the USA remains the largest market for the company, Lignocell has penetrated new markets in Russia for coco pith products like growing media, and reports that indications from these markets are promising.

Bonterra Lanka Limited is a joint venture between Hayleys Exports PLC and Bonterra Germany. The company also increased its turnover by 50 per cent in the last financial year, consolidating its position as a global player in erosion control products. A major supplier to South Korea and Germany, Bonterra Lanka developed new markets in USA, New Zealand and Japan in 2011-12, maintained its market share in Europe despite the recession in the Eurozone.

Established in Galle in 1878, the Hayleys Group employs more than 30,000 people today, and accounts for 2.51 per cent of the country's export income. Adjudged Sri Lanka's Best Corporate Citizen four times, the Group was recently ranked among the top three most respected business entities in Sri Lanka and placed first for Nation-Mindedness in Lanka Monthly Digest's (LMD) 'Most Respected Entities In Sri Lanka' survey. Hayleys companies encompass a globally-competitive business portfolio spanning 12 defined sectors of enterprise in seven categories - Global Markets and Manufacturing, Agriculture and Plantations, Transportation and Logistics, Leisure and Aviation, Consumer Products, Power and Energy, Investments and Services.