AITKEN SPENCE

Transforming the future

The Aitken Spence Group adds immense value to the economy in terms of its diversification and global presence in nine countries, and by being a vital foreign exchange earner. The group’s management expertise and sustainable practices have actively contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic diversification and responsible growth across tourism, maritime and freight logistics, renewable energy, plantations, apparel and other services.

In tourism, the group operates 17 hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Oman and India. Besides being credited as the first Sri Lankan company to invest in a hotel overseas and the largest single foreign operator, Aitken Spence is said to have introduced the world’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel – Heritance Kandalama.

Furthermore, Aitken Spence Travels is among Sri Lanka’s leading destination management com­panies with experience of over four decades. Its strong partnership with TUI – one of the world’s largest tour operators – and many others reiterates its position as a market leader in Sri Lanka.

In maritime freight and logistics, it lays claim to being the first Sri Lankan company to venture into port management services in the South Pacific and Africa. Its new state-of-the-art 3PL/4PL container freight station is expected to be completed this year.

The group’s plantation segment (Elpitiya Plantations) has embarked on a journey to produce four types of berries (strawberry, raspberry, blackberries and blueberries) for the first time in Sri Lanka. Elpitiya Plantations has also been at the forefront of several diversification initiatives and is setting up its retail arm Harrow House in Chennai with plans to expand to other cities in India.

Aitken Spence is a pioneer in adopting a comprehensive sustainability framework across its business – the integrated sustainability strategy guides the implementation of environmental and social performance standards in line with relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Global Compact standards and Women’s Empowerment Principles.

And Aitken Spence has been recognised at Sri Lanka’s Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability (BCCS) Awards for three consecutive years and was the only Sri Lankan company included in Sustainability magazine’s global ranking of Top 100 Companies in Sustainability 2022.

In addition to the diversified sector award, it won an award for Demonstrated Resilient Practices for COVID-19 Context at the BCCS Awards 2022 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Aitken Spence has been a driving force of Sri Lanka’s economic development for over 150 years, backed by exceptional services, sustainable practices and competent human capital.

The group’s sustainable initiatives extend to the privately led renewable energy investments encompassing hydropower, wind and waste-to-energy. Its latest project, Sri Lanka’s first waste-to-energy power plant, is a sustainable solution to Colombo’s solid waste disposal problem.

Aitken Spence is also ensuring energy security for the nation by operating its 10 MW waste-to-energy power plant. The group acquired a 100 percent shareholding in one of the largest utility scale solar farms for a substantial investment of Rs. 1.4 billion, endorsing its commitment to local and global sustainable development goals and achieving net zero status.

Moreover, Aitken Spence is positioned as the first conglomerate in Sri Lanka to make a public commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to achieve net zero emissions. It is also a frontrunner in the renewable energy space in Sri Lanka, providing 1.2 percent of the country’s peak energy demand through renewable sources.

The group pioneers change in the diverse industries it operates in and remains committed to transforming the future.

– Compiled by Yamini Sequeira

Telephone 2308308 I Email info@aitkenspence.lk I Website www.aitkenspence.com

Students draw scenes of rapeseed fields among the blossoming flowers in Hai’an, Nantong –
a city in China’s eastern Jiangsu Province. Rapeseed is the largest oilseed crop in China,
which welcomed spring in mid-March. The country exported over US$ 160,000 worth of the
crop in February to destinations such as Hong Kong, the US, Macau, North Korea and
Malaysia.

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

I also feel it’s the better quality of life – as perceived by potential emigrants – that has resulted in the brain drain.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Aruna Abeygoonesekera has worked as a public servant for the past 35 years – mainly in the tertiary education and child welfare sectors in New Zealand – in the disciplines of financial and resource management, data governance and strategic planning.

He also functioned as Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul to New Zealand for 14 years until his retirement last year.

Abeygoonesekera was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017, for services rendered to the Sri Lankan community residing in that country, and for enhancing diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The latter opened its high commission in Colombo in 2021.

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

People left Sri Lanka mainly because they didn’t see a future or room for growth. If the leadership and political system change, and the economy improves, I’m positive that many Sri Lankans living abroad will move back.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Prashan Muthugala is an internationally qualified chartered accountant who has worked in his profession in three countries. He has over a decade of accounting and finance experience in two of the ‘big four’ audit firms, as well as at leading multinational and listed companies in a wide variety of sectors.

His experience includes heading finance teams in multinational and listed companies. He is also a past president of the CA Students’ Society, in addition to being a member of numerous committees of Sri Lanka’s ACCA, CIMA and CA branches.

As an avid traveller and a foodie who has visited over 35 countries, Muthugala spends his leisure time travelling, camping, hiking, swimming and sampling the fare at new restaurants.

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

While the relaxed atmosphere of Sri Lanka is an attraction, the limited opportunities – as well as political and economic instability coupled with a high level of corruption – contribute to a brain drain. It is hard to find value in one’s job while working in the midst of such negative forces.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Dr. Dilani Perera is the Chair and Professor in the Counsellor Education Department at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

She is a licensed professional counsellor, and an alcohol and drug counsellor, as well as a national certified counsellor and master addiction counsellor. She’s been a counsellor educator for the past 16 years.

Prior to gaining her higher academic qualifications, she worked as a professional counsellor, and an alcohol and drug counsellor, for 10 years in various settings.

Perera has over 45 publications to her credit. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Editor of the Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling. She holds dual citizenship in Sri Lanka and the US.

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

The brain drain is an unavoidable consequence as Sri Lanka hasn’t been able to meet the minimum expectations of its citizens – and there’s a lack of hope at this point.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Sanjay Ihalagama is a compliance professional possessing over 19 years’ experience with expertise in managing financial crime compliance (FCC) including economic sanctions risk. He has worked in various countries including Hong Kong, Bahrain, Qatar and Sri Lanka.

His compliance career commenced with HSBC Global Resourcing (HDPL) in Sri Lanka. Ihalagama is currently employed as the Director – Sanctions Advisory, FCC – Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong.

Prior to his present position, Ihalagama was the Head of Sanctions Advisory for HSBC – Asia-Pacific Region and a Senior Global Compliance (FCC) Audit Manager for HSBC Hong Kong. Before then, he was the Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Compliance for HSBC Bahrain and the Money Laundering Reporting Officer for First Gulf Bank – Qatar Financial Centre.

Ihalagama is also a lawyer who began his career with Paul Ratnayeke Associates and was an Industrial Relations Advisor at the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC).

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

Unfortunately, Sri Lanka doesn’t have such mechanisms and policies to attract or retain talent. Meanwhile, there isn’t sufficient encouragement by the government to motivate the Sri Lankan diaspora to mobilise its expertise and resources to assist in the development of the country.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Having graduated from university, Priyantha Sriwardene had an opportunity to use computer simulation for engineering designs for a year. In 1999, he was invited by the Solideal Loadstar group (a leading tyre manufacturer in Sri Lanka) – which later came to be known as Camso – to introduce simulation technologies into its engineering streams.

Following 16 years of service, he was offered a place in the advanced technology team at Camso’s head office in Quebec in 2015. While working at Camso’s head office, Sriwardene contributed remotely to setting up the Finite Element Analysis and Simulation Centre, which is attached to the Plastics & Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL) – he headed its technical committee for two years.

Camso was acquired by the Michelin Group in 2018, and Sriwardene began working as an expert in the Research and Development division of Michelin Canada.

Extracted from interviews published in LMD.

Q How do you view the brain drain – and why is there still no reversal of it, in your opinion?

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Gaddafi Ismail is the President of De Lune Corp (DLC), a multitier global business that focusses on agri food, IT, healthcare administration and energy solutions. After receiving his early education in Sri Lanka, he pursued an MBA in the UK and then migrated to the US.

He founded DLC in 2016, and his leadership has positioned the business as a formidable player in the US federal contracting sphere. Last year, the company was ranked No. 977 on the list of Inc. 5000: Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.

Firmly believing in giving back to the community, DLC has been instrumental in providing nutrient dense food to underserved communities under its Sharing the Love initiative.

Gaddafi’s young daughters provide the motivation for him to seek a better world for them through commu­nity involvement and support for social causes. In his spare time, he indulges in English soccer and is a fan of Liverpool Football Club.

A TASTE OF SRI LANKA

Cultural celebrations across the seas

ARALIYA

Melbourne

Araliya was re-established in February last year by the Sri Lanka-born couple Sam and Dee Wedande. Moving to Melbourne in 1981, they established the original Araliya in 1985 in Hawthorn to offers contemporary Sri Lankan inspired cuisine.

While Dee manages the front of the house, Sam is the executive chef of the kitchen. He creates his own recipes and refines his country’s cuisine.

Araliya serves contemporary dishes curated from high quality Sri Lankan ingredients, complemented by the island’s popular spices such as coriander, cumin, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

The restaurant’s fragrant rice and lentil pancakes, zingy vegetable dishes and pungent meaty curries have won over many customers. Araliya is credited with being the first Sri Lankan restaurant to be awarded an Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Award.

On a Nine Radio podcast, the restaurant’s black pork curry has been highlighted and Araliya is described as the “love affair with Sri Lankan food.”

The podcaster reviewed the dish as “a rich, tender, mouth-watering piece of scotch seasoned with dark roasted spices and pepper” while the tamarind was described as a “starring ingredient, adding a sour but almost sweetly fruity taste.”

And the podcast commented on Araliya’s wine list as being “thoughtfully curated with selections ranging from France and Italy, to a multitude of locally produced options.”

Araliya is loved by many patrons for its exceptional food and high quality service. Sam and Dee have done and continue to do an enviable job of sharing the delights of Sri Lankan cuisine down under.