Features

Returning to Sri Lanka, becoming MD of Reckitt’s in SL at age 33 and then Chairman

Published

3 years ago

2023/11/26

Exporting charcoal to New Zealand. Dr. Seevali Ratwatte, the prime minister's brother, who was Chairman of the Export Development Board is in the middle, Lalith at left and Asoka de Lanerolle of the EDB at right.

(Excerpted from the memoirs of Lalith de Mel)

He returned to a Sri Lanka going through a difficult phase due to the JVP uprising. There were curfews and a sense of fear in the air. His predecessor in Sri Lanka had a young family and was glad to get away from the chaos that prevailed and left a few days before he returned.

There was the usual tension that prevails when a colleague becomes the boss. He left for Brazil as a colleague and returned as the boss. This was short-lived as it was not a complete surprise and they probably expected it to happen.

He had a very relaxed style. No ties, short-sleeved shirt to work, and coloured tunic top and sarong in the evenings (he still does this) and everyone was asked to call everyone including the MD by their first name. This was a big change. The foreign MDs wore a jacket and tie but took the jacket off when they got to their office. The immediate direct reports referred to the MD as ‘Mister’. No first names.

A difficult economic environment

During his entire period as Managing Director, there was a difficult external environment. The Trotskyis version of Marxists had joined Mrs. Bandaranaike’s Government and were destroying the economy. They pushed through land reform, a ceiling on housing, and the nationalization of the estates. It was done in a hurried and unplanned fashion and instead of leading to a resurgence in economic activity, it led to a collapse of the economy. Import licences for raw materials were restricted, leaving no room for new activities and expansion

Pharmaceuticals

Over the years he had developed a special affinity for pharmaceuticals. He worked closely with the UK Pharmaceutical division which provided support and guidance to the overseas businesses. He had regular technical discussions with them about creating promotional material for doctors and whenever there was a pharmaceutical conference anywhere in the Group he was invited to attend.

This letter from the UK Group Director responsible for Pharmaceuticals illustrates their respect for him as a pharmaceutical man.

“Your letter reference 349 of June 2 on the merits of Disprin in comparison with ordinary Aspirin has been the subject of close and detailed study by myself and my colleagues in the Pharmaceutical Division. I apologize for the length of time it has taken to reply to it but I can assure you that this is rather a mark of the seriousness with which the matter has been approached rather than of neglect.

“There is little doubt that your efforts in Sri Lanka with some assistance from the UK have succeeded in producing the best possible case for Disprin based on all available evidence. So effective is it, in fact, that the Pharmaceutical Division is itself adopting much of it incorporation in their own activity.”

This was the start of being recognized as very competent pharmaceutical man and from then on he worked with them as a member of the top pharmaceutical team whilst performing his various regional director roles. This eventually resulted in his appointment as the Group Director for Worldwide Pharmaceuticals.

The pharmaceutical industry was under attack. Prof Bibile had a plan that he fortunately could not implement. His plan did not make good sense. His plan to ban brand names completely was nonsensical. A person wanting a bottle of Dettol would have had to ask for Chloroxylenol solution. His concept of a limited formulary of drugs was shot down by the medical profession. When all this was floundering, his grand plan was to make the multinational pharmaceutical companies contract manufacturers for his State Pharmaceutical Corporation. They were summoned for a meeting chaired by Dr. N.M. Perera.

He was then Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. After consulting their respective parent companies, they had adopted a common position. Despite being harangued and threatened by Dr. N.M. Perera, the manufacturers flatly refused to manufacture for Prof. Bibile. Then Bill Williams, Managing Director of the Pfizer business, pointed out forcefully that if they were not paid full, fair, just and equitable compensation, the US Hickenlooper Amendment would kick in, which would prevent the USA providing aid in any form to Ceylon.

There was a stunned silence and then Dr. Perera proclaimed that the industry would be nationalized. Nothing happened thereafter. It was an end to the fanciful dreams of Prof Bibile, who then left our shores and died shortly thereafter.

The Marxists were kicked out of the Government but the economy continued to struggle. He continued what he had been doing before he went to Brazil, namely growing the brands, but he had to move out of the seat of driving brands as a Marketing Director.

However, he kept his finger on marketing as in those times it was very much a command and control culture. Managing Directors gave directives and management executed them. There was discussion and senior managers had the opportunity to express their views but there was no delegation of key decision-making.

An interesting diversion from the difficult business environment was the marketing of condoms. The International Planned Parenthood Federation in the UK wanted to experiment with mass marketing of condoms. They were available at that time all over the world, but only in pharmacies. To make an impact in terms of birth control, it was important to make them available through the retail network.

The IPPF had identified Ceylon as the market to test this concept. They had persuaded Anandatissa de Alwis who had an advertising agency to take on the advertising for this project. Ananda who was an old friend then approached him and wanted him to participate in developing the marketing concept and wanted Reckitt & Colman to handle the distribution. He (Lalith) was quite convinced that it was a good social marketing project but he had the daunting task of getting approval from the lords and masters in the UK.

So he wrote them a nice letter and was pleased that they were very positive and gave the OK to market condoms in Sri Lanka. Now they agonized over a name and the name eventually selected was Preethi. He returned home and told his wife that at long last they found a name and it was Preethi. She smiled and reminded him that it was her first name, and so he had said, “Now you’ll be famous, your name will be on every packet of condoms!”

The project was very successful. IPPF was very pleased. From then on condoms have been freely available in the retail network. He was very happy to have been a part of this campaign.

They were difficult times and they had to look for various innovative ideas to grow the business. One such project was to export charcoal for barbecues to New Zealand.

He was very keen to market bottled water but he could not convince Corporate HQ in UK that this was a feasible proposition. Looking at what has happened with bottled water, it was a tragedy that it was not implemented. During this time he played an active role with a few others to create the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM). He was the third President of SLIM.

Reckitt & Colman of Ceylon was a public company and when he was the Managing Director, the Chairman of the company was John West, who was the Chairman of Reckitt & Colman of India. He came four times a year for Board Meetings. But in 1975, it was decided that the Indian Chairman need not visit and Lalith was made the Chairman of the company. That was the first time a Sri Lankan was a Chairman of a multinational company in Sri Lanka. He reported to a Regional Director based in Corporate HQ, which by then had moved from Hull to London.

He visited the business from time to time and so did various corporate staff. His Regional Director reported to Ted Wright, the Main Holding Board Director responsible for all the overseas businesses.

Ted Wright was of course a powerful individual in the Group and he too would visit overseas businesses. He made a visit to the businesses in the sub-continent and came to Sri Lanka when he was Chairman. When Lalith next went to Corporate HQ on one of his regular visits, he was asked to see Ted Wright. After a little chat about the business and the country, he was asked whether he would come and work at Corporate HQ in London.

He was very happy in Sri Lanka. He had no problems managing the business and there were early signs that there could be a change of government in the offing with a new government that was supportive of the private sector.

But he realized he could not continue to be Chairman of Reckitt & Colman Sri Lanka forever and that if he didn’t move, after a few years they would probably want to have a new head for the Sri Lankan business. So with some reluctance he agreed to move to the UK. At that time he was not sure about his exact job. He was told the grade, which was one rung below a main board director and that the role would be at Corporate Headquarters. So he had many discussions with various people including Ted Wright in London and the final decision was that he would be appointed a Regional Director in London and he would take over the role from his then boss.

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Features

New US sanctions on ICC, a fillip to worldwide political repression

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

The International Criminal Court in session. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was stark: ‘Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.’ It followed US central administration accusations that the court was unfairly targeting Americans on the basis of trumped-up war crimes charges.

However, a new plethora of sanctions has been clamped on the ICC by the US, which in turn has spurred accusations by sections of the world that the latter has unleashed an ‘assault’ on the international legal order.

What some of the sanctions would mean for the ICC was outlined by Rubio: ‘We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling their ability to operate against us.’

The ICC has shown consistency of purpose over the years. Despite some operational constraints it has indicted a large number of political strongmen from around the world, accused of war crimes and other governance excesses that come under its purview. Two such recent figures are: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rather than enjoy a mere nominal presence in the world community, the ICC has proved its effectiveness by detaining and bringing to justice scores of VIP politicians and others of their ilk who have been found guilty of human rights abuses and kindred excesses that come within the terms of reference of the ICC.

Accordingly, the international justice system would be stymied considerably as a result of the ICC being dis-empowered, particularly financially. Needless to say, potential and real perpetrators of the species of crime coming under the jurisdiction of the ICC would stand to gain most from such anarchic tendencies. That is, political repression globally would be enabled to enjoy a new lease of life.

A detailing of the types of crime coming under the purview of the ICC provides an idea of what it would cost the international community if the ICC’s operations are gravely hampered. They are mainly: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

That is, the part of the world to be worst affected would be the global South, since the latter is awash with the mentioned crimes. Needless to say, a chronically-disaffected South will sooner rather than later undermine the well being of the world dangerously. The world is already being put through these paces.

At the time of writing, ‘illegal migrants’ from the South, for example, are aggravating many a Western economy’s woes, besides creating for them acute law and order issues. The fact that these migrants’ presence goes on to become a virtual test of the migrant receiving states’ ability to forge domestic social inclusion in the face of jingoistic protests by mainly white supremacist groups is evidence of the latter. As is known, the US, to take just one example, has been up against this crisis for quite a while.

Accordingly, it will be in the best interests of the West if ‘illegal’ migrant arrivals on their shores are stemmed. If the socio-political and economic problems assailing the South are effectively managed through North-South collaborative, ‘trouble-shooting’ efforts the causes leading to ‘illegal’ migration and connected issues could be resolved at source as it were. For, it is the aggravation of the South’s material questions that lays the basis for the emergence of repressive and anti-democratic regimes in the hemisphere.

Until such time that the aforementioned issues in North-South relations are visited afresh and addressed urgently, a vibrantly functioning ICC would be needed. For, the latter would prove a deterrent to Southern political and military strongmen, highly prone to power abuse and like excesses, from coming into being in the wake of the South’s chronic material woes and the wars and conflicts that result from them.

It stands to reason then that the US would be acting in its own interests by enabling the ICC to perpetuate its mandate without hindrance. For a crop of issues that impinges negatively on internal law and order would be defused.

Meanwhile, there needs to be a meeting of minds among the rest of the West to put back in place a North-South dialogue process aimed at reducing some of the economic pressures that are weighing on the South.

Since economics usually drives politics it will be in the interests of the world community to scrutinizingly re-visit North-South issues of the past and put in place economic relief packages for Southern publics that would enable them to tide over their material hardships rather than permit the latter to aggravate into social disaffection and eventually armed militancy. It is the latter juncture that paves the way for the emergence of authoritarian rulers in the South who then go on to be a blight on their publics.

Accordingly, the Southern-based global development thinking of the past that envisaged a more equitable world economic order needs to be seen as an urgent need. That is, NAM’s international development paradigms need to be resuscitated to the extent possible.

It is unlikely that rightist governments of the West, such as the current Republican administration in the US, would find these projects feasible, but democratic states of Europe, led by perhaps the UK, are likely to think otherwise. For it would not be beneficial for the democratic world to be having on their hands repressive governments in the South who would be gravitating towards the major military and economic actors of the South, such as Iran and North Korea, who tend to be in constant power struggles with the West.

However, until such time that the mentioned, pro-people initiatives are given serious thought the ICC would need to be enabled by the international community to be in place comfortably and carry on with its mandate of bringing repressive rulers to book. Besides the ICC should pave the way for the peoples of the developing world to enjoy some substantial respite from the political repression and even terror which tend to be their lot.

Meanwhile, the wars of West Asia are relentlessly aggravating the economic hardships of people everywhere, driving the point home to enlightened sections that there is no alternative to peacemaking. A challenge is to convert the US under President Trump to this line of thinking.

Features

Clear, soft and shine-free skin

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

This week, I give you five simple, time-tested homemade remedies that help reduce the appearance of blemishes, control excess shine and leave your skin feeling softer and smoother.

The Honey and Lemon Brightening Dab:

For stubborn blemish marks, this is a classic. Mix one teaspoon of pure bee honey with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply gently, only on the affected spots, and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. While honey soothes and softens, lemon helps to brighten naturally. Use twice a week in the evening.

Besan and Rose Water Oil-Control Pack:

An ideal remedy to combat shine, especially on the T-zone. Take two teaspoons of besan (gram flour) and mix with sufficient rose water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antiseptic goodness. Apply evenly, keep for 15 minutes and wash off. It absorbs excess oil without over-drying, leaving a beautiful matte finish.

Aloe Vera and Cucumber Ice Soother:

Blend fresh aloe vera gel with the juice of a grated cucumber and freeze the mixture in an ice tray. Each morning, wrap one cube in a soft muslin cloth and gently rub over a cleansed face for 30 seconds. It calms, tightens pores and imparts a baby-soft smoothness.

Oatmeal and Curd Gentle Polish:

Roughness and old blemish marks need gentle exfoliation. Combine one tablespoon of finely powdered oatmeal with one tablespoon of fresh curd (yoghurt). Massage very gently, in circular motions, for one minute, leave for five minutes and rinse. It removes dead cells and unveils softer, clearer skin.

Multani Mitti and Green Tea Magic Mask:

Brew some green tea and allow it to cool completely. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) with the tea water to make a fine paste. Apply for 10 to 12 minutes – do not let it dry and crack completely – and wash off. It draws out impurities, fades blemishes and bestows a fresh, shine-free glow.

A Gentle Reminder:

As with any natural remedy, always do a patch test on your inner arm first. For those with oily or combination skin, avoid heavy coconut oil application and harsh scrubbing, as they tend to aggravate shine and blemishes.

Features

Compete, shine and be discovered at WCOPA 2027

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Dream of performing on a world stage? Well, here is your unique, golden opportunity!

The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) — the one and only official “Talent Olympics” — is the world’s premier global platform for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists, etc., to compete, shine and be discovered!

And, yes, this world stage is open to YOU, Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka and overseas!

Held annually in glittering Las Vegas, WCOPA brings together over 70 countries, all competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, just like the traditional Olympics.

Lakisha Bernard: Will represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027

Outstanding performers vie for the coveted titles of Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, with winners and standout participants awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes to catapult their education and careers!

Sri Lanka is already making waves! At WCOPA 2026, Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka, made the nation proud by winning a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category!

Lakisha: Accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate

Recruitment for this prestigious competition is handled through a system of scouts and licensed National Directors — and this is where our very own Chris Rajendra, now based in Las Vegas, and National Director for Team Sri Lanka, comes into the scene.

If you are a singer, dancer, actor, model, instrumentalist — if you have talent burning inside you — contact Chris Rajendra today for registration and, who knows, you may find yourself in Las Vegas, and proudly draped in the Sri Lankan flag, at WCOPA 2027!

The contact address is: Chris Rajendra, wcopa.nationaldirector.sl@gmail.com

or chris.rajendra@gmail.com

Meanwhile, a star is born for 2027, in the form of Lakisha Bernard who is all set to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027.

Originally hailing from the sun-drenched coastal city of Colombo and now carving out her creative career in Canada, 22-year-old Lakisha is stepping into the international spotlight.

This accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate has officially been appointed as the Team Sri Lanka Promoter for Canada as she prepares to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA in Las Vegas.

Lakisha brings a unique blend of high-fashion sensibility, captivating camera presence and expert garment design to the Team.

Having built her career, from local college shoots to high-glamour concepts, Lakisha’s inspiring journey embodies the true spirit of cultural bridge-building and creative resilience, bringing immense pride and recognition to Sri Lanka on the global stage.

WCOPA 2027 will be held at the legendary Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, from 12th to 20th July – the very same iconic arena where the late, great Elvis Presley himself performed!

Your moment is now. Your stage is Las Vegas, so hurry and contact Chris Rajendra.