COYLE awards Marlon Ferreira for exemplary entrepreneurship

Marlon Ferreira wins the 21st award for entrepreneurship at the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur Awards 2025. The event was organised by the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) at Shangri-La Colombo. Exterminators PLC garnered its 68th award in the selected category, further solidifying its status as a leader in the pest management industry in the region. The company, under its dynamic leadership, has consistently demonstrated an unwavering dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, making significant strides in sustainable practices within the industry.

Entrepreneurial journey Marlon Ferreira, at just 22 years old, made the life-altering decision to leave a stable job that provided a modest salary. With no savings to fall back on, Ferreira borrowed some money from family and friends to acquire a bike and spray can, embarking on a journey that would redefine the pest control industry in Asia. The path was laden with obstacles, especially the bureaucratic challenges faced by him in registering his business operations. Marlon’s initial years were marked by resilience; he operated from home while establishing a customer base by distributing handbills throughout Colombo. The journey was far from easy, his first year’s sales were not so encouraging. Yet, he saw his hard work bring better financial results each year. Apart from that, he focused on redefining standards of pest management in Sri Lanka. By today, the company he founded has been recognized as the first carbon-neutral firm in the industry and has achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications.