Business
CEAT Kelani boosts earnings of local rubber industry
CEAT Kelani representatives conducting training for rubber suppliers.
Increased production to meet local demand has enabled CEAT Kelani Holdings to increase its monthly purchases of natural rubber in the domestic market by as much as 35 per cent by September, the country’s leading tyre manufacturer has disclosed.
The company, which sources all of its natural rubber requirements locally, said its purchases in September 2020 alone would reach 500 tonnes (500,000kgs), generating Rs 150 million in revenue for Sri Lankan producers in areas such as Kegalle, Kalutara, Ratnapura and Monaragala.
In the pre-pandemic months of December 2019 to February 2020, CEAT Kelani’s purchases of rubber averaged 366 tonnes a month, generating average monthly revenue of Rs 107 million for local suppliers, the Company said.
“One of the major reasons for CEAT Kelani’s existence in Sri Lanka is the availability of natural rubber, and we have always been focussed on maximising local value addition,” the company’s Managing Director Ravi Dadlani observed. “With our ramping up of production in response to the temporary import restrictions imposed by the government, our contribution to local natural rubber producers has increased sharply, by as much as 40 per cent in value terms in just seven months.”
Increased production of truck, bus, radial and two-wheeler tyres by CEAT, while supporting the government’s efforts to conserve foreign exchange through import substitution, would also help local industry achieve the ‘V’ shaped post-pandemic recovery that is expected of it, Dadlani said.
CEAT Kelani engages with a base of nearly 30 dealers for the purchase of natural RSS rubber and interacts with them on daily basis. Besides daily procurement transactions, the Company imparts knowhow to the dealers to help them improve the quality of RSS grades. “We periodically audit dealers’ operations and help them maintain high quality standards,” Mr Dadlani added. “As a result many of our dealers are now recognised as “CEAT approved NR dealers.” This recognition not only helps them to be consistent suppliers to CEAT Kelani, it also helps them to establish themselves as quality suppliers of RSS grades to rest of the local industry.”
CEAT’s ramping up of production of truck and bus tyres since the start of the pandemic-linked lockdown has resulted in the Company now producing 100 per cent of the segment’s requirements and enabled the government to make a saving of Rs 11 billion a year in foreign exchange. The Company has also achieved an 85 per cent increase in the production of tyres for the ‘two-wheeler’ segment over the past three months; enabling a further saving of Rs 350 million a year through import substitution.
CEAT Kelani can currently produce two million tyres annually across multiple categories, and an addition of a further 200,000 Car and Van Radial tyres is imminent with new machinery being installed, pending the arrival of foreign technologists to commission the additional capacity.
Notably, CEAT Kelani Holdings has kept the prices of its tyres unchanged since December 2019 to support customers and the economy, despite the additional investments made in increasing capacity and an increase in market prices due to demand.
CEAT Kelani Holdings is considered one of the most successful India – Sri Lanka joint ventures in the manufacturing sector. The joint venture’s cumulative investment in Sri Lanka to date totals Rs 8 billion, inclusive of Rs 3 billion committed in January 2018 for expansion of volumes, technology upgrades and new product development. The company’s manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka encompass pneumatic tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (Bias-ply and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.
The inaugural Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025 concluded with industry leaders and regulators establishing two critical national priorities: a bold target to reduce physical cash usage and a push for consolidated regulatory oversight.
In a key decision, participants set a clear three-year goal to lower the ratio of cash in circulation to GDP from 4.5% to 3.5%. The strategy will focus on digitizing high-cash sectors like transport, utilities, and SME payments, while expanding digital access through post offices and cooperatives.
For the long-term health of the ecosystem, stakeholders agreed to lobby for the creation of a single, unified regulatory authority dedicated to fintech oversight. This aims to streamline approvals and provide clearer guidance for innovators.
“Our members needed to leave with concrete action points,” said Channa de Silva, Chairman of the Fintech Forum, Sri Lanka. The summit, designed as a series of closed-door roundtables with regulators including the Central Bank, produced actionable frameworks. “It was about defining KPIs, setting targets, and giving the industry a shared direction,” de Silva explained.
The outcomes signal a concerted shift from discussion to execution, aiming to build a more inclusive, efficient, and secure digital financial economy for Sri Lanka.
By Sanath Nanayakkare ✍️
A new force in Sri Lanka’s food industry, Kukus Group, is gaining momentum with a clear vision to deliver authentic cuisine, high hygiene standards, and affordability. Founded by young entrepreneurs Nadeera Senanayaka, Lakmini Gurusinghe, and Randila Gunasinghe, the group has successfully launched its pilot outlet and is now preparing for a significant nationwide expansion.
The inaugural in Kotte has served as a successful proof of concept. Operating for five months, this modern street-food outlet has garnered a strong customer response, confirming market demand and providing the confidence to fund the group’s ambitious growth strategy.
The inaugural in Kotte
“The positive reception has been overwhelming and has solidified our plans,” said Lakmini Gurusinghe and Randila Gunasinghe. “Our Kotte outlet is the operational model we will replicate – ensuring consistent quality, disciplined operations, and excellent service across all future locations.”
The group’s expansion strategy is built on three distinct thematic brands:
Kukus Street: Targeting young urban customers, these outlets offer a vibrant, casual dining experience with a menu of Sri Lankan rice and curry, kottu, snacks, and BBQ, with most meals priced under Rs. 1,500. Services include dine-in, takeaway, and delivery.
Kukus Beach: Planned for coastal areas, beginning in the South, this concept will feature an urban-style beach restaurant and pub designed for relaxed social dining.
Kukus Bioscope: Celebrating Sri Lanka’s cinematic heritage, this dedicated restaurant concept will create a nostalgic cultural space inspired by the golden eras of Sinhala cinema, with the first outlet slated for Colombo.
The immediate plan includes transforming the flagship Kotte location into Kukus Pub & Bar, pending regulatory approvals. The long-term vision is to develop 18 outlets nationwide: 10 Kukus Street locations, 5 Kukus Beach venues, and 3 Kukus Bioscope establishments.
“Kukus Group is more than a hospitality brand; it’s a celebration of Sri Lankan flavors and culture,” the founders concluded. “Our mission is to build trusted, recognizable brands that connect deeply with communities and offer lasting cultural value alongside authentic cuisine. We are dynamic and excited to proceed with this strategic expansion,” they said.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Fcode Labs marked its seventh anniversary by hosting its annual Awards Night 2025 at Waters Edge, celebrating team achievements and reinforcing its organizational values.
The event featured keynote addresses from Co-Founders & CEOs Buddhishan Manamperi and Tharindu Malawaraarachchi, who reflected on the company’s annual progress and future strategy. Chief Operating Officer Pamaljith Harshapriya outlined operational priorities for the next phase of growth.
Awards were presented across three key categories. Prabhanu Gunaweera and Dushan Pramod received Customer Excellence awards for partner collaboration. Performance Excellence awards were granted to Munsira Mansoor, Thusara Wanigathunga, Thushan De Silva, Adithya Narasinghe, Avantha Dissanayake, Amanda Janmaweera, Sithika Guruge, and Sandali Gunawardena. The Value-Based Behaviour awards were given to Thilina Hewagama, Udara Sembukuttiarachchi, and Kavindu Dhananjaya for exemplifying company values.
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