Business

Hatton Plantations looks to gain on its robust capital structure

Published

2 years ago

2025/01/17

Seated from left: Menaka Athukorala,CEO & MD HPL PLC, Gary Seaton ,Chairman G&G Group of Companies ,Singapore, Gowri Shankar, CEO G&G Group of Companies, Singapore. Standing from left: Waruna Fernando, Deputy CEO, HPL PLC, Nisal Rukshan , Assistant Manager Plantations and Leisure, HPL PLC.

Looking for opportunities to invest in tourism and solar power verticals

Says ‘would be happy to talk to right partners’

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Getting a more realistic control over historical truth and the current significance of a company will probably be the prime concern of a potential investor looking for a strategic tie-up with a particular company, before he or she decides to invest in it.

In that context, Hatton Plantations may not have a ‘story’ to tell, but rather a ‘credible report’ to present because many investors might be cynical about listening to stories.

Hatton Plantations PLC is a subsidiary of G&G Group of Companies, a Singapore-based conglomerate whose chairman is Gary Seaton from Australia who first visited Sri Lanka in the 1970s as a backpacker tourist. Then he and his family started looking at business opportunities in Sri Lanka in the 1980s and bought the first tea company in 1996 after the plantations privatization programme came into effect in Sri Lanka. That was the well-known Pussellawa Plantations spanning across 10,000 hectares.

Then they sold it in 2017 and bought Hatton Plantations (HPL PLC) in 2019 which has 7,500 hectares on 13 estates.

Today HPL PLC has 12 tea processing factories with a combined green leaf capacity of 155,500 kg per day. It uses Orthodox, CTC, Leafy, and Green Tea manufacturing methods supported by versatile production facilities. It engages in the production of high and medium-grown teas in the key regions of Watawala, Hatton, and Lindula.

Hatton Plantations PLC, was the highest producer amongst all the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), having sold a quantity of 6,484,037.50 kgs with an average of Rs.1,134.11 for the year 2024, preceded by equal performances in the three previous years. And HP PLC is one company that has been replanting for the past four years continuously – a key factor that has contributed to its continuous growth.

Speaking to the media at the Company’s office in Peliyagoda recently, Gary Seaton said. “We have a vision to further expand into plantation, and we also look at two other business verticals: renewable energy and tourism. We very much believe in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables. Sri Lanka is one of those few remaining countries that hasn’t industrialized everything and that’s very much aligned with the vision of Hatton Plantations PLC. We understand the challenges Sri Lanka faced in the last 40 years. But despite those challenges, we are with Sri Lankans. Many Sri Lankans are leaving Sri Lanka to go abroad, but we are coming from abroad to operate from Sri Lanka. We are doing it the other way around,” he said on a lighter note.

Menaka Athukorala, CEO & MD Hatton Plantations PLC said,” As part of the diversification, we are going into coffee in a major way. We initiated this project three years ago and we have already planted coffee on 100 hectares, and we are already harvesting coffee. A total of 500 hectares of coffee will be planted in the next 3 to 4 years. Our total investment in coffee would be Rs. 1 billion and we have already invested Rs. 200 million. With this, our per hectare income grows with the optimum use of the land while getting the best productivity from our workforce in a mutually beneficial way.” he said.

Gowri Shankar, CEO G&G Group of Companies, Singapore noted,” There’s a shortage of coffee in India, so it will be a potential market for our unique Sri Lankan coffee brand apart from the U.S., and Australia markets. South India loves coffee over tea and North India’s preferred beverage is tea. So, our coffee has a great opportunity to enter the South Indian market. Hence, we are looking at these three key markets for exporting our coffee.”

“Some other companies also have started growing coffee, but we are the largest producer of coffee at present. We will be setting up our coffee processing unit in the next two years which will cost about Rs. 200- 300 million. By 2026, HPL PLC’s coffee will come to the local market and exports will commence in 4 years down the line”, Menaka Athukorala said.

Touching on their tea plantations, HPL PLC said that they have started deploying mechanization, precision agriculture and tech solutions to make their operations more efficient.

HPL has already started using drone technology to apply Foliar Spray on some of their estates to deliver essential nutrients directly to the tea leaves.

“Drones are being used in pilot projects to streamline the operational process, to increase the productivity in the fields and to make the monitoring more efficient and automative,” they said.

“We are upgrading the facilities being provided to our field workforce with convenient access to toilets and bathing places. We have a workforce of 4,000 on permanent basis and an equal number on a casual basis. The issue of labour wages has not caused us much of a problem because we have so many welfare activities that ensure our workers’ well-being.”

“We are going to set up a vocational training institute on our estate in Hatton to train the children of our workers in various crafts. With the new-found skills, they can choose to work with us or go and be employed or self-employed elsewhere. We believe such socially responsible activities will foster stronger bonds between the company and the employees. That bond will take care of the whole ecosystem of Hatton Plantations for many years to come,” they said.

“For diversification in tourism, we are looking at strategic partnerships whose mainstream business is tourism. We don’t want to get into their line of business. As the infrastructure is already there with HPL’s holiday bungalows and picturesque tea estates, we will see who understands its value and bring their expertise of tourism to our assets. We will see how we can leverage those assets together with them and grow the business,” Gowri Shankar said.

Hatton Plantation PLC’s profit before tax was Rs. 1.2 billion in 2024. This year it will be slightly less because of the wage increase, and it is expected to be close to one billion rupees in FY 2024/25. And in FY 2025/26, the company expects a PBT of Rs. 1.3 billion when tech modernizations are successfully implemented.

“We have liquid cash assets that we would like to channel into these verticals. In the meantime, we are looking at the possibility of investing in tea plantation in Kenya as there is an opportunity to produce orthodox leafy teas in that country – where your yields are higher and profit margins are much greater,” they said.

The media was told that HPL was keen on investing in viable solar power projects anywhere in Sri Lanka that generates more than 5 megawatts of power.

Currently, HPL has eight hydro-power plants generating 12 megawatts. Lotus Hydro Power of the Group is the highest dividend-yielding company in the domain with around 14% yield rate, consistently maintaining it from 2014, except for the crisis-years in Sri Lanka.

“Hatton Plantations is willing to allocate Rs. 1 billion to invest in a viable solar project and we’d be happy to talk to the right partners”, “Gary Seaton said.

All News Advertisement

Business

Sri Lanka secures 10% US tariff rate: JAAF thanks the President and government for decisive action

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Today’s announcement by USTR of the finality of the Section 301 investigations into countries’ ability to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour sees 18 countries placed on a 10% tariff, with the balance of 42 countries facing a 12.5% tariff.

Initial indications were that Sri Lanka would fall into the 12.5% category, a position that would have placed the country at a real disadvantage against a number of key competitor nations.

Following Sri Lanka’s submissions to the USTR earlier this month, JAAF is pleased to see that Sri Lanka is now among the countries placed on the 10% tariff rate, on par with competitors including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia.

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry competes in a crowded field, and even a 2.5 percentage point difference in tariff treatment can be the difference between winning and losing an order to a rival sourcing destination. Securing parity with Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia protects the competitiveness of an industry that remains the country’s largest export earner and a major source of employment, particularly for women, across the country.

JAAF recognises that this result did not happen by chance. It reflects sustained, coordinated engagement between industry and government at every level, from the submissions made to USTR to the direct representations carried out in Washington. We view this as a strong example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work in close partnership on issues that directly affect Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

We remain committed to continuing this collaboration, both to safeguard the gains secured on Thursday and to ensure Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile industry is well positioned to compete on a level playing field internationally.

Business

CAHM students shine at National Bartenders Competition and Dainties 2026

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Students of the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) at SLIIT once again demonstrated their talent, creativity, and professional excellence by securing outstanding achievements at two prestigious national hospitality competitions held recently in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) is Sri Lanka’s leading private hospitality education institute, established in 2013 and located at the SLIIT Main Campus in Malabe. Renowned for delivering internationally recognised qualifications in partnership with the William Angliss Institute (RTO 3045), Australia—the Australian Government’s specialist hospitality education institute and the country’s leading provider of hospitality, tourism, foods and events education—CAHM offers Australian-standard vocational qualifications that combine international best practices with hands-on practical training and strong industry relevance, enabling graduates to pursue rewarding careers around the world.

At the 31st National Bartenders Competition (NBC), organized by the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) in partnership with International Distillers Limited (IDL), CAHM student Anurasi Chandrasoma (Commercial Cookery Batch 22) emerged as the Winner in the highly competitive Hotel School Category. The competition, held on 26 May 2026 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (SLITHM), Colombo, attracted more than 75 participants from hospitality education institutions across the country.

Representing CAHM alongside the winner were Dishala Gunawardhana (Hospitality Management Batch 37), Sunera Sathindu (Commercial Cookery Batch 21), and Devindu Amarasekara (Patisserie Batch 11), all of whom showcased exceptional bartending skills and professionalism. The achievement marks another significant milestone for CAHM, reinforcing its reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality education institutions.

Business

Asia-Pacific business leaders to convene in Sri Lanka for UN Global Compact’s flagship regional event

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Asia-Pacific stands at the forefront of one of the defining transitions of our time. Home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, the region is also confronting some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to widening inequalities, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological transformation. As these challenges reshape the global business landscape, businesses are increasingly being called upon not only to respond, but to lead.

Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka will host Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, the United Nations Global Compact’s flagship regional event for Asia-Pacific. Bringing together more than 200 business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, representatives from the United Nations and UN Global Compact Country Networks from across the region, the two-day event will provide a platform to strengthen partnerships, exchange practical solutions and mobilize business leadership in support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by the UN Global Compact Asia-Pacific Regional Hub and hosted in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, the regional event reflects a shared commitment to advancing responsible business and strengthening regional collaboration at a time when sustainable development depends on collective leadership and cross-sector cooperation.

The event will welcome Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO & Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, whose presence spotlights the strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region within the United Nations Global Compact. Her first official visit to Sri Lanka signals the growing role of the region in driving responsible business and sustainable development, while offering participating companies a unique opportunity to engage with global leadership, showcase their sustainability journeys, and help shape the next chapter of collective action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Alongside Sanda Ojiambo, the Forum will also convene more than 60 global and regional leaders from business, the United Nations and civil society, including Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company and Chairman of UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, and Sandra Wu, ESG Executive Adviser at Mirait One Corporation, fostering dialogue and collaboration to accelerate business leadership for sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia-Pacific.

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 also marks an important milestone in advancing the United Nations Global Compact’s 2026–2030 Strategy, which places renewed emphasis on equipping businesses with the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed to accelerate sustainable business transformation, catalyzing collaboration to address shared global challenges, and advancing responsible business leadership as a cornerstone of sustainable development. As one of the first flagship regional events aligned with this strategic direction, the event will help translate global ambition into regional action by connecting leaders, sharing practical experience and fostering the partnerships needed to create lasting impact.

Register Your Interest

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 11–12 August 2026.

To register your interest or learn more about the event, please contact:

Chamath Kalupahana

Country Focal Point – Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026

Manager – Participant Engagement & Strategic Planning

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka

Email: chamath@unglobalcompact.org.lk