Business
Kingslake prop to GRI’s next growth phase

Effort to grow rubber exports fourfold by 2024
Global Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd. (GRI) has partnered with Kingslake, the manufacturing solutions experts, to lay the foundation for its next phase of growth. By leveraging Kingslake’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) solutions, the country’s leading manufacturer of specialized tires hopes to make a significant contribution to the rubber industry, a key export of the country.
For the past 150 years, Sri Lanka has been one of the world’s most sought-after primary sources for natural rubber and rubber-based products, having contributed $1 billion to the country’s export revenue in 2018 alone. With a revenue target of $4.4 billion set for 2024, all eyes are on specialist companies such as GRI to bolster their own production, advanced planning, and scheduling capabilities so as to stay on par with global players.
Additionally, as a member organization of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB), GRI’s move to partner with Kingslake will help the local export economy stay competitive as a result.
With Siemens Opcenter APS, GRI will have decision-making support for overtime, order prioritization, split production batches, due date negotiation, and order processing clarity. With the new solution, the company will also have complete visibility and control to support better scheduling decisions.
More specifically, GRI will be able to make better and more strategic its Bill of Materials (BOM) level Planning, Make to Order (MTO) Planning, and Make to Stock (MTS) Planning; all of which are critical to a tangible enhancement of existing manufacturing processes.
“Work order modifications, time overruns, and material availability issues frequently disrupt the production schedule. GRI is looking to solve these challenges by seamlessly connecting our planners to the shop floor, enabling capacity-based production plans, and real-time schedule changes with Kingslake’s experience and scheduling APS software,” said Ananda Caldera, Executive Director of Global Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd.
“We have entrusted Kingslake’s interactive and multi-constraint scheduling APS software expertise to fortify and further digitize our operations,” said GRI’s Chief Information Officer, Tharaka De Alwis. “The availability of resources and additional constraints such as tooling and materials, needs to be taken into consideration during scheduling to ensure an accurate model of our environment. This is of vital importance given the aggressive investments we are making, and our vision to position Sri Lanka and GRI as a tire manufacturing hub.”
“Digitalization is changing everything, and manufacturers must be able react quickly and intelligently to unexpected changes, while also being able to respond to shorter lead times and satisfy customer demands,” said Duleep Fernando, CEO of Kingslake. “Through this partnership with Kingslake, GRI will be able to sequence production orders faster, make production planning more accurate, improve production master plans, and enhance inter-departmental and inter-factory communication.”
“Our systems have added immense value to the processes of a range of manufacturing companies, and subsequently their sectors which include tea, furniture, rubber-based products, complex electronics, fashion, gloves, packaging, plastics, molds, tools, electrical devices and glass,” he added. “We are certain that our digital solutions and expertise will reap greater dividends for GRI, and for Sri Lanka’s rubber export industry as a whole.”
Since its inception in 1994, Kingslake has focused on providing software to help mid-sized manufacturing companies grow. The company delivers state-of-the-art solutions built with a mix of best-of-breed ERP systems, specialized software solutions, and experienced dynamic consultants. Today Kingslake continues to build and deliver fit-for-purpose software that enables manufacturers to increase the visibility of their operations, be it customer service, inventory management, planning, procurement, manufacturing, engineering, HR, transport, or finance.
GRI was founded in 2002 and has expanded its business globally by taking high-grade Sri Lankan specialty tires to the world. The company produces radial agriculture tires, construction tires and material handling solid tires using locally produced natural rubber. GRI has sales offices and warehouses in nine countries, and a business presence in more than 50 countries.
In 2018, GRI opened an advanced manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka primarily to produce radial agricultural tires. In 2020, GRI also commenced construction of a new mixing facility in the Mirigama Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) in Sri Lanka and in 2021 laid the foundation to expand its advanced specialty tire plant.
Business
Business World International Awards 2025 takes off at Mount Lavinia Hotel

The Business World International Conference and Awards Ceremony organised by Business World International Organisation INC-USA, the event which is recognized as one of the most prestigious Business Award Festivals in the Asia Pacific Region, was held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo with the participation of several business personalities and celebrities of Sri Lanka. The Joint Chief Guests were Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepali (Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka) and Prof. Dr. Dietmar Doering (Founder / Chairman – AGSEP Research and Advisory Board Member of Business World International Organization – USA). Guests of Honour were Tham Whye Long (First Secretary/Head of Chancery – High Commission of Malaysia in Sri Lanka), Prof. Dr. Rohan De Silva (President – Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries), (Retd) Major General R. A. J. N. Ranasingha (RSP USP NDC MSC – Sri Lanka Army), Dr. Rohan Pallewatta (Excutive Chairman of the Start-Up High Tech Company – Lanka Harness, a BOI approved company operating in the Free Trade Zone at Biyagama in Sri Lanka), Dr. Kishu Gomes (Chairman – Exterminators PLC, Group Managing Director / CEO – Dreamron Group of Companies & Advisory Committee Member – Sri Lanka Tourism), Dian Gomes (Nonorary Consul of Georgia in Sri Lanka, Chairman – Colombo School of Business Management & Independent Non-Executive Director – Nestle Lanka Ltd).
Special Guests were Rt. Rev. Bishop Prof. Dr. Nissanka Weerappulige (Advisory Board Member of Business World International Organization – USA), Prof. Dr. Dame Anoma Weeraratne Wijenayake (Advisory Board Member of Business World International Organization – USA), Gerd Heinzerling (Advisory Board Member of Business World International Organization – USA), Priyantha Padmasiri (President – Sri Lanka Canada Business Council), M. H. K. M. Hameez (Vice President – Sri Lanka Canada Business Council & Immediate Past President – Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council). The invitees were graciously welcomed by Dr. Anthony Dexter Fernando (Chairman – Business World International Organisation USA – International Chapter), Dr. Tharindu Wijenayake (Deputy Chairman – Business World International Organisation USA – International Chapter) and Dr. Emerita Wijenayake (Project Chairperson & Director – Business World International Organisation USA – International Chapter).
Business
Sampath Bank Partners with COYLE to Champion SME Growth and Entrepreneurship

Sampath Bank recently formalised a strategic partnership with the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at its Head Office. This partnership highlights Sampath Bank’s ongoing commitment to promoting innovation, driving business growth, and empowering Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Through this collaboration, Sampath Bank will serve as the official banking partner for the COYLE Awards and the Young Lankan Program, two flagship initiatives that recognise business excellence and nurture emerging leaders. Supporting these initiatives allows the Bank to create a strong pipeline for SME engagement, provide access to tailored financial solutions, and build meaningful relationships with the country’s leading entrepreneurs.
Business
ANC hosts NUCARS 2025

ANC, a leading Lankan higher education provider, partnered with Northwood University to host the 2025 NUCARS simulation in Sri Lanka for the first time. Held from April 7–11, the event brought together students from the U.S., Europe, and Sri Lanka for an immersive, hands-on learning experience in automotive retail strategy. Twenty-two ANC students participated, showcasing their ability to compete globally. Celebrating its 28th anniversary, NUCARS emphasized teamwork, cross-cultural collaboration, and real-world business decision-making—highlighting ANC’s commitment to delivering globally recognized education and empowering students with essential skills for the international marketplace, said a release.
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