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| Sunday, 2 February 2003 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Personality Plus : The growth of success Born as an only child, Salinda Watapuluwa, Managing Director of Growers Link Ltd always dreamt of becoming a businessman. Today, he has not only achieved his dream, but has also made Sri Lanka well known in the European region by becoming a major supplier of horticulture support products. Education
Watapuluwa had his education at Carey College, Colombo though he hails from Watapuluwa, Kandy. His father was an engineer attached to the Sri Lanka Army while his mother was a housewife. "From my small days, I was dreaming of becoming a businessman. The late Upali Wijewardene was my hero and role model. Every article written on him was collected by me and read over and over again." He took part in all extra curricular activities while in school. Career He said: "Though my father was a professional, my parents never pushed me to do anything which I disliked. Instead, they blessed and supported me to succeed in my chosen career and I owe every bit of my success to my parents who were always behind me." Watapuluwa's first job was at Jafferjee Brothers as an Executive in the exports sector where he got an overall knowledge of export procedures. He also worked in several other companies and qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management, UK and followed a course at the Yokohama University and attended numerous seminars and workshops relating to business. Nelanka In 1992, he was offered the post of Country Manager for Nelanka, a 100 per cent foreign-owned company. The company was established by its Dutch owners to manufacture and export horticulture supportive products. The company was incorporated in February 1992 while Watapuluwa joined in June. "I was involved in every aspect of the company be it purchases, recruiting people or the technical aspects. This helped me get an overall understanding be it in the purchase of quality raw materials or the production process." He was sent overseas for training and was appointed to the board of the company within three months and promoted as Managing Director in the following year. Though the products had a good market in the European region, penetrating the market was rather difficult. However, due to the company being established in the Netherlands coupled with their knowledge on quality and the requirements of the European buyer, it was able to establish a steady market in the region. Diversification The company initially started with cocoa poles and diversified the product range according to customer requirements. "Most of all, we never compromised on quality. Instead, we always strived to deliver the best quality; this ensured steady orders and forced us to diversify the range to cater to the demands of customers. We had over 90 products including cocoa poles, cocoa wire, cocoa top, cocoa peat, coir rope and coir net," Watapuluwa said. Awards
During this period, the company won a Bronze award in the Agriculture - Non-traditional sector at the National Exporter Awards ceremony organised by the National Chamber of Exporters. It also won a merit award at national level at the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year awards in addition to being a trophy winner in the Western Province. These awards are organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka. Change of hands In 1999, the owners sold Rolloos Sorensen BV, Nelanka's parent company, to Vado Group, which is owned by one of the 500 richest families in the world. Nelanka was the only subsidiary located 15,000km away. "The Vado Group was interested in selling the company by which time I had also wanted to start something on my own." Birth of Growers Link "I informed them of my plan and they gave me all the support with a buy-back guarantee. Thus Growers Link was born in 2002. "At present the company enjoys a 50 per cent market share in Europe. We participate at all major trade fairs and exhibitions to enhance our knowledge, obtain new orders and learn the global trends in horticulture support products." The company manufactures four million metres of plantpole and exports its products to the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, USA, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Iran, Australia and Bahrain. New company "I established Imexo Global Forwarding Pvt Ltd which engages in freight forwarding and local transportation. "This has not only helped save money paid as freight forwarding fees, but also provide employment to the youth of the country." Advice "Have a goal in life and work with determination and courage to achieve it. Do not forget to look after your staff as they are the biggest asset of any company," Watapuluwa said. Future plans "My ambition is to see the company achieve the Number One status in horticulture exports." Fact File Name: Salinda Watapuluwa Present Position: Chairman and Managing Director Growers Link and Imexo Global Forwarding Pvt Ltd Children: A son and daughter |
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