Uruwala Tea Factory wins Gold for Entrepreneurship Excellence

Thursday, 23 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Devapriya Wanigasekara, Director, Uruwala Tea Factory Ltd., was the proud recipient of the Gold Award in value added products category at Southern Province Entrepreneurship Excellence – 2019. The prestigious annual event was organised by National Entrepreneurship Development Authority together with the Ministry of Sports and Employment of the Southern Province. Ironically, the coveted award came to coincide the 100th anniversary celebrations of the tea factory.

Located in the picturesque Uruwala tea estate of Akuressa, Matara the tea factory was founded by the late D.A. Wanigasekara. Later the factory was managed by his son D.C. Wanigasekara who inherited a great fortune including a business network from his father. Yet he immensely contributed to repair and reconstruct Buddhist temples and schools including Godapitiya Viharaya. Earlier late D.A. Wanigasekara had donated a building to Rahula College, Matara known as ‘Wanigasekara building’.

D.C. Wanigasekara married Lilee Suriyarachchi. They had seven children namely Thamara, Weerabahu, Thilak, Jayantha, Chithra, Chandrathilake and Devapriya. After the demise of D.C. Wanigasekara his son Thilak took the family responsibilities on to his shoulder. Having worked as the Managing Director of the business network involving Uruwala Tea Factory for years Thilak Wanigasekara died recently. Devapriya Wanigasekara now manages Uruwala Tea Factory and other businesses as a family business with the support from other members of the family. He says he is determined to continue not only business but also the social services inherited from the family so long.