Farmer incomes to rise with Laksala and SAJ tie-up

SAJ Associates Ltd., a SME specialising in Glycerin based, natural, herbal, Ayurvedic handmade personal beauty care segment for almost five years, has tied up with Laksala to promote its products via the country’s largest and the best-known Government-owned gift and souvenir shop.

SAJ Founder Jayampathy Arambepola, said the company’s products are unique because they are all Glycerin based and have the least or virtually no chemicals and are manufactured mostly with plant base oils and powders.

“We are using cinnamon, moringa, lemongrass, aloe vera, sesame with turmeric and other SL grown ingredients. These ingredients are mostly grown by over 500 farmers in the dry zone. With the backward integration with the North Central Province farmers, we will add value to these homemade valuable ingredients and we will also turn them into products to the highest international standards with the superior best quality,” said Arambepola.

According to him, the whole world is becoming health conscious. Wherever in Sri Lanka or worldwide, one could see men, women, young and old walking and exercising to keep fitter and healthy. More and more gyms are opening daily to keep yourself healthy, which is an excellent situation.

 “With pollution, the environmental conditions are worsening. With the extreme heat, cold and frequent floods and droughts, the consumers are having health issues with the skin which is a big health concern leading to cancers etc. Hence the consumers are becoming more and more skin conscious too. They are giving the highest attention to keeping their skin well cared for. Hence the need for natural, herbal, Ayurvedic products with the least chemicals, are becoming the trend of the day,” he said.

SAJ has introduced a range of very high quality, glycerin-based soaps, shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps, face creams and massage oils. These are all glycerin based natural products with the least chemicals.

Arambepola said SAJ’s association with Laksala has been a huge opportunity. “The availability of our range of products in their gift boutiques countrywide has helped us to cater to the Sri Lanka health-and skin conscious consumer with our product availability. Also to help the farmers who grow these ingredients in their homes.”

“Laksala, the largest gift and souvenir boutique in the country catering to the rapidly growing tourist numbers and the Sri Lanka diaspora, which are all important markets. Hence with this move, joining hands with Laksala, we will have the second or another opportunity to cater to the foreigners with some of our high-end product range with certification from Ayurveda and National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA),” Arambepola added.

As a professional team, he said SAJ is delighted with the forward linked association with Laksala. “We hope to work with Laksala in the long term as we will not only talk to the Sri Lankan consumers but also to the global consumers with the Laksala links worldwide. Opening new markets for our products and our backward integrated farmers who will certainly have a better quality of life with higher and rising incomes with our new link,” he said.

“I will take the opportunity to thank Laksala Managing Director Jayawardene most sincerely for all the excellent support and the leadership extended to our new association. I am extremely confident that this new link will be a ‘win-win’ for all parties including to the state with new export orders through Laksala and to the NCP farmers who grow the ingredients will certainly have a huge economic advantage,” Arambepola added.