N. Vaitilingam & Co marks a century of entrepreneurship

It was the year 1922 in the first quarter of the 20th century, a year where Mussolini seized power in Italy, the Irish Free State was established, Egypt was granted limited independence by the British, the US launched the first naval aircraft carrier and Qantas airlines began its first scheduled air service in Australia.

In the same year, a young entrepreneur named Nagamuthu Vaitilingam decided to venture into the world of business, giving up a lucrative career at a leading British establishment. A proprietorship under the name of N. Vaitilingam & Co. was established in Colombo, trading in estate supplies, building and hardware products. The company was located on 3rd Cross Street in Colombo 11.

A few years later a branch was set up in Jaffna. The branch was run by his son-in-law Mudaliyar V. Mahesan. Around the same time the company expanded into a sheet metal workshop and undertook building contracts in the northern peninsula. The Telecommunications Building, Paranthan Chemical Corporation and the Jaffna Kachcheri were built by the company.

In 1955, 33 years after venturing out and seven years after the country got independence, the proprietorship was converted to a limited liability company. Vaitilingam’s eldest son V. Balasubramaniam was appointed the first Managing Director along with a younger son V. Mahendrarajah and V. Mahesan as directors and the founder as the Chairman.

1960 saw the establishment of the first industrial venture of the company – a barbed wire manufacturing plant in Colombo. This is still a flagship product with Thorn Brand barbed wire being a market leader. Four years later, a rivet and wood screw factory was set up.

Around the year 1967, a joint venture was signed between Marubeni Steel Corporation, Kawasaki Steel Corporation of Japan and the company to build a galvanising plant in the country. This was set up as a pioneering venture.

Ceylon Galvanizing Industries Ltd. was a sequel to this and a steel galvanising facility was built in Ratmalana. The then Minister of Industries Philip Gunawardena presided at the opening ceremony in 1969. That year, the first locally galvanised steel rolled out of the plant. N. Vaitilingam & Co. held a controlling interest in Ceylon Galvanizing Industries Ltd. Galvanised sheets are marketed under the River Brand, a well-known name in Japan and Sri Lanka.

In the mid-1970s, construction of a sales outlet and head office began. The company moved to its present head office at Bloemendhal Road in 1978. Around the same time, Yala Safari Beach Hotel – a 50-room hotel at the entrance to Yala National Park – was built. A car hire business was also a part of this as tourism was doing well. Due to civil unrest, the hotel was sold in 1982. However, the company continues to have investments in the hospitality industry. In 1982, a new warehouse was constructed abutting the head office in Colombo. A wire nail making plant was also set up.

The company had sizable investments in a few leading mercantile banks, an office workspace development company and the hotel industry. It continues to invest in the equities market with a substantial portfolio of investments. Investment income contributes to a large share of the company’s revenue. The mid-1980s saw the establishment of a property development company. It concentrated on building individual homes.

In 1990, a metal can making company was formed to buy into a small manufacturing plant in the outskirts of Colombo. Today TinPak Ltd. is a leader in the metal packaging industry, with a large portion of its output in direct and deemed exports.

A few years later, investments were made in a filter and composite can making business. Currently the N. Vaitilingam Group has several manufacturing plants in Ratmalana, Homagama, Colombo, Ja-Ela and Minuwangoda under its umbrella.

Steel in various forms – hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, electro galvanized (zinc coated), zinc aluminium and colour bonded – are imported by the company to manufacture and add value to a range of end products like galvanised steel roofing, colour bonded roofing, zinc aluminium sheets, cladding, purlins, ceilings, gutters and accessories, hoop iron, box bars, tubes and pipes. Mild steel wire rods are also imported to manufacture nail wire, galvanised wire and stirrups. These products are commonly used in construction.

N. Vaitilingam & Co. Ltd. is the holding company of the following organisations in the group: Ceylon Galvanizing Industries Ltd., NV Housing Ltd., TinPak Ltd., and Micro Auto Products Ltd.

In early 2021, the company acquired a controlling stake in a wire galvanising plant. As the second largest wire galvanising plant in the country, it will supply the group’s requirements of galvanised wire.

The company sells its core products through dealers and stockists countrywide. It has sales outlets at Old Moor Street and the present head office in Colombo as well as in Ratmalana and Vavuniya. 

In addition to manufacturing, the company imports many hardware products for the benefit of consumers. With imports being curtailed, a few of these products are manufactured in-house. The group directly employs over 500 people while the indirect beneficiaries are numerous.

Being in business for 100 years, the company has witnessed good times and rough times. However, it has always overcome the challenges. As it celebrates its long journey, the company thanks customers, employees, suppliers, bankers, professionals and other citizens for walking with them and giving them the strength to succeed. It looks forward to serving the country and citizens with the same commitment, dedication and passion in the years ahead.