‘Corporate sector needs to focus on developing entrepreneurship’

Sunshine Holdings Chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke says at ceremony to mark diversified entity’s rebranding

Significant changes that have emerged in the business world, both positive and negative, have necessitated the Sri Lankan corporate sector to explore new systems, new work-plans, new growth models and new paths to tread on, veteran banker and Sunshine Holdings Group Chairman Rienzie T. Wijetilleke said yesterday.

That, he said, will allow the corporate sector to focus on developing entrepreneurship, prosperity and progress. Wijetilleke made these remarks yesterday addressing the rebranding ceremony of the Sunshine Holdings group. “It is in this context that we focused on this change. This was done with the view that changes are necessary for a prospering business organisation like Sunshine Holdings. Now we have something to focus upon, and our focus is something common to everyone. That is the point where this new creative thinking came into operation,” he stated.

 “As a part of the rebranding exercise, we introduced a ‘Conch-shell’ as our new logo. The new logo signifies cultural, spiritual and sentimental values. The board of directors of the Sunshine Holdings group, therefore, unanimously decided to accept the symbol of the conch-shell as our new logo,” he added.

During his speech, Wijetilleke, displayed the emblem of a conch-shell which he has been wearing for the past 25 years, from the time he became the head of HNB. “I can corroborate the value and the significance of our new logo, I thoroughly believe in the strength and success it gives out. With this new logo, I believe, our group will be identified in every nook and corner of the country. Therefore, from today onwards, we are starting a new stage of development,” Wijetilleke asserted.

He also appealed to the staff of Sunshine Holdings to believe in the success that the new symbol proclaims.

The Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings, Vish Govindasamy who addressed the gathering at the rebranding ceremony drew a parallel between the positives of the term ‘Sunshine’ which stands for the spreading of light, power and the dispelling of gloom with its symbolic meaning which stands for prosperity, triumph, generation, culture and growth, all of which signifies the company.  

He said “The vibrant colours of the logo, signifies our responsible approach to business, our heritage of perseverance, our passionate people and our commitment to providing unparalleled business solutions. The colours also reflect the vibrancy and dynamism of a Group that will continue to grow and evolve adapting to constantly changing environments. This corporate identity also signifies that it is now time to look beyond each of our companies/units and build on the strength of our heritage, to reap the richer rewards that can come from a collective effort towards a larger goal.”

The rebranding ceremony was held at the Group’s head office amidst a gathering of staff and well wishers.  A highlight of the ceremony was a recognition program for a group of students who belonged to families of Sunshine Holdings staff, which was launched to mark the World Children’s Day on 1 October. The Group has sponsored secondary and tertiary education for children of its employees who have gained promising results at national examinations through its subsidiary Watawala Plantations PLC for several years. This has paved the way for new opportunities for youth in keeping with Sunshine Group’s long-standing tradition.  

Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy further said, “Sunshine Holdings has been involved in nation building business from its inception.  We are a sustainable organisation, which has helped to build communities in the plantation sector, been involved in the health sector of the country and are now also contributing green energy to the national grid.  We have expanded to the tourism sector as well which we consider to be a growth industry in the country. Our people have always been our greatest asset and we have contributed immensely not only to the welfare of our staff but also their families.   We are proud of the achievements of these hard working students who are sons and daughters of our staff and we will make every endeavour to support them.”

Vish Govindasamy also said that as the company adopts a stronger visual identity for the entire Group they will embark with renewed vigour in all of their future projects.

Sunshine Holdings is a diversified holding company, with interests in healthcare, plantations, FMCG, renewable energy among other growth industries. The group’s key portfolio comprises of plantation infrastructure across palm oil, tea and rubber, along with mature healthcare products in pharmaceutical, surgical, diagnostics and wellness supported by a dynamic proprietary distribution infrastructure with an island wide reach.  Sunshine Holdings fast growing FMCG company is also the number two branded tea company in Sri Lanka.

The Group, which has over 13,000 employees and has generated approximately US $ 100 million in revenue, is consistently ranked amongst the LMD Top 50 companies in Sri Lanka.