Kalhari Enterprises wins export performance Silver award

Thursday, 23 October 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kalhari Enterprises won its fourth award for the year when it received a Silver Award for its export performance in 2013 in the medium category industry sector. The award was presented recently by the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) at its 22nd Annual Export Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Colombo.

Kalhari Enterprises Managing Director Kaushal Rajapaksa received the Silver Award for the company’s export performance in 2013 in the medium category industry sector from Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath Banduwickrema. Also present is National Chamber of Exporters Vice President Sarada De Silva Earlier this year, Kalhari’s Chairman/Managing Director Kaushal Rajapaksa received the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award. The company’s next success was being placed first in the rubber- and plastic-based products category at SMIDEX 2014, garnering them a National Award. Last July, Rajapaksa received the Plastic and Rubber Institute’s prestigious Merit Award for his significant contribution towards the development and growth of Sri Lanka’s polymer industry. The Kalhari Group has consistently won awards for its performance since its inception. Rajapaksa stated: “Our aim at Kalhari is to totally satisfy our customers by providing goods and services to exacting standards, and to empower rural Sri Lanka by protecting the environment and providing as many people as possible with a livelihood. “These awards are an encouragement to my staff and me to reach an even higher. Each time we win an export award, we feel extremely happy because it is recognition of our contribution to the country.” The company began operations in 2003 with the recycling of PET bottles and has now grown into a group of four companies engaged in the export of recycled tyre waste, rubber waste, post-consumer PET bottles, electronic waste and steel dust, while another company is engaged in the stitching of shoe uppers for some of Sri Lanka’s top brands. Rajapaksa is also a director of Building A Future Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the training of youth in ocean-based activities, as well as Marina Lanka - a company set up with foreign collaboration for the water-front development of resorts and hotels, and canal-based marina development. Rajapaksa said that his vision is to expand into other provinces in Sri Lanka within this year and look for possible strategic partnerships. He also said that he had already started providing technological support and expertise for waste management overseas as well. The company is headquartered in the village of Heiyantuduwa, 17 km from Colombo, and has factories in Heiyantuduwa, Mahara and Minuwangoda. Kalhari benefits from Rajapaksa’s leadership as he balances his business acumen and specialised knowledge in rubber and plastics with his social responsibilities to the community as a dedicated Lion from District 306B2. A large percentage of Kalhari’s employees live in and around the factories, while around 40 collectors have found a livelihood supplying the factory with waste for recycling.