Kalhari Group 1st in plastics and rubber

Monday, 16 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Wins National Award at SMIDEX 2014

The Kalhari Group once again proved its leadership in the plastics and rubber industry winning another national award. The recognition came when the company was placed first in the rubber and plastic based products category at SMIDEX 2014, held to endorse successful small & medium scale enterprises and the self-employed in the industrial sector. Kalhari, a pioneering Sri Lankan company, which has come forward to ensure the safe and environment-friendly waste disposal, is expanding its operations countrywide.

“This is a significant recognition for Kalhari,” said Kaushal Rajapaksa, CEO of the company. “It is recognition of our expertise in the plastics and rubber recycling industry and our commitment to accepted standards of quality,” he added. “We have won several awards over the past years. This is our second award this year; the first was the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award. It gives me immense satisfaction that my team has supported me in making quality a cornerstone in every sphere of our operations.” The company which had humble beginnings in 2003 with the recycling of PET bottles has since ventured out to several related fields. Kalhari’s CEO Rajapaksa said: “Following up on SMIDEX 2014, we are in discussions with two corporate entities to expand our e-waste recycling program.” Kaushal 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 to service the yachting industry in Sri Lanka, the development of marinas along the island’s coastline, as well as the water-front development of resorts and hotels, and canal based marina development. Kalhari also produces shoe-uppers for both the local and export markets. As Rajapaksa explained: “Some of the world’s best known brands use shoe-uppers produced by us. We had some very positive inquiries to expand our footwear upper-stitching operations to include safety shoes and leather security boots, and we are in discussions to identify the right partner for this project.” The company has its offices and most manufacturing facilities in the rural village of Heiyantuduwa, outside suburban Colombo. “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,” the Kalhari Group CEO concludes.