Ceylon Cold Stores joins CSE to open trading for July

From left: CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CCS Director Ronnie Peiris, CCS Director Ajit Gunewardene, CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, JKH Consumer Foods Sector President and CCS Director Jit Gunaratne, CCS Head of Beverages Daminda Gamlath, CCS CFO Sanjeewa Jayaweera and CCS Head of Supply Chain Management Sanjeewa Jayasundara

Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) rang the opening bell to commence trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) on Friday. The market opening ceremony was organised to mark the first trading day for the month of July. 

Directors Ajit Gunewardene and Ronnie Peiris, JKH Consumer Foods Sector President and CCS Director Jit Gunaratne, CFO Sanjeewa Jayaweera, Head of Beverages Daminda Gamlath and Head of Supply Chain Management Sanjeewa Jayasundara represented CCS at the ceremony. The CSE was represented by Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike and the management. 

Speaking at the event, CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka stated, “These bell-ringing events are organised at the start of every month to serve as a platform to generate exposure for listed companies and we are pleased to host CCS to open trading for the month of July. Elephant House is a household brand in Sri Lanka, a brand that we have lived with over the years and one that we will continue to live with. It is certainly pleasing to see how the brand has developed over the years. 

I would like to thank CCS for the support the company has shown towards the Sri Lankan capital market and wish the company continued success.” 

Making remarks on behalf of CCS, Director Ajit Gunewardene said, “CCS was founded in 1866 and this year happens to be our 150th anniversary. 150 years old but actually exceedingly young, because we are today still an iconic brand and we remain leaders in the market after 150 years. We are competing with multinationals and other long standing establishments and the three key verticals that we are involved in are world class. That is something that all companies listed on the CSE should strive to be. It is the only way you can sustain yourself and continue to add value to your stakeholders.” 

“Having listed at the CSE in 1970, CCS is looked to be synonymous with good governance, sustainability and robust performance, and is a strong believer of creating value for all stakeholders. A host of common threads and shared beliefs stemming from the corporate vision and values of JKH are firmly entrenched within the company’s DNA, facilitating long-term, sustainable value creation for all connected parties and society,” Gunewardene added. 

Founded as the Colombo Ice Company, which imported and used the country’s first ice making machine, the CCS moved on to build cold storage for frozen products of all kinds and introduced Aerated Water with the distinctive ‘Elephant’ trademark on the bottles, which remained a popular household name for the brand. For over one hundred and fifty years, CCS has expanded and refined a range of popular soft drinks and ice cream products that are sold across the island today. 

CCS is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) and is driven by a team of 3,370 high performing employees. The company’s retail arm, Jaykay Marketing Services Ltd. operates the Keells Supermarkets chain, which through its network of 50 branches has redefined modern trade industry standards in customer convenience and service quality.