CL Synergy celebrates 20 years of excellence in freight forwarding and logistics

CL Synergy Board of Directors

Leading Sri Lankan freight forwarding and logistics company, CL Synergy Ltd., (CLS), celebrated 20 years of operations in September 2024. 

The company that was established in 2004, boasts an extended team of over 500 professionals, dedicated to changing the industry status quo. With headquarters in Colombo, three associate companies and five global offices in Australia, Bangladesh, India, the United Kingdom, UAE, and the USA, servicing over 4,000 clients, CL Synergy has grown exponentially over the last two decades, becoming a trusted name in the logistics industry. As a service provider enabling the Export and Import sector, CLS is obsessed with “going the extra mile”, a trait embedded in their corporate DNA, and a defining factor that serves as the driving force behind their brand differentiation.

Twenty years ago, nine ambitious Logistics professionals dared to dream the impossible and achieve the extraordinary. Their shared vision was to challenge the existing Freight Forwarding industry, to add value and to enhance, and their chosen vessel was CL Synergy Ltd. These pioneers seamlessly integrated various verticals to cover the entire spectrum of the supply chain, a synergy that became the driving force behind the company’s growth and success.

CL Synergy Co-founders Roshan Silva and Janaka Udamulla have been a dynamic duo, complementing each other’s strengths and implementing strategy assertively to ensure sustainable growth. Roshan’s knowledge and experience in logistics along with his natural aptitude for sales and Janaka’s mastermind financial prowess and captain cool-like temperament, were the perfect recipe for success. This leadership combination helped groom the winning team at CLS. Supporting Roshan and Janaka through the years has been an amazing senior management team, who have also grown with the company, with some currently sitting on the board.

The past 20 years have seen CLS grow in a multitude of aspects. To handle the increasing number of clients and provide them with the most efficient service CLS consistently upgraded its IT infrastructure, and internal and external policies and ensured that they groomed top people in the industry. From ERP implementation and dedicated leased lines to activity management systems and robotic process automation, CLS stayed current and ensured smooth operations. In addition to their Associate companies Eagle Logistics Colombo, ASB Freight, Logistics 365 and Nexus Cargo, CLS has also ventured beyond its core business of Logistics, into the leisure sector with budget and luxury properties in Kosgoda, Galle, and Maskeliya. 

Their commitment to excellence has seen CLS win over 15 awards and accolades from prestigious bodies over the years, including three Gold awards and two Silver awards from the National Chamber of Exporters along with awards from Maersk, SLFFA, CILT, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.  

A company that has always had an employee-first approach, CLS continues to empower its people with a modern open office, optional work-from-home and flexi-hour shifts, and recreational facilities including a pool table and regular staff welfare events. “CLS Friends” is a unique program where an emergency fund is maintained by contributions of volunteer staff, to be utilised for minor staff in the company. 

CL Synergy SMILES, the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative is a unique children’s education scholarship program, which has helped provide quality education to underprivileged children since November 2016. The uniqueness of the program lies in its approach to identifying and awarding scholarships to disadvantaged children who need financial assistance. 

The 20th anniversary celebrations kicked off with a Sports Fiesta aimed at bringing out and celebrating the talent of their staff who competed in pool, carrom, badminton, cricket, futsal and netball tournaments spread over a few weeks leading up to the anniversary. Religious activities, awards ceremonies, and social media campaigns have also been lined up and will be rolled out closer to the anniversary. 

Looking beyond this significant milestone, CLS plans to continue its strategic regional and global expansion in buyer and sourcing markets, implement productivity-related automation, and actively commit to green logistics and sustainability initiatives already set in motion.