Noritake President lauds business performance in Sri Lanka

Monday, 4 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Noritake Group President T. Ogura who was on a recent visit to Sri Lanka commended the company’s performance during the last financial year and forecasted steady and greater growth figures during the year to come. During this brief visit to Colombo, Ogura also paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at ‘Temple Trees’. “Noritake has been in Sri Lanka for the past 42 years. While reinforcing our international brand presence in Sri Lanka, this Flagship Store is a vital step in our journey through the South East Asian region. Sri Lanka has been positioned as our regional hub and now brings the sheer excellence of our products to this region,” he said.

Ogura explained to President Rajapakse the importance of the recently-opened Flagship Store at Colombo 77, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Associated with him during this visit were Tabletop Division Chairman Mabuchi, Urban Development Authority Chairman Nimal Perera, Noritake Lanka Porcelain Ltd. (NLPL) Managing Director Y. Shimaya and Noritake Lanka Porcelain Ltd. General Manager Sujatha Egodagedara. Strategically situated at the crossroads of Dharmapala Mw and Sir James Peries Mw (Pitthala Junction), the 10,000 sq ft flagship store is spread over three floors and enjoys prestigious visibility from its vantage location. Colombo has now joined Noritake’s up market and international chain of similar stores in Tokyo, Nagoya, Hong Kong and New Jersey. Noritake Lanka Porcelain Ltd. currently sources 35% of its raw materials from Sri Lanka. Its factory at Matale is one of the largest production facilities in the world which produces high quality tableware under the brand Noritake. Among the locally-sourced raw materials are quartz from Galaha off Kandy, felspar from Owala off Rattota, dolomite from Digana off Kandy and calcite from Balangoda. Noritake Lanka Porcelain Ltd. also exports 80% of its local production to key markets in over 100 countries including USA, UK, Japan, the Middle East, Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico and Korea. The balance 20% is marketed locally through its outlets at Kirulapone, Wattala , Matale, Pannala and the Bandaranaike Airport.