‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for Gemunu Kulatunga

Tuesday, 14 October 2014 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Gemunu H. Kulatunga, the Managing Director of GHK Exporters and Distributors was honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, at The Asian Leadership Awards on 24 September 2014 held at Taj Palace Hotel, Dubai in a fitting finale. The award was conferred by the Asian Confederation of Businesses with CMO Asia as its Strategic Partner and ‘Stars of the Industry Group’ as the research partner. Gemunu Kulatunga, the former Senior Personnel Officer of the Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka took a bold step after retirement at the invitation of his college-mate, veteran Chartered Architect Elmo De Silva and pioneered the Interior Design industry in the soft interior segment in 1977; specialising in curtaining and curtain accessories, and few years later in 1984 with the opening of his shop at 144, Liberty Plaza – the premier most shopping complex at that time. Since then, there we no looking back.

‘The Lifetime Achievement Award’ commands the highest stature and the jury of the Asian Confederation of Business with COM Asia, present such awards to individuals and institutions who have surpassed several levels of its excellence and who have set an example of being a role model by demonstrating exemplary leadership and has made a significant contribution in the industry they operate. This award honours Gemunu Kulatunga for having distinguished himself in both these categories. Gemunu Kulatunga is a distinguished old boy of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo who excelled in athletics and joined the, then Ceylon Insurance and later moved to the Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka, as one of its initial set of employees. He started GHK Enterprises in 1977 with AirLanka as its launch customer. Initially GHK was known to be the curtaining specialist in Colombo and was the popular choice by most leading architects – Tangerine Beach Hotel, Taj Exotica, GOH, Swiss, Re-launching of Queens, Triton Hotel, Tourmaline Hotel and Citadel Hotel were just few brand names that opened their doors for business with soft interior solutions churned by GHK with its affiliation to Kimley Furnishing and Textiles in Singapore, Gemunu pioneered the introduction of automation of curtain tracks and clap curtains in Sri Lanka. His innovative interior solutions gained popularity and reached the doorsteps of many foreign missions, ministries, military, housing project like Samanalawewa, corporate buildings and even private mansions of many people of repute. Today GHK Exporters and Distributors cater to the growing hotel industry with branded hotel supplies (kitchen equipment and restaurant accessories), mattresses and related soft-linen at the most competitive rates. When asked from Gemunu of his future plans he said: “Today the hospitality sector contributes around 2% to the national GDP ($ 1.7 billion in 2013) – Sri Lanka needs to move fast to make the tourism sector a larger contributor to the economy in order to be more competitive in the global market. Sri Lanka’s Asian competitors have higher contribution of tourism sector to their GDP including: Malaysia 12.5%, Vietnam 7.5%, Singapore 5%., it is my desire to make a contribution by fuelling the competitive advantage of the local Hotel Industry even in a small way.” Refurbishment of Ramada Hotel was his most recent project. Funding hotel suppliers can be a potential market, even for the banking sector to exploit. Gemunu had a distinguished career with GHK, and he continues to serve as Managing Director since 1977, and he is a credit to the industry, his college and the country. He can be congratulated and encouraged by reaching him at [email protected] – Gemunu was the only award winner to secure an award under this industry category. Also in attendance, was Gemunu’s wife, Belle and his son, Shanaka.