Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Friday, 19 July 2013 04:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Ramiah Ramanadan is no stranger to the ready mix concrete industry; for over ten years he has been closely associated with the industry’s expertise. Having cut his teeth in the ready mix concrete industry in Japan, where he learnt of this highly professional trade, Rama as he is fondly known, is well known and is familiar with the expertise required by Japanese firms and other multinational companies in their mega projects in Sri Lanka.
Rama has been involved and assisting large projects in Sri Lanka such as the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project.
“When I started working with the Japanese professionals, from civil engineers to architects, I was truly amazed by the level of dedication and commitment they displayed. I was determined to develop such high levels of commitment myself. This is an industry in which you need to adhere to sound principals of professionalism and expertise. I believe this laid the foundation for me to excel in this industry,” Rama says.
Rama went to handle large infrastructural projects from his initial days working with the Japanese companies; one of his biggest projects was to supply Fly Ash to Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project and to the Colombo Port Project handled by Hyundai Engineering.
In 2007, Rama launched a specialised service of supplying of Fly Ash to the construction industry and he has worked with some of the biggest and best known names in the field of concrete, civil construction and top professionals in civil engineering. He has built a name for himself for his commitment to excellence and has stayed true to sound business ethics.
In 2010, ready to expand, Rama started a venture, Concrete Solutions Technology Lanka with an investor from overseas who had been impressed with Rama’s sun blemished credentials as a top professional in the industry.
Under license from Chryso of France, one of the worlds’ leading multinationals in the industry, his company commenced manufacturing of admixture. Rama has shared expertise and advice from Chryso with the industry here, conducting seminars for the civil construction fraternity and many others, contributing towards goals of sharing international know-how with Sri Lankans. He has also introduced many innovative processes to the construction industry. Rama believes that there is more that can be done to raise our standards. “There are people like Ready Mix Association Chairman Anura Vithanage and others whose contribution to the industry has been tremendous. As the first to introduce Chryso Admixture to Sri Lanka, I am excited by the possibilities our industry offers for growth and expansion. Sri Lanka has potential to grow. We have to be innovative in discovering opportunities,” he says.
Among projects handled by Concrete Solutions Technology Lanka under Rama’s leadership are projects of China Harbour outer circular highway, Taisei Corporation, Access Engineering and Tokyo Ready Mix. The company has also handled sites in Nuwara Eliya offering know-how for the process of speeding up the drying process of concrete blocks. “It was a highly successful effort and one commended by many contractors. With our precast and ready mix solutions, all types of civil engineering projects and industrial customers can benefit tremendously by speeding up the process of finishing. I have always believed in giving a quality product to my customers and that concept has paid me rich dividends,” he says. Although he has resigned from Concrete Solutions Technology Lanka presently, his reputation as a reliable and an innovative concrete professional continues to stay unblemished in the industry. He also says that Sri Lankans must be vigilant of unscrupulous elements that may come to Sri Lanka as rogue investors. “While we do need foreign investment and the country can benefit from it, in my experience, I have come across rouge investors who invest minimally and hijack Sri Lankan companies that are well run and managed, for their own personal gain. As a result, the turnover from such companies is channelled outside Sri Lanka and does not benefit the country.” Rama says that Sri Lanka must keep up with the developments taking place in industries such as concrete ready mix. “It is a vast industry with constant improvements being made. We can take advantage of such improvements in increasing efficiency of our projects.”
