Approaching the conclusion of its 140th year of business in Sri Lanka, leading diversified multinational conglomerate, Hayleys PLC announced the launch of a limited edition commemorative stamp in celebration of nearly a century and a half of outstanding business excellence.
Hayleys Group Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage was joined by the company’s top management and senior representatives of Sri Lanka Post at a special ceremony hosted at Hayleys’ Dean’s Road Head Office to unveil the new 140th anniversary commemorative stamp.
Commenting on the landmark event, Pandithage said: “In an increasingly digital world, a postage stamp can seem to younger generations to be somewhat of a relic of an older time. Yet for over two centuries, the postal stamp has played not just a functional role but also an important symbolic one. A postal stamp represents a visual canvas that promote national tradition, achievement, and character. In the Sri Lankan context, these are aspects which the Hayleys Group has become intrinsically bound up in.
“Even today, postal stamps hold a connection to our collective past, and serve as a reminder of the distance we have travelled as an organization and a nation. We are therefore deeply humbled by the launch of a stamp that commemorates the proud 140 year legacy of excellence that Hayleys PLC has achieved and at the conclusion of this year, we as an organization recommit ourselves to these same values that have built our success, and we look forward to striving for even greater heights in the years to come.”
Established in 1878 by Chas. P. Hayley, a British entrepreneur in Galle, the company at its inception served as a trading house for the import of valuable goods and export of locally produced goods such as spices, coir yarn and essential oils.
Over 140 years, the Hayleys Group has grown with a global presence of manufacturing and marketing offices across five regions with business interests spanning a total of 16 sectors. Today, it stands out as one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent success stories, having been the first listed Sri Lankan corporate to surpass $ 1 billion in revenue and accounting for 3.3% of the Nation’s total export earnings.
Catering to over 7.6 million customers worldwide, the Hayleys Group today stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most crucial economic centerpieces, providing direct employment to 32,000 Sri Lankans, in addition to providing indirect employment to over 20,000 people. The Group’s diverse array of subsidiaries have each developed an independent reputation for business excellence, positioning Hayleys at the apex of Sri Lanka’s domestic and export economy.
In its 140th year, the Hayleys Group continues to build on its legacy of innovation and excellence, as evidenced by the continuous series of accolades presented to the group. Most recently, the group was crowned winners of the Overall Excellence in Financial Reporting at the recently concluded CA Sri Lanka Annual Report Awards 2018 in addition to winning a further 10 awards including 7 Gold Awards across Hayleys PLC and its subsidiaries. During the year, Hayleys went on to top the LMD Top 20 rankings for the second consecutive year, and was also ranked among Sri Lanka’s ICCSL-CIMA Top 10 Most Admired Companies of Sri Lanka.
