Swimming Pool donated by the fastest Aloysian Swimmer
Read his fascinating and inspiring story below, in his own words:
Reproduced from the MOS Digest 2023
Published by the MOS Students Circle, of the Department of Management and Organization
Studies, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo.
Published by the MOS Students Circle, of the Department of Management and Organization
Studies, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo.
Discussion with a Corporate Figure
MR. ARIYASEELA WICKRAMANAYAKE
As the Students of Management & Organization Studies, we were really benefitted to have an
inspiring conversation with an outstanding corporate figure. He is none other than Mr.
Ariyaseela Wicramanayake. His inspiring profile and the conversation we had with him is
presented herewith for you.
inspiring conversation with an outstanding corporate figure. He is none other than Mr.
Ariyaseela Wicramanayake. His inspiring profile and the conversation we had with him is
presented herewith for you.
Founder, Chairman - Master Divers (Pvt) Limited
Founder, Chairman - Pelawatte Dairy Industries Limited
Chairman - Mawbima Lanka Foundation
Director - Bogawanthalawa Plantations Limited
Director - Aitken Spence Plantations Management Limited
Director - Pelawatte Sugar Industries Limited
Director - Lanka Hydraulic Institute (LHI)
Advisory Board Member– University Business Linkage Cell Sabaragamuwa University
Sri Lanka
Council Member – Ocean University of Sri Lanka
Member - University Grants Commission Standing Committee on Agriculture, Veterinary
Medicine and Animal Sciences (AVMAS)
Founder, Chairman - Pelawatte Dairy Industries Limited
Chairman - Mawbima Lanka Foundation
Director - Bogawanthalawa Plantations Limited
Director - Aitken Spence Plantations Management Limited
Director - Pelawatte Sugar Industries Limited
Director - Lanka Hydraulic Institute (LHI)
Advisory Board Member– University Business Linkage Cell Sabaragamuwa University
Sri Lanka
Council Member – Ocean University of Sri Lanka
Member - University Grants Commission Standing Committee on Agriculture, Veterinary
Medicine and Animal Sciences (AVMAS)
Let’s have a look at the conversation we had with this vibrant personality
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself ?
I am Ariyaseela Wickramanayake .I was born in 1949 and I went to St.Aloysius College -
Galle. I was selected to the Faculty of Medicine University of Peradeniya and I did my MBA
in HRM. During my school days I was the fastest swimmer in Sri Lanka.
I am Ariyaseela Wickramanayake .I was born in 1949 and I went to St.Aloysius College -
Galle. I was selected to the Faculty of Medicine University of Peradeniya and I did my MBA
in HRM. During my school days I was the fastest swimmer in Sri Lanka.
Let us know the beginning of your career and your current position?
Galle Port was being built when I was a child. When Galle Port was being built, I saw British divers working there. I saw that they get a huge salary and live a luxury life. So as a young guy I wanted to become a diver. After A/Levels, I got the opportunity to enter the Medical College of the University of Peradeniya. At the same time, I got the appointment as a diver in Colombo harbour. When I was confused regarding selecting one profession, I asked from
my teacher and the priest of the church about the accurate selection that I should make. Even though the Priest told me to choose the university studies I didn’t want to go to university but
wanted to do the job I got. Then I asked my father what to do. Then he said that if I’m really interested in the job and then do as you wish. That’s how I came out of medical college and became a diver. Currently I’m the Chairman of Pelawatte Diary Industries Ltd and Founder of Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd.
Galle Port was being built when I was a child. When Galle Port was being built, I saw British divers working there. I saw that they get a huge salary and live a luxury life. So as a young guy I wanted to become a diver. After A/Levels, I got the opportunity to enter the Medical College of the University of Peradeniya. At the same time, I got the appointment as a diver in Colombo harbour. When I was confused regarding selecting one profession, I asked from
my teacher and the priest of the church about the accurate selection that I should make. Even though the Priest told me to choose the university studies I didn’t want to go to university but
wanted to do the job I got. Then I asked my father what to do. Then he said that if I’m really interested in the job and then do as you wish. That’s how I came out of medical college and became a diver. Currently I’m the Chairman of Pelawatte Diary Industries Ltd and Founder of Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd.
What drives you to become successful in this field as an entrepreneur?
We grew sugar cane and made sugar. We go underwater and make dollars. We get milk and take nutrition for the country. You have to do something to make a change in the country. That’s my target. If I have to pay seven hundred rupees to buy a loaf of bread, I will buy it. But if I can get another subsidiary loaf of bread for one hundred and eighty rupees, I won’t buy it. Because I think it is unfair to paddy farmers to get a loaf of bread for such a little money. I am the one who proposed to build a port in Hambantota. It is 100% my concept. Before proposing it, I went to Hambantota to talk to the people there. Then I saw a 25000 hectare agriculture land and in 2002 I bought it to cultivate sugar cane. Highest ever sugar cane production was produced by Pelawatte. I did it really well and then the government took it over. Now it is in the process of giving it back after twelve years. Later, the Buddhist monks gave me four hundred cows that were roaming freely here and there. I took them to the vets and treated them for about a month and then gave them to the farmers. That’s how I got into the milk industry. Currently, I am the largest milk producer in Sri Lanka. We have saved the country 400 billion dollars. I have three powder plants and we produce tons of butter daily. We do not do anything harmful. We could have taken the sugar spirit and made alcohol, but we never did.
We grew sugar cane and made sugar. We go underwater and make dollars. We get milk and take nutrition for the country. You have to do something to make a change in the country. That’s my target. If I have to pay seven hundred rupees to buy a loaf of bread, I will buy it. But if I can get another subsidiary loaf of bread for one hundred and eighty rupees, I won’t buy it. Because I think it is unfair to paddy farmers to get a loaf of bread for such a little money. I am the one who proposed to build a port in Hambantota. It is 100% my concept. Before proposing it, I went to Hambantota to talk to the people there. Then I saw a 25000 hectare agriculture land and in 2002 I bought it to cultivate sugar cane. Highest ever sugar cane production was produced by Pelawatte. I did it really well and then the government took it over. Now it is in the process of giving it back after twelve years. Later, the Buddhist monks gave me four hundred cows that were roaming freely here and there. I took them to the vets and treated them for about a month and then gave them to the farmers. That’s how I got into the milk industry. Currently, I am the largest milk producer in Sri Lanka. We have saved the country 400 billion dollars. I have three powder plants and we produce tons of butter daily. We do not do anything harmful. We could have taken the sugar spirit and made alcohol, but we never did.
How has the economic crisis in the country affected your business?
There is no problem in this country. Have you ever heard that a man died of thirst? If we take Australia, Australia has the world’s largest desert. Who wants to go to such a country? In some countries, it is possible to work only half of the year. There is no way to work for the rest of the year due to weather problems. Are there any such problems in our country? No, we can work well at any time. This is really like heaven. All the resources are in this country. The entire country is very clean. So who wants to run away from this country to another country. If you want to leave what you have then that’s your problem. Our country has plenty
of resources. We should use those resources properly. Then there will be no crisis. I give five thousand million to dairy farmers every month. That’s a lot of money. They get that money because they have used the available resources in the right way. All you want is to work in the industry that way. Always you must grow something. Work in such a way that you can do your own thing by using the resources in the country. Then no crisis will affect you.
There is no problem in this country. Have you ever heard that a man died of thirst? If we take Australia, Australia has the world’s largest desert. Who wants to go to such a country? In some countries, it is possible to work only half of the year. There is no way to work for the rest of the year due to weather problems. Are there any such problems in our country? No, we can work well at any time. This is really like heaven. All the resources are in this country. The entire country is very clean. So who wants to run away from this country to another country. If you want to leave what you have then that’s your problem. Our country has plenty
of resources. We should use those resources properly. Then there will be no crisis. I give five thousand million to dairy farmers every month. That’s a lot of money. They get that money because they have used the available resources in the right way. All you want is to work in the industry that way. Always you must grow something. Work in such a way that you can do your own thing by using the resources in the country. Then no crisis will affect you.
How did the corona pandemic affect your business and how did you overcome it?
That is what you call an entrepreneur. Design yourself for the situation. During corona, I ran my business for 365 days without any problems. We did not stop any work. When different
problems arise, different tactics should be used to overcome them. You need an opportunity to do the right thing. Not the opportunity to do anything wrong. You have to do the right thing at the right time in the right way.
As an entrepreneur, what qualities do you think an undergraduate should have to be an entrepreneur?
Do what you believe that you are good at even if you are stuck . Even if you do something else then develop it. Do whatever you see your growth. You must have a sketch in your mind that this is the man that I am going to be. You must be sure of what you want and go in that direction. Always be target oriented.
Do what you believe that you are good at even if you are stuck . Even if you do something else then develop it. Do whatever you see your growth. You must have a sketch in your mind that this is the man that I am going to be. You must be sure of what you want and go in that direction. Always be target oriented.
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