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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Dr Yaddehige seeks global stage for Arpico by Pelham Juriansz Dr Sena Yaddehige, Deputy Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of Richard Pieris and Co (RPC) outlined his plans to revamp the company, which is one of the oldest in the country, by making the company achieve an export turnover of $100 million in the next five years. Yaddehige told a news conference held to mark the company's 71st anniversary that he hopes to fuse together the expansive range of Richard Peiris products, the indigenous skills of its workers and the high-tech knowledge that he possesses to produce a synthesis that will propel the company (Arpico) into the global market. "RPC has a new vision; to transform itself from an insular enterprise into a profitable global company, propelling the Arpico name into the global marketplace. Our goal is to be a technology driven, market oriented diverse group capable of competing with the best in the world." "Arpico is a locally known brand name and my vision is to make it internationally recognised," he said. Born in Dickwella, Matara, Yaddehige entered the Kelaniya University from Mahinda College, Galle, obtaining his Bachelor of Science Degree, at the same time being the President of the Inter-University Students Council. In this capacity, he was involved in negotiations with the government on university development, the Education Act and student rights. After obtaining his PhD in Engineering in 1979, he specialised in high-energy radiation. He continued his academic career at the Tokyo University, Sheffield University in England and Strathclyde in Scotland. He then joined BICC in England as a radiation scientist, inventing a number of industrial technologies using high-energy radiation, for which he was granted patent rights. RPC was the pioneer tyre retreader in Sri Lanka using conventional and precured technology and has a joint venture with Bandag Incorporation of USA, one of the largest tyre builders in the world. The company has four factories, an islandwide network of 1000 dealers and an almost 50 per cent market share. The group is also a large general household utility retailer in the country with a chain of retail outlets. It has now ventured into the retailing of food as well and has opened supermarkets in key locations in and around Colombo marketing a range of nearly 20,000 goods. The company has also joined a consortium that was recently awarded the management in Sathosa, the largest supermarket chain in the country with over 150 outlets. The company is one of the largest and most diversified rubber product manufacturers in Sri Lanka, adding value to about eight per cent of the country's natural rubber production. Yaddehige, who has a background in high-tech and whose work hitherto has been in the UK and Europe, said he came back to Sri Lanka as he had felt that as a native of this country, he should look for ways and means of combining his interests in Europe with some local investment. "I want to bring a new dimension into a somewhat traditional organisation. Our intention is to widen our scope and move rapidly into export-related activities by optimising the use of local resources in a way that will progressively increase the value addition locally to the goods we produce. We expect our exports to double in the next few years," he said. With the entry of Dr Sena Yaddehige into Richard Peiris and Co last year, the stage is now set to combine the skills and assets of a successful, well-established UK-based company with those of Richard Pieris. |
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