|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 4 January 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Vijitha Irangani Cooray - A gift from nature The love for nature, an inborn talent for entrepreneurship and the support and courage of her husband are the pillars of success for Vijitha Irangani Cooray, Chairperson and Managing Director of Natures Gift (Pvt) Ltd. Family Cooray was born to a family of six children - five girls and one boy - in Batapola, a village off Ambalangoda. Her father was a teacher while her mother was a sewing instructor. Education From Grade One upto Advanced Levels, she studied at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Career She started her career at Ceylon Shipping Corporation as a Trainee Stenographer, but gave up her job after getting married to Mr Cooray, an engineer by profession. Incidentally, he was the first to start manufacturing ice in Sri Lanka. "I handled the accounts functions of these ice factories while also being a housewife. My son was born around this time; we shifted to Colombo after he was born," Cooray said. Lanka Kohubath Export Company "In late 1997, I told my brother that I wanted to start a business and he suggested that I venture into making coir-based items because of the profit factor. We started Lanka Kohubath Export Company in 1998 in Kurunegala". Her brother looked after the factory while she looked after the office. "During this time I did a computer course at the Royal Institute, which helped me with surfing the Net and getting orders. I handle the business alone while my husband helps me as and when required. When we were setting up the factory, he helped a lot by teaching me cost saving methods. He also manufactured a lot of the machines that are used at the factory, which has helped us save a lot of money," she said. Orders "I have exported my products to Spain and Bahrain while I presently do orders to Korea. I am also exporting plants to Dubai, Jeddah, Holland, Italy and Japan". Cooray is also exploring the possibility of exporting her products and plants to Australia, Denmark and USA in the near future. Company "The company is now known as Natures Gift (Pvt) Ltd while Grow Green Foliage Export Co Pvt Ltd is a joint venture with my husband. The third company is Miracle Exports Ltd. We have three factories in Katupotha, Werapola and Maspotha which have provided a lot of job opportunities for people in and around Kurunegala. Our head office is at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo". Future Plans They have received requests for coir pots, briquettes and grow bags. Incidentally, her husband, on his own, has made a machine to make grow bags. "There are also requests for potting soil. We are presently conducting tests to get the correct mixture for this. In the near future, we will venture into the potting soil business as well. "I want to venture into businesses related to nature; for example, I will soon start exporting dried flowers and leaves as well," she added. Quality "I personally check each and every item before they are exported and this, I think, is the secret of my success". Advice "If you like and are interested in what you are doing, there is nothing in this world that you cannot achieve," she said. Award The company won the International Star Award for Quality at the 28th International Star Award Quality Convention held on October 27 in Geneva. Speaking of the award, she said: "I was surprised when they informed me that my company was chosen to be presented with an award. I have exported my stuff to Spain, but I never applied for the award," she said. Fact File Name: Vijitha Irangani Cooray School: Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda Present Position: Chairperson and MD, Natures Gift (Pvt) Ltd. (SG) |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
