The Kalhari Group which has been engaged in the recycling and export of waste products with the dual objectives of environment conservation and foreign exchange earnings, has won nine export awards in the past ten years.
The most recent was at the National Export Awards organised by the National Chamber of Exporters which celebrated its Silver Jubilee at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo. Kalhari won the award in the Industry Sector Small Category.
Kalhari’s Chairman / Managing Director, Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa provides dynamic leadership to a team of dedicated staff that rallies round him throughout the year to ensure both success in business and industry recognition.
The Kalhari team bagged an award for the ninth time in the past ten years at the NCE National Export Awards.
Kalhari which has its head office in the rural village of Heiyantuduwa – seventeen kilometres from Colombo – also has factories in Mahara and Minuwangoda. Having begun operations in 2003 with the recycling of PET bottles, the company has now grown to a group of three companies engaged in the export of recycled tyre waste, rubber waste, post-consumer PET bottles and steel dust.
Kaushal Rajapaksa is a visionary and pragmatic leader always on the lookout to widen his horizons. “At Kalhari we satisfy our customers by providing goods and services to exacting standards, and empower rural Sri Lanka by providing as many people as possible with a livelihood while protecting the environment at the same time,” he explained.
“Today, the world is severely challenged by the changing climate and increasing natural disasters. Driven by new technology, consumerism has become a way of life. The waste produced as a result is varied and in very large quantities. Recycling and safe disposal of waste have become an absolute necessity. We have therefore stepped in to harness the latest technologies to protect the environment.”
Rajapaksa is also a Director of Building-A-Future Foundation – an organisation dedicated to the training of youth in ocean-based activities. He is also a Director of SailLanka Charter, the leading yacht chartering company in Sri Lanka, and Baff Polymech, which manufactures yachts in Sri Lanka.
Kaushal Rajapaksa was twice the recipient of the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award. In 2014, Rajapaksa received the prestigious Merit Award from the Plastic and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka for his significant contribution towards the development and growth of the country’s Polymer Industry.
As an active member of Lions District 306 B2, Kaushal Rajapaksa not only contributes to the community but also encourages his staff to share their success generously with others. He is a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Biyagama North and has held several positions of responsibility in the District. He is currently the District Chairman Environment, successfully carrying out Environment Protection and Conservation awareness programs in Schools and Lions Clubs. So far, 850 students and 50 teachers have undergone this awareness program with the help of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Institute of Environment Professionals of Sri Lanka (IEPSL).
“Kalhari will be expanding its activities further by setting up units in the Anuradhapura district, and next year, we will be setting up a fibre-glass recycling unit,” says Kaushal Rajapaksa.
Led by a visionary leader and powered by a dedicated work-force, Kalhari aims to contribute more to the nation by way of protecting and conserving the environment.