CEAT Kelani Archives

April 19, 2024

Sri Lanka’s leading pneumatic tyre manufacturer CEAT-Kelani has introduced three new variants of high-performance radial tyres into the market, widening choice for a significant segment of vehicle owners.

Joining CEAT’s ‘Orion Brawo’ range, the new radials are in the sizes 155/65 R14, 165/70 R14 and 165 R13, with the first two sizes designated for popular models of compact and small cars, and the third for mid-sized vans, the company said.

The CEAT Orion Brawo 155/65 R14 and 165/70 R14 tyres both feature a tread pattern of a centre rib with three circumferential grooves and a high land area, which translate to improved tread life and higher resistance to impacts, cuts and other damage.

The 155/65 R14 is designed for Suzuki Wagon R, Daihatsu Mira ES, Daihatsu Hijet, Nissan Dayz and Honda N-WGN, while the 165/70 R14 fits Toyota Vitz, Toyota Aqua, Renault Kwid and Toyota Passo, seen in large numbers on Sri Lankan roads.

Meanwhile the CEAT Orion Brawo 165 R13 van radial sports a 4-rib high land design, angular notched rib pattern, a wide solid kerb rib and a highly reinforced belt that combine to deliver improved tread life, better durability, resistance to cutting and chipping and better load bearing. It is designed for Toyota Town Ace, Toyota Lite Ace and several other models of vans.

The addition of these three tyres takes CEAT’s radial tyre portfolio in Sri Lanka to 58 variants, the company said.

“The launch of these tyres reflects our continuing commitment to cater to the tyre requirements of the full spectrum of vehicles in Sri Lanka, from the high-end European sedans and SUVs to the smaller family cars and vans,” CEAT Kelani Chief Operating Officer Mr Shamal Gunawardene said. “The Orion range is priced to be affordable and competitive in the market, and is available at our dealer outlets island-wide.”

The largest domestic manufacturer of cross-ply and radial tyres in Sri Lanka, CEAT Kelani’s manufacturing operations encompass pneumatic tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (Bias-ply and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.

CEAT Kelani Holdings currently manufactures half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries and plays a significant role in helping the national economy conserve foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported tyres.

March 15, 2024

CEAT Kelani Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s manufacturing success stories, has been named among the country’s top 10 companies for best management practices by the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers (CPM) Sri Lanka.

The Top 10 award was presented to the company in respect of its performance in 2023 at the third edition of CPM’s ‘Best Management Practices Company Awards.’ The awards recognise best practices in management in terms of leadership, policies and strategies, people management, partnerships & resources, processes and performance.

CEAT Kelani, which manufactures nearly half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, embarked on a new initiative in 2023 to fortify key enablers, targeting revenue of Rs 26 billion by 2025-26 via winning products, manufacturing and service excellence and first-to-market digitalization.

The plan envisages the CEAT brand retaining dominant market share in the truck and bus and light truck tyre segment, and building on its market-leading shares in passenger car and van radials, truck bus radials and motorcycle tyres.

“We are naturally elated to be recognised by an institute of the stature of CPM as one of the 10 best managed companies in Sri Lanka,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani said. “This award is particularly noteworthy in the context of CEAT Kelani’s genesis as the progeny of a contentious privatisation of a state-owned enterprise in 1992.”

“Over the years, the CEAT Kelani joint venture has been cited as a case study for a successful privatisation on the basis of its achievements in productivity, product development, investments in expansion, deployment of new technology, research and development, local market leadership, exports and its support to the national effort to conserve foreign exchange,” Mr Dadlani added. “This award for management practices is the icing on the cake.”

CEAT Kelani’s achievements in the year assessed for the CPM Award included becoming the first tyre manufacturing company in Sri Lanka to receive the prestigious IATF 16949 automotive quality management system standard certification from the International Automotive Task Force (IATF); receiving a National Long-Term rating of ‘AA+(lka)/Stable’ from Fitch Ratings for the third consecutive year; and taking its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnerships in Sri Lanka to more than 10.

The CEAT brand originated in Italy and is backed by German engineering technology and extensive research and testing facilities in India and Europe. In addition to manufacturing half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, CEAT Kelani Holdings exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries and plays a significant role in helping the national economy conserve foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported tyres. The joint venture’s cumulative investment in Sri Lanka over the past decade exceeds Rs 8.5 billion.

November 8, 2023

Hosts top 125 dealers and their families at two-day event at Shangri-La Hambantota

A two-and-a-half-decade journey of manufacturing excellence leading to market domination was acknowledged when CEAT Kelani Holdings felicitated the Company’s top dealers at a spectacular awards gala recently.

The top 125 CEAT dealers in Sri Lanka and their families came together with representatives of the Company’s senior management after a lapse of three years to celebrate the success of their combined efforts to overcome the adverse impacts of the global pandemic and the economic downturn.

CEAT’s top 10 dealers countrywide received handsome awards for their contributions to the Company’s performance while the top 45 dealers received awards of excellence and the top performers in each of four tyre categories were recognised separately at the dealer convention.

The two-day event at the Shangri-La Hotel in Hambantota took place just days after CEAT Kelani was lauded by the country’s President, political and business leaders at its 25^th anniversary celebration in Colombo.

In his welcome speech, CEAT Kelani Chairman Mr Chanaka de Silva said: “I am proud to say that CEAT Sri Lanka, as a premier tyre manufacturer, has been resilient through these tumultuous times. But our resilience was not just a testament to our company’s strength. It reflected the unwavering support, trust and dedication of our esteemed dealers. Each one of you played a crucial role in ensuring that we stayed on course, even when the path was riddled with obstacles.”

“I am filled with hope and optimism as we look ahead. The road to recovery has begun, and together, we embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and shared success. Let’s continue to work together, forging a legacy that future generations will look back upon with pride,” he said.

CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani emphasised that “As we look towards the future, I am excited to share that we have ambitious plans in the pipeline. We are deeply committed to quality improvement, ensuring that every tyre that comes out of our production line is of the highest standard. Furthermore, we are gearing up for expansion, aiming to reach even more corners of our nation and ensuring that every Sri Lankan has access to the best tyres in the market.”

Top dealers honoured at the event received cash awards, gift vouchers, trophies and certificates in recognition of their performances in each of the product categories that CEAT manufactures, as well for overall excellence. CEAT’s overall best dealer was U&H Wheels of Colombo 2, while the runner-up was Padalangala Rajapaksha Tyre House, Padalangala.

In the Category awards, Paramount Tyre Traders Colombo 14, won the Radial category, U & H Wheel Service Colombo 02 the Truck category, Sumith Marketing Company Ambalangoda the Light Truck category and Tharaka Tyre House Mawathagama the Three-wheeler category.

The CEAT brand originated in Italy and is now backed by German manufacturing technology and extensive research and testing facilities in India and Europe, enabling the tyres to meet the exacting standards for export to countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

A Rs 8 billion investment in state-of-the-art tyre manufacture, the CEAT Sri Lanka manufacturing operations in Kelaniya and Kalutara encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (nylon and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments. Widely considered a model for a successful privatisation of a state-owned enterprise, CEAT Kelani Holdings now manufactures half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries and plays a significant role in helping the national economy conserve foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported tyres.

September 20, 2023

CEAT Kelani Holdings recently launched a new tree-planting initiative with the engagement of employees and their families in the belief that commitment to sustainability must extend to every individual in an enterprise rather than being the mantra of a few.

Simultaneous tree-planting activities at the tyre manufacturer’s expansive production facilities in Kelaniya and Kalutara were accompanied by the distribution of more than 1,000 saplings to employees with the exhortation that they be planted and nurtured in their home gardens.

Participating in this initiative, were CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani, members of the Executive Committee, representatives of the employee unions and employees from the Company’s offices as well as factories.

“We have already invested substantially in initiatives that will reduce our environmental footprint, but these efforts are essentially the result of senior management decisions,” Mr Dadlani commented. “We believe, however, that going Green must permeate the psyche of every employee to generate maximum possible impact and hence this tree-planting programme.”

Among the major sustainability initiatives already under implementation at CEAT Kelani Holdings are a soon to be commissioned mega solar power generation project, significant strides towards establishing a paperless office aimed at reducing the consumption of paper in administrative and sales operations, and a number of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) practices encompassing end-to-end business processes.

Notably, sustainability perspectives extend to product design and development and manufacturing processes too at CEAT Kelani Holdings. The CEAT ‘Secura Drive’ series of tyres are designed for low rolling resistance leading to reduced fuel consumption and higher mileage, while the CEAT ‘Fuelsmarrt’ range of tyres, as the name suggests, is designed for fuel efficiency.

In the product design and development pipeline at CEAT Kelani are plans for tyres that offer higher retreadability and tyres of optimal weight for performance and environment credentials. In product manufacturing, the Company has already implemented processes that reduce water consumption, and is planning for an increased use of renewable energy and energy conservation mechanisms.

CEAT Kelani Holdings manufactures nearly half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements and exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. The cumulative investment of CEAT Kelani Holdings in Sri Lanka exceeds Rs 8 billion in manufacturing operations that encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (nylon and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.

September 1, 2023

The transformative journey of rubber from the milky liquid latex tapped from the Hevea brasiliensis tree to sophisticated high-demand finished products in the global market is one that farmers know of, but don’t often witness first hand, a situation that one major user of natural rubber in Sri Lanka is now rectifying.

CEAT Kelani Holdings, which manufactures nearly half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, has started hosting rubber cultivators for conducted tours of the company’s extensive manufacturing complex in Kelaniya, providing them with an insight into the intricacies of producing high-performance tyres for the domestic and export markets.

The first group of 45 rubber farmers and dealers from areas such as Padukka, Horana, Avissawella, Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura, Akuressa, Kegalle, Yatiyantota, Gonagaldeniya and Ruwanwella that visited the CEAT Kelani factory recently was briefed on the processes relating to the procurement of natural rubber, the stringent quality tests conducted on incoming rubber, the extreme care taken in storage of the precious raw material, the first-in- first out (FIFO) method used in inventory management and the entire manufacturing process from inception to completion.

A comprehensive demonstration of the in-process quality checks at the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility underscored the importance of maintaining consistently superior quality in the supply of natural rubber. A detailed presentation on the use of natural rubber in manufacturing and its impact on the quality of tyres, provided farmers an eye-opener on how a small miss in the tapping of rubber could impact product quality.

Commenting on this initiative, CEAT Kelani Holdings Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani said: “We purchase 100 per cent of our natural rubber requirements from local producers and so our success is important to the cultivators, a point that was effectively communicated in this relationship strengthening exercise. We were encouraged by the level of interest shown by the rubber farmers and dealers, and their grasp of the importance of maintaining quality in the entire supply chain.”

Emphasising the importance accorded by the company to the visit, the rubber farmers and dealers were welcomed by the senior management team of CEAT Kelani led by Mr Dadlani and Director Mr Eraj Fernando.

The cumulative investment of CEAT Kelani Holdings in Sri Lanka exceeds Rs 8 billion. The company’s manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (nylon and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.

June 22, 2023

A new high-performance premium commercial vehicle tyre has begun rolling off the production line at CEAT Kelani Holdings, Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturer of pneumatic tyres.

The CEAT Winmile X3 AW is a Truck Bus Radial (TBR) in the 295/80 R22.5 TL size, making it an ideal replacement tyre for heavy trucks including prime movers, fuel bowsers, bulk cement carriers, other large goods transport vehicles and passenger transport buses plying Sri Lanka’s roads, the Company said.

Launched as part of CEAT Kelani’s continuing commitment to support the national effort to reduce dependence on imports and conserve foreign exchange, the CEAT Winmile X3 AW will fit commercial vehicles such as the Renault 460 DXI, DAF XF 105/510, Tantri TBK 43, MAN PGS 440, Isuzu Giga Truck Mixer, UD Nissan Prime Mover, DAF CF 321 Dynamic 33,000 litre fuel tank and cement carriers and passenger bus models of brands such as Lanka Ashok Leyland, Yutong and King Long.

Backed by a three-year warranty from the date of manufacture, the new truck bus radial tyre is designed to deliver extra mileage and better performance in Sri Lankan conditions, the Company said. Zig-zag grooves and sipes reduce irregular wear and improve tyre life, helping increase traction in new as well as worn tyre conditions. A groove base protector in the center and shoulder of the tyre defend against stone drilling and damage for enhanced off-highway durability. The high bonding belt compound used translates to excellent belt durability and retreadability, while an optimised tread design and cooler tread compound provide high abrasion resistance for extra mileage as well as cut and chip resistance.

“This is a premium product in the TBR segment and reflects the depth of our understanding of the needs of the transportation sector in Sri Lanka and our continuing commitment to new product development despite the challenges in the market,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani said. “With costs of operation rising across the board for our commercial tyre customers, the need for competitively priced products engineered to meet or exceed the performance parameters of imports has never been as acute, and we are meeting this need with our Winmile range of tyres.”

The CEAT Winmile AW tyres are the only Truck Bus Radial tyres produced in Sri Lanka. The result of a phased execution of a Rs 3 billion investment begun by the Company four years ago to expand product range, capacity and quality across multiple tyre categories, CEAT Kelani’s ground-breaking TBR production facility commenced production in April 2019 and has the capacity to supply 50% of the country’s current requirement of truck bus radials.

The manufacturer of nearly half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, CEAT Sri Lanka is considered one of the most successful India – Sri Lanka joint ventures. The joint venture’s cumulative investment in Sri Lanka to date exceeds Rs 8 billion. The company’s manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (nylon and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.

The CEAT brand accounts for market shares in Sri Lanka of 48 per cent in the Radial segment, 80 per cent in the Truck category, 84 per cent Light Truck tyre category, 51 per cent in the Three-Wheeler tyre segment, 36 per cent in the Motorcycle tyre segment and 72 per cent in the Agricultural vehicle tyre category. CEAT Sri Lanka exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

May 18, 2021

CEAT Kelani Holdings recently donated two High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) delivery systems to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, the largest tertiary care centre in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.

The donation was in response to a request from Dr Krishantha Jayasekara and Dr Crysantha Perera to CEAT Kelani Chairman Mr Chanaka De Silva. Costing Rs 2.7 million, the HFNO equipment meets an urgent need to supplement the non-invasive ventilator facilities for patients with severe hypoxic respiratory failure. High Flow Nasal Oxygen delivery systems are used to bridge patients being weaned from invasive ventilation.

CEAT Kelani Holdings has made a series of donations of equipment and consumables to key state institutions at the forefront of the effort to combat COVID-19 over the past one year. Among the beneficiary institutions were the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital and its Postgraduate Medical Training Centre, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, the Badulla General Hospital and the Sri Lanka Police. CEAT Kelani also contributed Rs 2 million towards the cost of construction of a new 106-bed Army Hospital at Pallakele in Kandy, and donated 1,000 boxes of essential protective materials to the Sri Lanka Police and tyre dealers island wide.

March 30, 2021

Phase 1 to see production increase of 65%

Phase 2 to increase capacity by 125% by June

CEAT Kelani Holdings has announced another significant increase in production that will more than double the number of Truck Bus Radial (TBR) tyres reaching the domestic market by June this year, further supporting the national effort to reduce dependence on imports and conserve foreign exchange.

The Company said production of the CEAT Winmile AW in the 10.00 R 20 size widely used on trucks, prime movers, and buses will, in two phases of expansion, increase from 18,000 tyres a year to 40,200 a year. This gives CEAT the ability to supply 42 per cent of the local requirement for these tyres.

Incidentally, the CEAT Winmile AW tyre is the only Truck Bus Radial tyre produced in Sri Lanka, and is the result of a phased execution of a Rs 3 billion investment begun by the Company three years ago to expand product range, capacity and quality across multiple tyre categories. CEAT’s ground-breaking TBR production facility commenced production in April 2019 and the current expansion entailed the commissioning three more tyre presses, the Company said.

“Our original investments in expansion preceded the imposition by the government of a temporary restriction on certain imports, but we have continued to invest in capacity expansion in the tyre segments targeted by the restrictions, to meet market demand,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani said. “There is no restriction on the import of truck and bus tyres, but by August last year we had ensured that CEAT can supply 100 per cent of the requirement in this category through a combination of bias-ply and TBR tyres, generating an annual saving of Rs 11 billion in foreign exchange. This latest increase in production of TBR tyres will result in a further saving.”

Designed for carrying heavy loads and higher mileage, delivering better cost per kilometre over competitor brands, the CEAT Winmile AW has a Load and Speed Index (a numerical code associated with the maximum load a tyre can carry at the speed indicated by its Speed Symbol) of 146/143K. Consisting of a natural equilibrium carcass design with high casing durability and retreadability, the tyre offers excellent Belt and Bead durability due to a high bonding belt compound and bead consolidated with high strength rubber and steel. A strong Krebs design provides sidewall protection, while the tyre’s balanced combination of ribs generates outstanding traction. The robust tread design with wider footprint coupled with a cooler tread compound assures higher mileage and uniform tread wear.

The increase in TBR production at the CEAT Kelani manufacturing complex in Kelaniya comes hot on the heels of an increase in production of passenger car radial (PCR) tyres for rim sizes ranging from 12 to 14. Phase 1 of this increase has added 72,000 tyres a year to the Company’s radial tyre inventory, while Phase 2, expected to come on stream in May 2021, will add another 100,000 radial tyres per annum.

Sri Lanka’s largest pneumatic tyre manufacturer, CEAT Kelani Holdings is considered one of the most successful India – Sri Lanka joint ventures in the manufacturing sector. The joint venture’s cumulative investment in Sri Lanka to date totals Rs 8 billion and its manufacturing operations encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (Bias-ply and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.

January 11, 2018

From left: Mr. Rohan Fernando - Executive Director CEAT Kelani Holdings, Mr. Anant Goenka - MD CEAT Limited, India, Mr. Chanaka De Silva - Chairman CEAT Kelani Holdings, Mr. Vijay Gambhire - MD/CEO CEAT Kelani Holdings, Mr. Tilak de Zoysa - Vice Chairman, CEAT Kelani Holdings, Mr. Ravi Dadlani – Vice President Sales, Marketing & Exports CEAT Kelani Holdings.

CEAT Kelani launches 3 new radial tyre variants in ‘Orion Brawo’ range

CEAT Kelani named one of 10 best-managed companies in Sri Lanka by CPM

CEAT Kelani celebrates resilience at first post-pandemic dealer awards gala

Sustainability-focused CEAT Kelani engages employees and families in tree planting

From field to export markets: rubber farmers see their latex transformed at CEAT Kelani

CEAT Kelani debuts new locally-made Truck Bus Radial for transport sector

CEAT Kelani donates High Flow Nasal Oxygen equipment to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital

CEAT Kelani announces 125% increase Truck Bus Radial tyre production

CEAT Kelani to invest Rs 3 billion in Sri Lanka’s tyre industry over next two years