By Charumini de Silva
Ceylon FT: Despite the challenging internal and external factors, Softlogic Group is optimistic of achieving a 15% to 20% growth by the end of this year.
Speaking to Ceylon FT Softlogic Holdings Chairman and Managing Director, Ashok Pathirage said that the company was focused aggressively on leveraging core competencies.
"We are looking forward to grow with Sri Lanka, while developing strong partnerships across many cross sectors of the economy," he said.
With significant contributions from the three core sectors — healthcare, ICT and retail, the company's overall performance has improved considerably, he added. Recognizing the potential of the tourism industry the group made long-term strategic investments in the leisure sector.
He said capitalizing on the booming tourism industry the firm expects to open its luxury hotel, Centara Ceysand Resort and Spa next month. The hotel consists of 168 rooms and was constructed with an investment of Rs 3.5 billion. In addition, the company expects to commence operations of our five-star city hotel – Movenpick – by the end of next year.
These two strategic moves have placed the group in place to harness the benefits of the tourism boom in the country. Pathirage said, "The group has identified the leisure sector as a strategic sector and we are quite buoyant on the developments that are taking place in the industry and economy as a whole. With the influx in the tourist arrivals especially from regional countries will help to maintain the momentum and will continue to grow steadily."
In a move to expand the company's retail chain, Softlogic has planned to increase the number of retail stores, while expanding the company's retail outlets in the country. "We have expanded ourselves at a healthy rate in the retail sector and will continue the impetus on the performance. With the opening of the new shopping mall at the former Auditor General's building, we will soon introduce another international brand to our retail portfolio," he said.
The firm has already bought around 40% of the space of the shopping mall to distribute the world's best brands to the Sri Lankan consumers.
The group owns a large market share of the growing private healthcare sector owning six large private hospitals and the hospitals are performing quite well with most being fully occupied. The Rs 3 billion Asiri Hospitals Kandy (Pvt) Ltd., will be open to the public in the near future, offering state-of-the-art facilities.
"Healthcare has been not only a business for the company but a service that we take great pride in. We are the largest in the market at present and have the capability to increase the private hospital charges overnight, where the rest of the market players would follow us. However, as a socially-responsible company and we are concerned about all segments of the masses in the country."
He said a well-functioning healthcare system is an indicator of a developed nation. Sri Lanka, has come a long way in the healthcare industry and has much scope to grow especially in the medical tourism sector, which could efficiently generate foreign exchange."
Softlogic Holdings PLC reported a Rs 803.12 million profit for the nine months ended 31 December 2013, up 321.55% from Rs 190.5 million a year ago. Revenue increased 14.32% to Rs 21.73 billion.
www.ceylontoday.lk
Ceylon FT: Despite the challenging internal and external factors, Softlogic Group is optimistic of achieving a 15% to 20% growth by the end of this year.
Speaking to Ceylon FT Softlogic Holdings Chairman and Managing Director, Ashok Pathirage said that the company was focused aggressively on leveraging core competencies.
"We are looking forward to grow with Sri Lanka, while developing strong partnerships across many cross sectors of the economy," he said.
With significant contributions from the three core sectors — healthcare, ICT and retail, the company's overall performance has improved considerably, he added. Recognizing the potential of the tourism industry the group made long-term strategic investments in the leisure sector.
He said capitalizing on the booming tourism industry the firm expects to open its luxury hotel, Centara Ceysand Resort and Spa next month. The hotel consists of 168 rooms and was constructed with an investment of Rs 3.5 billion. In addition, the company expects to commence operations of our five-star city hotel – Movenpick – by the end of next year.
These two strategic moves have placed the group in place to harness the benefits of the tourism boom in the country. Pathirage said, "The group has identified the leisure sector as a strategic sector and we are quite buoyant on the developments that are taking place in the industry and economy as a whole. With the influx in the tourist arrivals especially from regional countries will help to maintain the momentum and will continue to grow steadily."
In a move to expand the company's retail chain, Softlogic has planned to increase the number of retail stores, while expanding the company's retail outlets in the country. "We have expanded ourselves at a healthy rate in the retail sector and will continue the impetus on the performance. With the opening of the new shopping mall at the former Auditor General's building, we will soon introduce another international brand to our retail portfolio," he said.
The firm has already bought around 40% of the space of the shopping mall to distribute the world's best brands to the Sri Lankan consumers.
The group owns a large market share of the growing private healthcare sector owning six large private hospitals and the hospitals are performing quite well with most being fully occupied. The Rs 3 billion Asiri Hospitals Kandy (Pvt) Ltd., will be open to the public in the near future, offering state-of-the-art facilities.
"Healthcare has been not only a business for the company but a service that we take great pride in. We are the largest in the market at present and have the capability to increase the private hospital charges overnight, where the rest of the market players would follow us. However, as a socially-responsible company and we are concerned about all segments of the masses in the country."
He said a well-functioning healthcare system is an indicator of a developed nation. Sri Lanka, has come a long way in the healthcare industry and has much scope to grow especially in the medical tourism sector, which could efficiently generate foreign exchange."
Softlogic Holdings PLC reported a Rs 803.12 million profit for the nine months ended 31 December 2013, up 321.55% from Rs 190.5 million a year ago. Revenue increased 14.32% to Rs 21.73 billion.
www.ceylontoday.lk
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