“ லாஃப்ஸ் ஹோல்டிங்ஸ் இலங்கையில் பல்வேறு வியாபாரத் துறைகளில் கால்பதித்துள்ள மிகப் பாரிய கூட்டு நிறுவனங்களுள் ஒன்றாகவும், நம்பிக்கையை வென்றெடுத்துள்ள ஒரு வர்த்தகநாமமாகவும் திகழ்ந்து வருகின்றது. 1995 ஆம் ஆண்டில் ஸ்தாபிக்கப்பட்ட லாஃப்ஸ், இன்று 20 தொழிற்துறைகள் மத்தியில் தனது தொழிற்பாடுகளைக் கொண்டுள்ளதுடன், மின்வலு மற்றும் எரிசக்தி, சில்லறை வியாபாரம்,கைத்தொழில்,சேவைகள்,பொழுதுபோக்கு, பண்ட இடப்பெயர்வு மேலாண்மை மற்றும் அசைவற்ற ஆதன இருப்பு ஆகிய தொழிற்துறைகளில் இலங்கையிலும், அதற்கு வெளியிலும் உறுதியான காற்தடத்தைக் கொண்டுள்ளது. ”
Mr. W.K.H. Wegapitiya is the founder Chairman of LAUGFS Holdings Limited, the parent company of LAUGFS Gas PLC, one of the highly-diversified business groups in Sri Lanka, having its presence in a wide business spectrum, such as LPG distribution, petroleum, lubricants, power generation, property development, shipping, heavy engineering, automobile services, leisure and restaurants, consumer retailing, manufacturing of salt, and manufacturing of industrial solid tyres. He was appointed as the Executive Chairman and the Group CEO of LAUGFS Gas PLC at the time it was listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2011. He holds a degree in (BSc) Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and obtained his MBA from the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM). Currently, he is reading for his PhD at the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM).
His entrepreneurial journey begun in 1990, starting a small freight forwarding company subsequent to a brief employment at Ceylon Shipping Corporation. Later, in 1995 he was instrumental in creating Gas Auto Lanka (Pvt) Limited, the initial enterprise of now diversified LAUGFS Holdings Limited. The visionary leadership, remarkable entrepreneurship and his extra-ordinary personal traits to withstand and overcome all adversities thrown in his way, enabled him to succeed in all his endeavours to create the business conglomerate “LAUGFS”, during a comparatively short period of time.
A popular figure in the local entrepreneurial community in Sri Lanka as a success story, he was recognised as the best entrepreneur of the country many times. He is a frequent speaker, presenter and a panelist on topics such as “Business Excellence”, “Leadership” and “Entrepreneurship” organized by a variety of organisations. He is a well-known personality in the global LP Gas and energy circles and also a regular participant and a speaker at international forums on LP Gas and Energy Management.
Mr. Wegapitiya has served on many public and private sector institutes as an honorary member of the management. He was a Board member of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC and Mobitel (Pvt) Limited, and was the past Chairman of the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE). He has also served as the former Senior Vice President of FCCISL, an Executive council member of FCCISL, an Executive Committee member of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, a member of National Pay Commission, and a Council member of University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
Mr. Thilak De Silva is a prominent industry leader, a noted philanthropist and the Deputy Chairman of LAUGFS Holdings.
One of the founding partners of LAUGFS, Mr. De Silva has been instrumental in the phenomenal growth of the company over the years. His untiring efforts, unparalleled business and industry knowledge, and remarkable charisma have made an indelible imprint in the story of the Group’s growth.
In 1995 he became part of the pioneering project that transformed the automobile industry by converting vehicles from the traditional petroleum fuels into auto gas, which became the inception of LAUGFS. This proved a phenomenal success and became the turning point that laid the foundation to create one of the largest business conglomerates in the country today, employing 3500 staff across over 20 industries.
The warm, nurturing nature of Mr. De Silva has enabled him to inspire and drive his teams into achieving many great feats, which has been pivotal to LAUGFS’s success over two decades. He is well respected for his strategic foresight, collaborative and engaging leadership style, and entrepreneurial skills that have helped withstand many challenges and build LAUGFS into a trusted and respected Sri Lankan conglomerate.
Noted for his philanthropic work, Mr. De Silva has been part of many community and national projects as well as numerous charitable causes. His contribution has extended into many areas including community development, livelihood, education as well as healthcare. Driven by a firm nationalistic pride and a strong desire to contribute towards uplifting communities, he acts as a strong advocate of making quality education more accessible for all, as a means of eliminating rural poverty and empowering communities.
Mr. De Silva completed his undergraduate studies in Engineering Technology and Business Management in London, UK. He is a regular participant in many LPG business forums conducted at various parts of the world and widely connected with industry leaders in the energy sector.
Mr. Piyadasa Kudabalage was appointed as the Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of LAUGFS Holdings Limited and all its subsidiary companies with effect from 21st May 2020. He performs the overall provision of supervisory and leading the management of all the subsidiary companies under LAUGFS Holdings Limited.
Mr. Kudabalage has an extensive and impressive career spanning well over 35 years, both in the leading and reputable public and private sector organizations in a diverse landscape of businesses across, plantation management, insurance, banking and finance, leisure and hospitality, power and energy and industrial manufacture.
Mr. Kudabalage had occupied the top-rung positions in all sectors he was engaged with. He was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd and Canwill Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd (Hyatt Hotel Group); former Director of People’s Bank and all its subsidiaries, People’s Leasing & Finance PLC and all its subsidiaries, Seylan Bank PLC, Ceybank Asset Management Limited and Colombo Dockyard PLC; and was also the former Chairman of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Asset Management PLC and E-Channeling PLC. Presently, Mr. Kudabalage serves as the Chairman of Alerics Dairy Product (Pvt.) Limited and Piccadilly Cafe Limited. He is also carrying out a reputable audit firm as a sole proprietorship under his name. He is a well-qualified and experienced professional and also an alumni of the University of Kelaniya from where he was graduated in Business Administration and Management. Besides, he is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and also a Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka.
In consideration of his outstanding career achievements, the “Professional Excellence Award” has been awarded to Mr. Kudabalage by the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants of Sri Lanka in year 2014 and also “Prasada Sambawana” award has been granted to him by the University of Kelaniya in year 2014 for the excellent service rendered to the government of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Ariyaratne is a veteran banker with over 33 years of experience in the banking industry.
He has wide exposure in Development Banking, Investment Banking, Asset Management, Venture Capital as well as Corporate Restructuring, and has served as the Executive Vice President of DFCC Bank in charge of overall lending.
He was the former Chief Executive Officer of Lanka Ventures PLC and has served in Director positions in several companies representing Lanka Ventures PLC and DFCC Bank.
Mr. Ariyaratne is a Director of LAUGFS Holdings Limited, LAUGFS Gas PLC and several other LAUGFS' subsidiaries and also serves as the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of LAUGFS Gas PLC. He further serves on the Board of Finagle Lanka (Private) Limited.
A first-class honours Science graduate from University of Peradeniya, Mr. Ariyaratne has served as an active member of a number of prominent Chamber bodies and industry associations in Sri Lankan, including The National Chamber of Commerce and Venture Capital Association of Sri Lanka.
Mr. R. Selvaskandan is a seasoned Attorney- at-Law (Sri Lanka) and Solicitor (England & Wales and Hong Kong) and was a senior partner of a leading law firm in Hong Kong prior to joining the property sector of the C T Holdings Group.
Currently, he serves as the Chairman of C T Land Development PLC, Deputy Chairman of C T Properties Limited and a Partner of Varners, a Law firm based in Sri Lanka. He has more than 35 years of experience in legal practice and management in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
