Under his leadership and vision, Polycrome pioneered many electrical products in Sri Lanka such as the revolutionary long-lasting switch and socket mounting box that replaced the traditional wooden box, the white ceiling rose, MCB enclosures and white cable management systems.
Polycrome continues to spearhead high quality ‘‘Made in Sri Lanka” products to become the pride of Sri Lankans.
An excerpt from a recent interview with the Founder,
Chairman and Managing Director of Polycrome Holdings Group Mr. D.W. Paranavithana
Q: Can you share an overview of your organisation’s mission in the Sri Lankan marketplace?
A: The vision of the Polycrome Holdings Group is to light the future by fulfilling the electrical needs of consumers. It has established a formidable reputation for quality and safety of electrical products during its four decades of operation in Sri Lanka. The Group is formed of subsidiaries Polycrome Electrical Industries, Polycrome Cable Management Systems and Polycrome Lighting.
Polycrome’s mission began with a practical question from its Founder, Chairman and Managing Director Mr D.W. Paranavithana: “Why can’t we make that here in Sri Lanka?” Under his leadership and vision, Polycrome pioneered many electrical products in Sri Lanka such as the revolutionary long-lasting switch and socket mounting box that replaced the traditional wooden box, the white ceiling rose, MCB enclosures and white cable management systems. Polycrome continues to spearhead high quality “Made in Sri Lanka” products to become the pride of Sri Lankans.
The Group is committed to minimise its environmental impact through the utilisation of superior raw materials and providing efficient and long lasting products.While continuously improving sustainability of operations it also influences the end-to-end value chain to protect their communities and the planet.
Q: What is Polycrome Holdings Group’s value proposition?
A: Polycrome has been responsible for introducing new products and concepts to the electrical industry and strives to meet evolving customer requirements. The Research and Development team led by Mr D.W. Paranavithana ensures innovation and that product development is in line with the needs of the end user and this has been imperative to the Company’s success over the decades. Polycrome will continue to identify gaps in the market and respond to feedbacks from opinion leaders.
Another vision cherished by Mr D.W. Paranavithana was to embed a quality culture into the core value system of the Company. Polycrome believes in offering high-quality products that are safe and reliable to the Sri Lankan market. It also educates end users to help mitigate the risks, sometimes life threatening, associated with inferior quality electrical products at lower price points.This “quiet quest for quality” has earned the trust of opinion leaders and consumers for over four decades.
Polycrome values operating to local and international standards to ensure consistent customer satisfaction. The Group operates to applicable ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) standards and engage with regulating bodies such as the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), to ensure relevant certifications are obtained and conformity standards are met for products and processes. Polycrome as the pioneer in meeting these quality standards also continues to work with the SLSI to further introduce and improve quality standards, which advertently raises the industry’s quality standards and benefits the end users.
Co-founder and Director of Commerce Mrs D.S.D. Paranavithana is a graduate holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree and spent her early career as a Commerce teacher.She has instilled an important value within the Polycrome team; discipline, and believes this is the essence for the team working together through dignity and respect to overcome challenges.
Mrs Paranavithana highlights that alongside quality products, Polycrome has also earned the trust of an islandwide sales network. Her relentless focus on developing and maintaining relationships with the sales network for over four decades have enabled a tailored service to their requirements.The Company is further augmenting the customer experience and value by investing in digital systems through 2021 & 2022.
Q: How does your
organisation contribute towards uplifting the
Sri Lankan economy?
A: The Group’s product portfolio has expanded significantly throughout the last four decades to encompass a comprehensive electrical product range targeting local and international markets. When using Polycrome products customers save time, labour, money and most importantly mitigate safety risks associated with using inferior quality electrical products.
Products of this quality and stature would otherwise have to be imported and Polycrome ensures that the Sri Lankan economy can enjoy the benefit of retaining local talent and currency by being a reliable manufacturer that has the capability to meet local demand.
The Company is also proud to further contribute to the economy by offering employment to a strong loyal team of almost 300 Sri Lankans. They are proudly associated with a pioneering Sri Lankan company with quality at the heart of everything.The Polycrome family is from diverse walks of life that collectively deliver value to all stakeholders by driving towards our vision.
The Company follows a self-imposed environmental sustainability commitment and have removed all possible single-use plastics from its packaging and continue to explore further opportunities to drive towards saving the environment. The Company also has a manufacturing plant generating clean solar power in line with its carbon-neutral manifesto to provide clean energy to the national grid.
Polycrome also believes in investing in its local communities. From donations to the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, lighting of religious places to helping our team’s families during difficult times, Polycrome continuously steer towards being a responsible corporate citizen.
Q: What is the succession plan that is in place for Polycrome Holdings
Group?
A: The Company has a strong succession plan in place. The Group’s Board of Directors comprise the second generation that work hand-in-glove with the Chairman and Managing Director, D.W. Paranavithana and Director of Commerce, Mrs D.S.D Paranavithana. They are fully engaged with the Company’s senior leadership team and are committed to the strategy and core values of Polycrome. Both the Operations Director and the Director of Finance are high-calibre professionals and achieved successful careers on their own merit at FTSE 100 companies prior to joining Polycrome.