CEAT Kelani Holdings has been adjudged the best-managed tyre manufacturing company in Sri Lanka and reaffirmed as one of the top 20 companies in the country for best management practices, by the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers (CPM) Sri Lanka.
The company received the Category Award in the ‘Tyre, Rubber, Metal & Wood Furniture’ sector at the 2025 edition of CPM’s ‘Best Management Practices Company Awards’ in addition to the Top 20 award presented at the awards gala. This is the second consecutive year that CEAT Kelani was recognised as one of the best managed companies in Sri Lanka.
The CPM awards honour the best practices in management in terms of leadership, policies and strategies, people management, partnerships & resources, processes and performance.
“Awards of this nature will encourage us to strive for even greater heights in management practices, adopting global best practices in aligning strategic direction with a people-centric approach,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Ravi Dadlani said. “We have already shattered the stereotype for large-scale manufacturing operations and are considered a case study for a successful privatisation of a state-owned enterprise, with unprecedented achievements in productivity, product development, deployment of new technology, research and development, market leadership, sustainability and good corporate citizenship.”
He said CEAT Kelani has transformed from an “inside-out” company to an “outside-in” organisation, placing customer and market centricity at the core of everything it does. This shift is reinforced through regular market visits by employees at all levels, including management, shop floor staff, and all business functions.
One of the highlights of the year assessed for the CPM awards was the launch of a comprehensive strategic marketing campaign aimed at enhancing brand premiumisation, increasing brand consideration and sales, focusing on leveraging CEAT car radials tyres’ positioning as German engineered tyres that deliver the most controlled and comfortable driving experience on Sri Lankan roads.
CEAT Kelani also significantly increased its support to Sri Lanka’s burgeoning vehicle assembly industry by developing high-performance Original Equipment (OEM) Tyres for a wide range of locally assembled vehicles, including cars, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, and commercial vehicles. This initiative boosts competitiveness, creates jobs, and fosters economic growth. Through OEM projects, CEAT enhances its manufacturing capabilities, aligns with global quality standards, and tailors products to meet local needs.
The launch of the ‘CEAT Europe’ Ultra High Performance (UHP) premium car radials for high-end European and Japanese cars and SUVs was another milestone event of 2024. Targeting top-tier elite customers who demand superior performance, the range features six distinct tread patterns, each designed to cater to specific driving needs and enhance overall performance.
Additionally, CEAT Kelani Holdings (CKH) retained its ‘AA+(lka)/Outlook Stable’ National Long-Term rating from Fitch Ratings in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. The rating reflects CEAT’s strong position in the domestic tyre industry and financial resilience. Fitch’s ‘Stable Outlook’ rating also indicates CEAT Kelani’s ability to retain market share despite rising competition from imported tyres and to maintain solid credit metrics, even during intensive investment periods.
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 alone exceeds Rs 8.5 billion.
