Plantation industry pioneer H.L. de Mel & Company celebrates 150th anniversary

H.L. de Mel & Company Ltd. on 4 January marked its historic 150th anniversary having been founded in 1870. 

The company’s management, staff, lawyers, auditors, coconut brokers and former tenants attended the anniversary celebrations held at the 8 Degrees on the Lake, Cinnamon Lakeside.

Jacob de Mel established H.L. de Mel and Company in 1870 to manage his extensive plantations, properties, and other allied operations. His son Sir Henry Lawson de Mel succeeded him and the family company is named after him. The firm has been geared towards public service since its inception and continues today to be run by the fourth and fifth generations. 

The firm’s headquarters are at De Mel Building, Chatham Street, Fort, Colombo-1. The building at the time was the tallest in Colombo and was built by Sir Henry (as he was known then), the grandfather of Chairman Hema de Mel and Managing Director Romesh de Mel.  

Managing Director Romesh de Mel

The De Mel building is recognised as a historic and valuable heritage building in Colombo by the Urban Development Authority. 

Presently, H.L. de Mel & Company manages the family-owned plantations that are 750 acres in extent comprising mainly coconut in Melsiripura in the Kurunegala district and Chilaw in the Puttalam district. The plantations host other crops such as paddy, bananas, mango, cashew, jack fruit, cinnamon and pepper in addition variety of timber trees and medicinal plants. 

H.L. de Mel & Company going forward has a strong vision for future of the plantation industry in Sri Lanka. They strive to be the number one plantation company in Sri Lanka while maintaining a workforce that is content and happy. It is the company’s mission to make their estate the best in the country as well as to make De Mel Building at Chatham Street a landmark in Sri Lanka.