Ocean Lanka, pioneering fabric provider to apparel industry commemorates 20 years of success

Ocean Lanka Managing Director Dr. Austin Au flanked by the 13 employees, felicitated for completing 20 years of outstanding service to mark the 20th Anniversary 

commemoration of Ocean Lanka

Ocean Lanka which commenced its operations in 1996, celebrated 20 years of service in the clothing industry on 27 December 2016. The celebration was held at the Hilton Colombo, where several employees who completed 20 years of service were also felicitated.

Expressing his views on the growth of Ocean Lanka over the two decades, Ocean Lanka Managing Director Dr. Austin Au said, “20 years ago we started with only 150 employees and our initial production was at 150,000 kilos of fabric a month. Today we have more than 1,900 employees and our production capacity has escalated up to a little over million kilos of fabric a month. And I’m happy to say that we have contributed Rs. 25 billion ($ 172 million) to the country’s economy within the last five years. Over the last three years we have invested more than $ 10 million in plant, machinery and expansions. Currently we serve some of the biggest designer brands in the world including Victoria’s Secret, Marks & Spencer, Adidas, Nike and Gap. We are truly elated by Ocean Lanka’s long journey of success and the growth the company and its employees have achieved over the two decades.” 

Ocean Lanka is one of the leading weft-knit fabric providers in the country overseeing all four phases of fabric production from knitting to dyeing, printing and finishing. Innovation, optimal customer service, sustainable human resource development as well as discovering and contributing to new market segments have led to the company’s significant growth from its humble beginnings 20 years ago. To reward the employees who overcame every obstacle and shared every triumph, Ocean Lanka felicitated 13 of its employees who served the company for two long decades. 

The 20th anniversary celebration of Ocean Lanka was held at the Hilton Colombo with the participation of the staff of Ocean Lanka. Coinciding with Christmas celebrations, the ceremony was complemented with a sumptuous array of palatable cuisine and beverages. The ceremony was rejuvenated with an exhilarating performance by Naadro, producing electrifying rhythms and thumping ensemble of a delightful percussions. The popular band Black provided enchanting music and the groovy vibes was further heightened by local singing sensation ‘La Signore’ – Lahiru Perera. 

After passing the 20th milestone, Ocean Lanka plans to increase its fabric production to cater to the demands of the European fashion brands, and reap benefits as Sri Lanka regains GSP+ facility. The company also aims for cost reduction while maintaining optimal quality through process reengineering and streamlining waste management. Moreover, Ocean Lanka has joined the global foundation program called ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) and aims to reach the target of zero chemical emission by 2020, creating a holistic eco-friendly production zone, while contributing actively to the economy of the nation.