125 year old Sunlight gets a revamp

By Shezna Shums

Sunlight, one of Sri Lanka’s best loved brands, takes on an entirely new and fresh look for the first time in its 125 year history.

To commemorate the re - launch Unilever Sri Lanka will be initiating the ‘Soorya Sathkaraya’ programme by conducting 125 community service projects around the Island this month (July) with Sunlight.

Asanga Ranasinghe, Director Marketing - Unilever Sri Lanka says that Unilever is looking at bringing out newer and different products such as detergent liquids in the future.

Unilever Sri Lanka is also setting up a 25 acre production factory which will cost over Rs 5 million in Horana where their flagship brand of soap will be produced.

In their moves to re launch, their Sunlight products will also see newer and better changes to meet the needs of the customers of today.

95 percent of the Products of Unilever are made locally; the company has 27 brands and are market leaders in all 11 categories they operate in.

The company is also looking at bringing new technologies to the country to improve their production for the local market as well as for the export market, in tune with the country’s vision of development.

Senior Brand Manager – Sunlight, Shanika Jayawardena stated that this is the first time that a programme of this scale in being undertaken by the company-My Sunlight has now become new, where orange, lemon, jasmine and lime fragrance soaps will be in the market.

Marketing Manager - Home Care - Makshoodh Meerasaibu explained that with the 125 projects to be started this July the company hopes to enhance the lives of some of their customers, nine projects have already been completed, while 11 are being implemented and the rest will be started this month as well he explained.

“In our biggest re launch we want to know what the brand can do for its customers,” he stated.

Head of Activations Channa Tennakoon noted that the projects were selected according to the requirements of the communities and that the company is open to any new suggestions.

Previously Unilever saw soap bars constitute 80 percent of their production and 20 percent in powder form however with changing lifestyles the company now sees 50-50 percent of soap bars and soap powder in production. “We are being a dual user ship,” he noted. “This re launch is an opportunity for Sunlight to re affirm its commitment towards providing for our consumers needs in numerous ways,” stated Asanga Ranasinghe, Director of Marketing - Unilever Sri Lanka. “We see the milestone in our 125 year history as yet another way for us to give back to our customers who have been an integral part of our journey and want to celebrate this re launch with the ‘Soorya Satharaya’ initiative.

Sunlight is the number one laundry soap with a record several bars of soap sold every second.

This year’s re launch is the most significant since the brands arrival in Sri Lanka and symbolises Unilever Sri Lanka continued commitment towards ensuring that their customers’ needs are met.

The ‘Soorya Sathkaraya’ initiative will see the beloved brand accomplish 125 projects in just one month as a testament of its commitment to its customers and communities.

“Sunlight has become more than just a brand of soap thanks to our customers and we see no better way to celebrate the re launch than to give back to them,’ Shanika Jayawardana, Senior Brand Manager for Sunlight at Unilever Sri Lanka.

“We want to ensure Sunlight continues to be the number one choice for their everyday laundry needs.”

Over the years Sunlight has always maintained close ties with its customers, renowned for carrying a range of projects to aid Sri Lankans, be it providing financial independence to over 300 women in rural areas, giving scholarships to future leaders through the Sunlight ‘Saubhagya’ initiative, or constructing wells in drought stricken areas.

In its journey towards the next 125 years Sunlight and the ‘Soorya Satharaka’ programme will continue to maintain its commitment to its loyal customers across the Island.