Single largest cluster of Lanka Sathosa outlets goes live ahead of 2017 April season

Thursday, 30 March 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena, having launched the new Lanka Sathosa store in Kohuwela, shares a light moment with Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (second from left) and Lanka Sathosa Chairman T.M.K.B. Tennakoon (third from left) on 28 March

The expansion of a Sri Lankan convenience store brand with the largest number of new outlets to go live across the country in a short time span was witnessed on 28 March in Kohuwela.

Fifty-two new Lanka Sathosa outlets will open across Sri Lanka in the coming days, pursuant to the unveiling of the new Kohuwela branch of the Lanka Sathosa store by President Maithripala Sirisena on 28 March. The unveiling of the new Kohuwela Lanka Sathosa was also the go-ahead signal by President Sirisena to launch another 52 such branches across the country by 4 April. The other 52 branches are scheduled to be launched by socio-political figures in the region.

Joining the President at the occasion was Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, under whom Lanka Sathosa operates, National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan, UNP MP S.M. Marikkar, State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A.H.M. Fowzie and Lanka Sathosa Chairman T.M.K.B. Tennakoon.

President Sirisena simultaneously unveiled the National Consumer Week culminating on 4 April, the date when the other 52 new branches of Lanka Sathosa are scheduled to open and start functioning, to seize the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season’s build-up in demand.

The other 52 branches are in Akkraipattu, Ampara (second branch), Anuradhapura (third branch), Attidiya, Marawankumbuka, Dambulla, Dehiwela, Devinuwarra, Eheliyagoda, Ethiliwewa, Galewela, Gonagaldeniya, Habarana, Hanguranketha, Kahatagasdigiliya, Kahawatte, Kalmunai, Karawanella, Kathankudi, Katuwana, Kitulgala, Kokkadicholai, Kuruwita, Madapatha, Madawala, Marudhamunai, Matale, Polgasowita (Mattegoda), Middeniya, Molagoda, Moneragala (second and third branches), Mulleriyawa, Nathpitimunei, Nawagamuwa, Nildandahinna, Nintavur, Paddirippu, Pelwatte, Pitabeddra, Polwaga Kolani, Potuvil, Thunkama, Udawalawa, Vanathavilluwa, Veeraketiya, Wellawaya (third branch), Yakkala, Yatiyana, Kelaniya and Balangoda.

The total number of Lanka Sathosa outlets planned is 500 and by end of this year Minister Bathiudeen plans to activate all 500. Once the 500 outlets are completed by the end of 2017, Lanka Sathosa outlet network expansion will stop and the establishment of 8,000 new Lanka Sathosa retail franchises using existing SME grocery shops and retailers is scheduled to start. The Kohuwela branch opened on 28 March becomes the 328th in the network.

Lanka Sathosa reports an annual network turnover of Rs. 30 billion. Among other important projects in its restructuring under the consultancy of KPMG Sri Lanka are the installation of new CCTV systems, the setting up of five laboratories and the installation of a Human Resource Information System to manage its 3,500-employee squad island-wide.