Heritage of trust from A.T. Cooray

Renowned furniture manufacturer A.T. Cooray Ltd. began its journey of designing and manufacturing high quality pieces of furniture almost 90 years ago when its founder A.T. Cooray who hailed from the southern parts of then Ceylon began trying his hand at carpentry. Intricately designed home furniture soon became his forte as he began to expand his workshop and hire other skilled artisans from the South. 

Over the years that followed, A.T. Cooray furnishers became known not only for its distinct designs but also for the high-quality of each piece of furniture it turned out. As news spread throughout the country about the bespoke furniture, A.T. Cooray soon found himself spreading his wares to Colombo, Kandy and Kegalle with new showrooms being opened in 1946.

Although the founder’s sudden demise in 1955 at the age of 49 was a setback, the second generation of the Cooray family was ready to take the mantle. In 1962, current Chairman P.T. Cooray began working at the Colombo showroom at the tender age of 18 in order to gather the knowledge and experience that he would need to lead the growing company in to a new age.

Having gained much knowledge about furniture and doing-business from his illustrious father P.T. Cooray had a goal of his own, to grow the family business in to the most sought after furniture manufacturer in the country. To this end he qualified himself in marketing and also took to travelling the world to study new trends in furniture manufacturing. His travels took him often to Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden. As a result of his travels, P.T. Cooray in 1970 brought down some of the most sophisticated furniture manufacturing techniques of the times to Sri Lanka.

It was during this time that the company also ventured in to the office furniture segment. In order to capture the massive boom that was taking place after the liberalisation of the economy in 1977, A.T. Cooray Ltd. began designing and manufacturing office furniture. Keeping to the same quality standards that had been passed on for generations, the new office furniture range caught the eye of discerning customers who had for years trusted A.T. Cooray with their home furnishings and interiors, thereby opening doors in to the corporate sector. One of the most ambitious and notable projects handled by the manufacturer was when they were handpicked to supply all of the furniture requirements for the 250-roomed Lanka Oberoi (now Cinnamon Grand).

Commencing exports in 1975 to quality conscious Western nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom, a decade later A.T. Cooray Ltd. went on to set up a state-of-the-art production facility equipped with modern machinery and skilled employees to serve the growing demand. The German machinery and technology enabled the manufacturer to turn out precision and futuristic designs made to stringent quality standards. This has been the hallmark of the company to-date.

Today, recognised as the preferred choice for office furniture by many of the blue-chip companies and large conglomerates operating in the island, A.T. Cooray is also the fast becoming the go-to place for start-up ventures looking for value-for-money. The fact that the furnisher still operates out of one ultra-modern showroom in Colombo 3 is testimony to the emphasis they place on personalised service. Currently managed by the third generation of the Cooray family, the showroom invites customers to truly experience the office furniture of their choice before making that all important purchase.

Built on the ideals of exceptional quality, A.T. Cooray today stands for trust that has been passed down through generations of clientele. Both homes and offices of some of Sri Lanka’s most notable names are still adorned by furniture and interiors designed and manufactured by them. As the company steps close to its 90th year, it is now looking at broadening its horizons even further by tapping in to the young entrepreneur market that is flourishing, and catering to the growing demand for quality, elegant office furniture.

For more information on the extensive office furniture range, please visit the A.T. Cooray Ltd., showroom at 445, Galle Road, Colombo 3 for a firsthand experience.