Enterprise: Ceylon Sergo Exports (Pvt) Ltd

Founders: Ramesh Dunuwille & Yasoja Mediwake          

Industry: Agriculture/ Farmers, Processors & Exporters

Year it was founded: 2016

Location: Kandy

Husband and wife duo, Ramesh Dunuwille & Yasoja Mediwake both come from landed families of Sri Lanka. They decided to reimagine their ancestral land by growing and exporting high quality organic produce. The result is a flourishing business that also benefits the local farmers. Read more about their business journey.

Tell us how Ceylon Sergo Exports (Pvt) Ltd came into being?

Ceylon Sergo Exports (Pvt) Ltd is a grower and exporter of organic agricultural produce from Sri Lanka. We export our own produce as well, and have created a platform for the community farmers to offer their produce to the world while making a livelihood.

Our journey into Organic Food Export began when we chose to utilise the resources we had from our routine jobs. We both being descendants from agricultural based families, we had our own ancestral lands which were organically grown but underutilised. These lands were within our families for centuries and can be traced back to the era when Kings were ruling Sri Lanka. History reveals that these lands are being given by Kings as grants to their faithful noble officers and thereafter passed on to their descendants. 

The soil of these lands is not chemically treated and the trees are grown in an environmentally friendly manner, keeping the natural habitats untouched. Most of the trees can be traced back to over half a century. We decided to utilise the experience we both had gained by working in the organic food export industry to get a better market for our products while creating a platform for the community farmers to get a better livelihood. 

How does your business differentiate itself in the industry?

We distinguish our products as certified organic, and always maintain quality standards. We give special care to our shipments and maintain strong customer relationships.

What are some of the challenges you face?

Currently we face difficulties due to the energy crisis, high raw material, packing material and transport costs which make Sri Lankan products not highly competitive in the world market.

What is the next big thing on your business agenda?

To become one of the most trusted supplier of organic agricultural produce in the Asian region.

How has Commercial Bank helped your business?
Our perseverance and strategic planning has been supported by the strong customer relationships, and financial backup given by the bank. The friendly service and the financial support provided at the required instances is one of our biggest strengths, which has helped us in expanding our business.

What has been your success mantra in business?

When doing a business we need a clear vision, very good concentration and self-discipline. Running your own business comes with freedom as well as a lot of stress at times. When we face a very big challenge we take time off and properly analyse what is the real cause of it, and the most effective corrective measure we can take at that point of time. Sometimes we do need to take corrective action which comes with a heavy cost at times but might have a positive outcome for the future. We always look at the future of our business, rather than just the present.

And lastly, advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?

Before entering into the business do a thorough market research and do a proper SWOT analysis. Take your own time to learn inside out of the industry you are planning to enter into. Start in a capacity you can financially afford. Dream big and walk in the path which makes your dream a reality. Always be vigilant of market trends and take necessary actions at the required time without delay. The best books I can recommend are the autobiographies of successful entrepreneurs. One of our favourite entrepreneurs is Jeffrey Bezos.

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