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THE DEMISE OF THE MANAGING AGENT – IS IT A PARADIGM SHIFT?-by HUGH KARUNANAYAKE Source:Island The commercial sector in Sri Lanka, long regarded as the engine that pushed economic growth in the island, was almost up to the end of the last century dominated by agency houses, a relic of colonial days. When the country then known as Ceylon was flourishing within a global economy dominated by US and British interests up to the middle of the twentieth century, its plantation driven economy was managed largely by agency houses. Companies like George Steuarts, Carson Cumberbatch, Whittalls, Gordon Frazer, Bosanquet and Skrine ( subsequently merged with Whittals), Hayleys, Mackwoods, Leechmans, and others were managing agents acting on behalf of plantation companies or proprietary planters in managing and operating estates. Income from the plantation sector dominated the national budget. With the granting of independence to the erstwhile colony, and the gradual withdrawal ...

Feb 20, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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THE DEMISE OF THE MANAGING AGENT – IS IT A PARADIGM SHIFT ? – By HUGH KARUNANAYAKE The commercial sector in Sri Lanka, long regarded as the engine that pushed economic growth in the island, was almost up to the end of the last century dominated by agency houses, a relic of colonial days. When the country then known as Ceylon was flourishing within a global economy dominated by US and British interests up to the middle of the twentieth century,  its plantation driven economy was managed largely by agency houses. Companies like George Steuarts, Carson Cumberbatch, Whittall s, Gordon Frazer, Bosanquet and Skrine( subsequently merged with Whittals), Hayleys,Mackwoods, Leechmans, and others  were managing agents acting on behalf of plantation companies or proprietary planters  in managing and operating   estates. Income from the plantation sector dominated the national budget. With the granting of independence to the erstwhile colony, and the gradual ...

Feb 16, 2024 Posted by In Articles, Hugh Karunanayake Tagged , , , , ,
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“PLANTERS PERSONIFIED” – by Des Kelly   From way back when, it was understood, that, to be a Planter in Ceylon was indeed, top lucrative employment in what was always classified as  a “classy” job. I have to say that I really do not know too much about “Coffee Planters”, but did have an Uncle (God rest his soul), who was the Superintendant on a Tea plantation in Warakapola, who lived like a king, in a beautiful, large home, complete with many “Domestic-aids”, at beck and call. As part of the family, we did spend some holidays with him, my Aunt, and a couple or three Cousins, and I could not help but notice the daily routine of this Planter-personified. His day would start very early each morning, as he would “attend” his plantation which consisted of many acres of lush green tea plants, already being looked after by mostly ...

May 2, 2022 Posted by In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged , , , , ,
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GENTLEMAN PLANTER PAR EXCELLENCE The curtain came down on the Life of Wickrema De Alwis on 20th October at four score and seven, leaving  friends and family to reflect on the qualities of a man that made him not just one of the finest Tea Planters the Industry had known but also a true Gentleman in every sense of the word.  My association with Wick as he was fondly known goes back to the mid seventies when as a young Executive at George Steuarts, then renowned for managing Plantations , I was assigned the awesome task of handling the desk of the Company’s most prestigious  charge viz ‘ The Standard Tea Company ” which comprised of six remarkable Estates , three in Uda Pussellawa and the balance in  Bogawantalawa / Lindula. Wick was Superintendent of one of them, viz  Kotiyagala Group in Bogawantalawa, a highly profitable property  with a popular ...

Oct 23, 2018 Posted by In Articles Tagged , Comments 0
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