01. What are your company’s key strengths – and weaknesses, if any?
A defining strength of Mackwoods lies in its 167 year old heritage which reflects stability, integrity and resilience in the face of adversity, underpinned by a consistent strategy of selective diversification within our domain areas of expertise, our continuous drive towards expansion of international trade, and pursuit of value creation and innovation-led growth, thereby ensuring our long term sustainability...

Agalawatte Plantations PLC (APL), the Mackwoods Group Plantation company has recorded a turnover of Rs. 1.88 billion and a net profit of Rs. 165.3 million in 2007, both of which are the highest in its history.

Commenting on the results, Chairman of Agalawatte Plantations, and Chairman of the Mackwoods Group, Dr. Chris Nonis, said this profit, which translates to a record EPS of 6.6 and an increase of 88% on last year, is commendable, considering the unexpected wage increase granted to the workers in November 2007, the escalation of input costs and the negative impact of the previous year's strike.

Agalawatte Plantations PLC (APL),  a subsidiary of the Mackwoods Group Plantation company has recorded a turnover of Rs.1.88 Billion and a net profit of Rs. 165.3 Million in 2007.Agalawatte Plantations Chairman and also Chairman of the Mackwoods Group, Dr. Chris Nonis  said that this profit, which translates to a record EPS of Rs 6.6 and an increase of 88% on last year, is commendable.

A Mackwoods Fine Tea Shop was opened to add to our existing Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre. Our Single Estate Fine Ceylon teas are now showcased in the Export Development Board display and sales centre at the Departure Terminal of the BIA, Katunayake. This new Export initiative was opened in February 2008 by Prof. G.L. Pieris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade.

We remember with utmost gratitude, the invaluable contribution made to the Plantation Industry by our former Chairperson, the Late Mrs. Sriyani Nonis. She had the unique distinction of being the only Sri Lankan female to head a Plantation Company and her vision was for APL to be the benchmark among Plantation Companies. She cared deeply for the community and always maintained a strong commitment to the Social Development and Welfare of the Plantation community.

As a tribute to the substantial contribution made by the late Mrs. Nonis in social development and upliftment of the estate community, and in concert with her passion for excellence, “The Sriyani Nonis   Challenge Trophies” were presented to those who achieved excellence during the year.  The first such award was for Social and Community Programmes in the plantations, whilst the other two were for the Best Performance in the Rubber and Tea Sectors.

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, with Dr. Chris Nonis, Chairman Mackwoods Group of Companies.

At the prime age of 43 years Dharmasena bade goodbye to his beautiful wife Sheela, three young children and his wide circle of relatives and friends. His untimely death came as a great shock to everybody. His demise was due to a severe heart-attack. He was unaware of being a victim of a heart condition that gathered momentum and led to his sudden death on December 21, 1974, at Yala.

A majority of the trainees from the sewing centre on Frotoft estate have been successful in finding  employment and further batches were trained in 2006. 

Awareness programmes on dengue, chickungunya, oral cancer,  tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases have been conducted on all estates.

Training programmes for capacity building of employees at all levels of were conducted with the assistance of the Rubber Research Institute.  Tea Research Institute, the Planters’ Association and the National Institute of Plantation Management.

It was a noel experience for both local and foreign visitors who were present at Labookelle Estate in Nuwara Eliya recently when the estate organized a tea plucking competition. For the foreign tourists, expecially those from the United Kingdom, it was a brew they had enjoyed for generations but had never had the opportunity to see how it was produced. But on that day they saw it all, from the moment the raw green leaves were plucked from the bush to the stage when if finally came to your home in the form of golden brown tea leaves ready for that invigorating brew...

Agalawatte Plantations is planning to set up a crude palm oil processing plant at the company’s Mohamedi estate in Kalutara district together with Elpitiya and Namunukula plantations.

It is also looking at expanding its leisure sector portfolio in an aggressive diversification drive. Dr. Chris Nonis, Chairman, Agalawatte Plantations – reporting the company’s highest turnover to date with Rs.1.129 billion for 2005, three percent above 2004 in the latest annual report -- said that construction work of the plant will be commissioned by mid 2006.

Five ambulances were provide by the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) of Nuwara Eliya for the benefit of estate workers recently. Pictured here is Mackwoods Chairman, Dr. Chris Nonis presenting the keys of an ambulance to Lal Perera, Deputy General Manager, Labookelle Plantations.

Agalawatte Plantations Ltd. (APL) has completed its programme of planting 1,000 hectares with oil palm and has begun harvesting the crop with a palm oil mill expected to be commissioned later this year.

The company's chairperson N.S.O. Nonis has told shareholders that rubber and tea prices are expected to remain strong owing to improved and steady demand.

Agalawatte Plantations went in for a three crop plantation with oil palm being an alternative crop to reduce its reliance on tea and rubber whose fortunes have fluctuated over the years. The company recorded a profit before tax of Rs. 50 million for the year 2004 compared to Rs. 52 million the year before.

Ceylon, as such, ceased to exist in 1972, when the name of the country as changed to Sri Lanka, but ”Ceylon” tea persists as the embodiment of one of the worlds’s finest beverages, and indelibly associated in international circles with Ceylon tea is the name Mackwoods. Cercle Diplomatique et Economique International looked into the reason for this long-standing link and found the answer in a interview with Mrs. Sriyani Nonis, Chairperson of Mackwoods.

Almost 350 years after tea was first sold in England (i.e. in 1657) an elite gathering was hosted to an event - the first of it's kind where those present went through the motions of fine tea tasting and opera, in exclusive venues in London in June 2002. Along with this unique event was live Opera on hand to entertain the guests on a warm summer afternoon - and the whole exercise turned out to be an outright success with encores for more.

Unique is how one could describe such an event - for after all, when have we even heard of fine tea tasting and an opera going hand in hand? But this is exactly what happened when Sri Lanka's second oldest company - Mackwoods Ltd.

Nestled amidst the picturesque bills along the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya lies the charming Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre. Natasha Akolawala dropped in to try a ‘cuppa’.

Surrounded by lush green tea plantations on the Kandy/Nuwara Eliya route, nestling amidst the Central Hills is the warm and welcome sight for many a traveller; the, "Mackwoods Labookellie" tea centre.

Over the Years the "Mackwoods Labookellie" tea Centre has refresh and rejuvenated thousands of people young and old from across the globe, with its freshly brewed "cuppa" and its hallmark mouthwatering chocolate cake.

Sriyani Nonis, Chairperson Mackwoods Group of Companies, speaks of their role in the Plantatons sector in an interview with "Business Toady"