Indra's Trust and Integrity

A man of big thoughts but few words, Indra Silva is the unassuming business doyen many would like to learn from

- Jennifer Paldano Goonewardane.

The colossus behind Indra Traders Private Limited, a company that started selling vehicles in 1974, Indra Silva, has quoted success and not controversy in his nearly fifty years in business. When one would expect him to embrace the spotlight that comes with the prominent territory of businesspeople, he consciously shies away, investing more energy in prudently managing and expanding his business into other domains through astute decision-making. Indra Silva is also a humanitarian who reveals the man of action rather than words, quietly reaching out to those in need, his benevolence not on public display. Some of his most recent outreach programs include being a founder donor of the newly built cancer unit of the Kandy General Hospital. When the health apparatus was crumbling under COVID-19 pressure, he made a dedicated ward for COVID-19 patients at the Kandy General Hospital and provided intensive care beds to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. From distributing water purification systems to people in the north-central province challenged by access to safe water, rebuilding communities devastated by natural disasters, and rising to serve when called to, Indra Silva embraces a low-key approach to social service. A father of five, as he reaps the fruits of his hard work, he steps back to allow his children to navigate the business subsidiaries. Speaking to Business Today, Indra Silva reminisced about his business journey built on honesty. His sons, Rushanka and Hashindra, told of their roles in an expanded business where their father’s core values guide them and their siblings to continue his legacy of trust.

How did you start Indra Traders during a difficult time in the country and grow?