Understanding Sri Lanka’s recycling and boating industry potential

WHAT we term commercial enterprises are nothing but a reflection of human perspectives of the society around them, transformed into revenue-making ventures.

- By Surya VisHWA

A business endeavour can produce or exploit, and it can add to the pollution of an already fatigued planet. Or it can take what is a problem and seek to make amends, aspiring towards fairness and restoration. It can expand the limits of human resources and change the stagnant thinking that generally governs the psyche of countries branded as ‘third world’ or ‘still developing’.

Against this backdrop, we are today going to gain some insights into the rubber recycling industry as well as ship/boat/ yacht making in Sri Lanka. The purpose is to delve into the entrepreneurial and policy vicissitudes that these industries can open for a nation still struggling for industrial identity.

This is an interview with Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa, a pioneer in creating an industry out of sustainability. He founded the Kalhari Group, exporting rubber scraps and recycled rubber-based products.

He is also a veteran in the boat and shipbuilding industry, serving as the Group Managing Director of the Sea Leisure Yachting Group, including Sail Lanka Charter. Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa serves as the President of the National Chamber of Exporters and Chairman of the Chamber of Marine Industries. This discussion was held in the aftermath of the 9th Boat and Marine Show in Sri Lanka, held from 30 January to 1 February at Port City, Colombo.

We will begin this interview by prioritising sustainability in reference to oceans.

Q: It is estimated that around 32,000 to 33,000 tonnes of plastic waste, including rubber, enters the oceans of the world every single day. Were you influenced by this factor when you started exporting recyclable scraps of rubber waste from tyres?