Somapala & Company marks 65-year journey

21 December 2015 05:29 am

With its humble beginnings in Matara going as far back as 1950, Somapala & Company commenced a journey in the importation and distribution of motor spare parts from the UK and Germany to cater to the transportation sector. Its founding Chairman the late Somapala Kodituwakku saw a need in the road transportation sector and with his visionary thinking supplied spare parts to large fleet owners in the goods transportation sector, the plantation companies that were managed by large colonial companies, the agriculture sector and even to the passenger transportation companies. This ensured that these sub sectors functioned smoothly to bring about economic progress and prosperity in the country in the immediate post-independence era and beyond. 
The company quickly branched out to Colombo to offer its large clientele a better service and established its presence in Panchikawatte, Maradana. In fact, Somapala and Company was one of the first companies in the motor spares industry to set up shop here which is now commonly known as the motor spare parts district in the country. Today the company has widened its product portfolio and continues to import and distribute automobile spare parts to the ever growing vehicle market. The company is also the sole distributor for many brands and feeds all districts and towns with its product range.
Today the company is managed by the son, Kamal Kodituwakku, who has expanded its business portfolio to two other large industries namely Kamal Cables (Pvt.) Ltd and Kamal PVC Industries (Pvt.) Ltd, holding extremely respectable positions in both the domestic and institutional markets in the country.
This is also a classic example of how a family business has kept its traditions over three generations in taking forward the entrepreneurial skills and advancing and expanding into sectors that support the national economy. Today, the Kodituwakku family continues to manage this business empire with the granddaughter Shaniya Kodituwakku overlooking and managing Somapala & Co (Pvt.) Ltd.
The 65th anniversary was celebrated with a staff get-together at Berjaya Hotel, Mount Lavinia with a workshop on team work and leadership and recognizing longstanding employees for their service and loyalty towards 
the company.