LTL: Transforming a nation’s sighs and struggles of Ditwah to hope

A great Mission of Light beyond the boundaries of business!

“Although the nature of our business, it may seem that we keep a bit of a distance from the people, but in reality, we are connected with them at every moment quietly yet continuously.”

 “While foreign companies were walking away from their projects, we decided to complete this one using the strength of our own local engineers. We invested the dollars we earned from our exports into it. From a purely commercial perspective, it was not the best choice.”

In the wake of Cyclone ‘Ditwah,’ which left a trail of uprooted hopes and mud-smeared dreams, LTL Holdings has pivoted from energy production to human preservation. By prioritising the welfare of their brethren over corporate profitability, the company has transformed its technical infrastructure into a massive relief engine, illuminating the path to recovery for thousands of families across Sri Lanka.  

The nature in a furious mood, clawed relentlessly and gripped the soil of Sri Lanka in the form of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ coupled with torrential rains.

Amidst the grinding roar of the storm and lightning, trees were torn and uprooted from their roots and fell, thus washed away the hopes of helpless people for tomorrow.

When the storm finally abated, all that remained were empty hands trapped by the blows and dreams smeared with mud. 

Yet, humanity is stronger than any storm!. Demonstrating this to the world, LTL Holdings stepped forward to wipe away the tears of their brethren of homeland amidst the national disaster, setting aside any desire for higher corporate profitability. 

 For many, LTL Holdings may appear to be merely a giant in the energy sector. However, according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Nuhuman Marikkar, the relationship between LTL and the people of the country is inseparable and should remain alive right round the clock.

According to him “although the nature of our business, it may seem that we keep a bit of a distance from the people, but in reality, we are connected with them at every moment quietly yet continuously.  

The electricity which reaches their homes flows through transformers manufactured by us. The electricity generated at our power plants too illuminates their lives. The Electricity brings development to both the country and its people, and we are part of that process. We take humble pride in this silent yet enduring relationship,”.

The true strength of LTL Holdings came to the fore during the severe economic crisis that Sri Lanka faced in 2022 due to Covid 19 Pandemic. 

At a time when foreign investors abandoned projects and exited the country, LTL shouldered the responsibility of meeting the nation’s energy needs. The Sobadhanavi power plant stands as living proof of this commitment.

Mr Marikkar further stated with pride that “At that time, the country had no adequate dollars and borrowings in USD was difficult. While foreign companies were walking away from their projects, we decided to complete this one using the strength of our own local engineers. We invested the dollars we earned from our exports into it. 

From a purely commercial perspective, it was not the best choice, but adding 350 megawatts to the national grid and helping to meet the country’s energy demand gave us immense satisfaction. We firmly believe that if a foreign company had undertaken the Sobadhanavi project, it might not have been completed even today,” 

Today, LTL is no longer confined its business network activities to Sri Lanka alone, but extends across several countries including India, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Singapore. Power plant projects in these countries are being managed by Sri Lankan engineers. 

At a time when a significant proportion of local engineers leave the country immediately after graduation, LTL provides them with international exposure, strengthens their income opportunities and ensures that the nation’s intellectual human capital continues to benefit mother land, Sri Lanka.

Just as in its business operations, the relief mission launched by LTL in response to the “Ditwah disaster” was carried out in an exceptionally organised manner. Its most distinctive feature was for ensuring the right assistance reaching the right people.

More than 20,000 dry ration packs, each sufficient for about a week for an average family, worth approximately Rs. 7,500, per pack were distributed across the affected areas, such as  villages in the areas of Hettipola, Kurunegala, Wattala, Badulla, Kandy and Seruwila, where the need for dry food was considered necessary. 

“We did not carry out this mission alone. Leading mainstream media institutions, voluntary organisations and a large number of dedicated volunteers rallied around us. It was because of their contribution that we were able to ensure this relief truly reached the most vulnerable communities,” Mr Marikkar recalled with gratitude.

Providing food alone is not enough to help disaster victims to stand on their feet again. Recognizing this, LTL Holdings launched a second phase in which thousands of household equipment kits were distributed to people in areas such as Badulla, Mahiyanganaya, Biyagama and Wilgamuwa. 

In addition to mattresses, pillows and bed linen, rice cookers, gas cookers and electric kettles were provided, with the intention of enabling families to resume their normal domestic routine as quickly as possible.

All 450 employees of LTL set aside their regular duties and committed themselves wholeheartedly for this mission. Mr Marikkar expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the employees for this worthy cause. The company has carried out this critical second stage of its intervention.

“To deprive a child of the opportunity to continue his or her education is a crime. Therefore, we are paying special attention to children whose schooling was disrupted by the “Ditwah disaster, and we will intervene to provide them with the facilities required to continue their education,” Mr Marikkar explained, outlining his humanitarian vision.

LTL’s social responsibility initiatives are not confined to moments of crisis of this nature. The company has also made a substantial contribution to the spiritual well-being of communities through religious institutions, to education and healthcare through schools and hospitals towards its vision of a well-lit and healthy nation. 

Moreover, environmental stewardship has been embraced as both a responsibility and a duty. In line with the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka programme, LTL has launched a project to plant and nurture 10,000 Mee saplings across the island.

Viewed in this light, LTL Holdings is a company that has consistently set benchmarks in pricing, technology and project excellence. Looking ahead to the years following 2026, it is preparing to advance even further.

“We operate in a critically important sector and we do so with a strong sense of responsibility. Although we had planned to proceed with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) last year, due to the restructuring process in the power sector, we expect to go for it in 2026. At that point, the public will have the opportunity to become shareholders and partners in our successful journey,” said Engineer Nuhuman Marikkar.

In that sense, LTL Holdings is far more than a profit-making enterprise in the power sector. It is a national beacon resembling a great tree that illuminates the country with the power of humanity in times of national crisis and a model that conquers the world through local expertise.

(Based on a special interview with Engineer Nuhuman Marikkar, Chief Executive Officer of LTL Holdings.)