For over four decades, Anura Group has operated in Sri Lanka’s automotive spare parts industry, established by Anura Sarath Kumara. Now, under the next generation’s leadership, the company is expanding its operations and adopting digital processes while maintaining its original business principles. Lahiru Kottage, Managing Director of Anura Group, discusses the company’s trajectory, current market dynamics, and strategic direction for the future.
Anura Group was founded by your father over 40 years ago. What was your vision for the company when you took over the reins?
At just 18, in 1977, my father embarked on a journey to revolutionize Sri Lanka’s spare parts market. By the early 1980s, his foresight and dedication had placed him at the forefront, ensuring access to high-quality, reasonably priced spare parts for over four decades.
Joining the family business, I sought to honour his legacy while modernizing and expanding our operations. We have sustained growth in an evolving industry by strengthening our supply chain, embracing technology, and diversifying our product range. His vision remains our guiding force, ensuring we continue to serve with the same integrity and commitment.
Our success is built on quality, innovation, and customer focus. Every product we offer meets the highest industry standards, ensuring long-term trust. Innovation drives us forward—we continuously upgrade processes, embrace digital solutions, and explore new market opportunities. We remain agile and competitive by staying ahead of industry trends and investing in research.
As part of our growth strategy, we acquired Ceylon Auto Industries in 2020, the first Sri Lankan company to manufacture auto parts with foreign collaboration. With 55 years of expertise, we are expanding the Victory Leaf Spring brand. In 2024, we also launched Arzol Lubricants, maintaining our commitment to high-quality products at competitive prices.
How do you navigate the industry’s constant supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations, and regulatory changes?
For over four decades, our organization has navigated challenges, learning and evolving to serve the industry better. We’ve built trust by listening to our stakeholders and refining our processes to deliver the right product at the right time and price. We’ve diversified suppliers to counter supply chain disruptions, ensuring steady inventory. Currency fluctuations are managed through strategic financial planning, while regulatory changes are met with proactive compliance. Our ability to adapt swiftly has kept us resilient, allowing us to maintain stability and uphold our commitment to quality service, even in an ever-changing business landscape.
What is your approach to innovation and future expansion?
Innovation drives our growth, and technology is at the heart of our strategy to enhance efficiency and customer engagement. Our LEO app, a loyalty rewards programme, empowers customers with real-time insights into their sales and reward points, strengthening business relationships. We introduced a barcoding system to streamline operations, improving inventory management, order accuracy, and traceability. These advancements have transformed our customer experience, ensuring faster service and seamless transactions. As we continue to evolve, our focus remains on integrating innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and reinforce our commitment to delivering high-quality products and exceptional service.
Our success comes from listening to our customers and adapting to their needs. We continuously enhance our product range, provide excellent after-sales support, and leverage data analytics to stay ahead of market trends. Investing in our team ensures we remain agile in a fast-changing industry.
Looking to the future, we are embarking on a game-changing project—Sri Lanka’s largest automotive spare parts distribution centre. This facility will revolutionize efficiency, enabling us to process multiple shipments and dispatch deliveries faster. Colombo suburbs will enjoy same-day delivery, and outstation areas will see increased service frequency. With ten times our storage capacity, we are ready to redefine industry standards while ensuring seamless customer experiences and sustainable business growth.
Strong leadership and teamwork are the foundation of our success. We foster a culture of open communication, accountability, and continuous growth. We create a motivated workforce that drives excellence by empowering employees and encouraging a sense of ownership. Aligning our team with our vision ensures long-term stability, innovation, and a commitment to delivering the best for our customers.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs?
The most valuable lessons I’ve learned from my father weren’t spoken—they were demonstrated. His humility, integrity in business, and unwavering work ethic shaped my leadership and outlook on life. He showed me that success isn’t just about profits but relationships, trust, and perseverance.
Balancing tradition with innovation is crucial. While honouring our foundation, we must embrace change and take calculated risks. Strong leadership and transparent decision-making are essential in a family business. For aspiring entrepreneurs, persistence, adaptability, and customer focus are key. Any business can grow and thrive with vision, dedication, and resilience.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Anura Group?
Our vision is to expand Anura Group’s market presence while upholding the quality and reliability that define us. We aim to diversify our product range, strengthen digital capabilities, and explore new markets. Sustainability and innovation remain key, with investments in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends.
Over the next decade, we envision Anura Group evolving into a globally recognized, technologically advanced conglomerate. With my father’s guidance and the dedication of our team, we are confident in achieving this vision, setting new benchmarks in the spare parts sector while ensuring long-term growth and value for our stakeholders.