MARKET
The spread of apartments and real-estate communities usually signals a rise in living standards. It is also a sign of the times, whereby home ownership – as opposed to renting – becomes a priority. There is indeed a property boom in Sri Lanka. Property and land values have appreciated at a much faster rate than most other investments. In the early 1990s, the Ceylinco Group, which was already in real estate, founded Ceylinco Homes. It was an ambitious move that anticipated a property boom and subsequently created a ‘luxury property’ category that it now dominates within the real-estate sector.
And the climate for such a move was opportune. The country’s drive towards a free-market economy in the early 1980s had prepared the ground for this. There was a substantial flow of investment from local high-spenders and Sri Lankan expatriates into high-end investments. Whilst this inflow of funds was underway, people aspired to own their homes and enjoy a better lifestyle.
The property market has grown because it often responds to innovation. Ceylinco Homes treats each project as being unique and this has spurred a phenomenal appreciation in the value of its properties over the years. No two developments undertaken by Ceylinco Homes are ever alike. This uniqueness, coupled with the trust and reliance that go hand-in-hand with its reputation, is one of the main reasons for Ceylinco Homes having built an impressive portfolio of clients through the years.
Top ^
ACHIEVEMENTS
Ceylinco Homes has pioneered numerous unique housing concepts in Sri Lanka – and the projects themselves have gained strong brand recognition – Lotus Grove, Hyde Park and Barnesplace Residencies, The Villa, Eden Gardens and Cinnamon County Residencies in and around Colombo read like a list of upscale neighbourhoods in the heart of London and some of England’s most sought after counties. Benchmarking quality and innovative housing concepts have been the hallmarks of its success – and today, Ceylinco Homes is the market leader and trendsetter in the luxury-property market in Sri Lanka.
The company prides itself on a sizable commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavours, being an indigenous entity that takes its responsibility towards society seriously. To this end, Ceylinco Homes is engaged in rural development to uplift the living standards of the needy, not to mention its responsibility towards protecting the environment.
Top ^
HISTORY
Ceylinco Homes is a member of Ceylinco Consolidated, one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most respected conglomerates. Ceylinco was founded by the late Senator Justin Kotelawala in 1939. It is now helmed by his son, Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala.
Ceylinco’s corporate strength and success was one of the reasons for an internationally reputed brand such as the Hyatt associating itself with the Sri Lankan conglomerate. The Hyatt Regency Colombo will be housed in Ceylinco Celestial Residencies, a landmark project being developed by Ceylinco Homes. The building is expected to be the tallest in the country.
Ceylinco Consolidated has an impeccable record of doing business in Sri Lanka for over half a century. Its 350-strong branch network includes real estate, finance, insurance and banking, giving Ceylinco Homes a brand recognition that few in Sri Lanka can match. The group was ranked third in 2005 by LMD, when the pioneering magazine complied the Most Respected Entities In Sri Lanka for the first time. The unique listing was based on an islandwide opinion poll undertaken by leading research firm ACNielsen.
Padmini Karunanayeke, its Chief Executive Director, was the driving force who pioneered Ceylinco Homes and has made it what it is today. A spirit of innovation, coupled with a yearning to grow from strength to strength, continues to be the hallmark of Ceylinco Homes. The company’s vision is to provide quality residences to suit the lifestyles of discerning home-owners.
As a pioneer and leader in the luxury-property-development arena, the company’s commitment is to take Sri Lanka to the world. This commitment has been realised in more ways than one.
Top ^
PRODUCT
The company’s main objective is to meet the growing need for exclusive homes by prospective home-owners, especially those residing in the urban sector.
By delivering over and above clients’ expectations, Ceylinco Homes has gained the confidence of its stakeholders in no uncertain terms. This is further strengthened by relationships that the company continues to build on, vis-à-vis its commitment to after-sales service excellence.
Ceylinco Homes strengthens its client relationships by providing maintenance services for its projects – a selling point that complements its reputation. The expertise that goes into each development, which begins with the selection of ideal locations, superior infrastructure and skilled personnel – be it in real-estate management, sales and marketing, or engineering and legal assistance – is unparalleled in Sri Lanka. Further, building contractors, architects and other service providers are carefully selected in line with its benchmark standards. For this reason, every one of its developments is branded as a signature property.
The company also manages its clients’ real-estate portfolios by providing services such as renting, leasing, re-sale and others associated with property management in this day and age. The company has, in addition, recognised the need for eco-friendly surroundings in its property developments.
Top ^
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
The company’s twin-brand strategy has been paying dividends, with the decision to invest substantially in brand building, develop an independent distribution network, restructure plant and warehouse operations, and outsource non-core activities transforming its entire operation into a cost effective and productive business.
It has also successfully fought off the attempts of competitors to penetrate the Caltex franchise through increasing credit periods.
Moreover, its unique position as the only operator that is capable of delivering in bulk, not to mention the competitive edge it gains from its on-ground laboratory, has held Caltex in good stead in Sri Lanka. Together with its blending plant, its fully equipped laboratory services provide Caltex with a unique advantage – to respond to customers promptly. In addition, its ability to deliver in bulk means that the larger corporate clients enjoy substantial savings in packaging costs.
Caltex Lubricants Lanka was among the first to make a strong comeback into the newly opened markets in the north and east of the country following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE. Its distribution plan – one which encompassed the appointment of distributors, market-awareness campaigns and brand-building activities – has resulted in Caltex being amongst the most visible brands in these areas.
Innovative technology to meet surging market demands has further boosted the popularity of this brand.
Caltex completed the initial phase of upgrading vehicle-service stations to complement its new Star Lube and Xpress Lube concepts in 2005. It then launched the second phase by virtue of its Delo service facilities. In addition, its introduction of non-traditional lubricant outlets has also been a success – justification of its decision to develop its distribution channels to reach more customers.
Top ^
PROMOTION
The marketing communications of all Ceylinco Homes projects has focused on creating affluent lifestyles. Since the company caters to a high-net-worth clientele both locally and internationally, it considers it important for communications to be in line with these lifestyles – projecting exclusivity and catering to the high expectations of affluent home-owners.
Each Ceylinco Homes project is unique: it boasts selling points such as location, environment and concept. In 2000, Barnesplace and Hyde Park Residencies were sold out prior to their completion. And the reputation of Ceylinco Homes as a developer that creates wealth for its clientele was communicated through a high-profile advertising campaign targeted at affluent segments of society. Adding a touch of glamour was the advertising campaign for Barnesplace Residencies, which bagged the gold award at the ad industry’s annual awards night.
The company’s success story also owes much to its commitment to using quality material and workmanship, its long-term relationships with customers, coupled with its expertise in property development.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roadshows are carried out both locally and internationally to promote the company’s new innovations to a targeted audience. Communicating high standards, refreshing designs and unmatched experience make Ceylinco Homes the most talked about in developer neighbourhoods around Colombo.
Top ^
BRAND VALUES
A home is more than merely bricks and mortar. It represents taste, lifestyle and a symbol of achievement. Ceylinco Homes’ brand values address the spirit of innovation, exclusivity and a touch of flamboyance from a builder who pays attention to every detail.
Contemporary designs and unique styles are the essence of every home built by Ceylinco Homes. The mission of Ceylinco Homes is to crate a new dimension in housing and set a benchmark in property development in Sri Lanka.
Top ^
THINGS YOU DONT KNOW ABOUT Ceylinco Homes
♥ The ambition of its founder, the late Senator Justin Kotelawala, was to construct the tallest building in Colombo. This led to the construction of Ceylinco House in 1961. Today, his son has followed in his footsteps, building Ceylinco Celestial Residencies – which is to be the tallest building in Sri Lanka.
♥ The Hyatt Regency Colombo, which is to be housed in Ceylinco Celestial residencies, will be Sri Lanka’s first super-deluxe hotel.
♥ Over three million square feet of real estate are developed by Ceylinco Homes.
♥ A substantial proportion of its sales is generated through peer-to-peer endorsement.
Top ^
www.ceylincohomes.com
