ABANS GROUP

BUILDING ON A LEGACY AND SHAPING THE FUTURE

For nearly six decades, Home Appliances has remained closely connected to the story of the Abans Group. What began with a vision to improve everyday living has grown alongside the organisation itself, evolving from its entrepreneurial beginnings into a business that continues to play an important role within one of Sri Lanka’s most diversified conglomerates.

Today, that legacy is being carried forward by a new generation of leadership. As General Manager – Home Appliances Ruwan Gunasekara plays a key role in strengthening a business that is both rooted in the origins of the Abans Group and positioned at the forefront of changing lifestyles, technologies and household needs.

As appliances become smarter, more connected and increasingly integrated into modern living, Gunasekara discusses the significance of Home Appliances to the Abans Group, the strengths that have sustained its position over generations and the opportunities that will shape its next chapter.

Q: Home appliances are deeply connected to the origins of the Abans Group. Why does this business remain so pivotal to its identity today?

A: To understand the significance of Home Appliances, we must return to the very beginning of the Abans Group. It started with a simple idea. Our Chairperson Aban Pestonjee had a dream.

She was a homemaker who recognised an opportunity to improve everyday living for households and homemakers like herself. What began as a modest business in 1968 was driven by a simple yet powerful purpose: making life better through products that brought greater convenience and comfort into people’s homes.

That founding vision became the foundation of what has grown into one of Sri Lanka’s most diversified conglomerates. Home Appliances therefore, represents much more than a business category. It connects us directly to our origins, our chairperson’s entrepreneurial vision and the promise of offering Sri Lankans ‘A Better Way to Life.’

Today, appliances continue to transform households through smarter technology, greater energy efficiency and convenience. Our responsibility is to carry that original purpose forward while ensuring that this foundational business continues to evolve.

Q: Abans has grown significantly from those beginnings. What do you believe has enabled the group to establish and sustain its position in home appliances?

A: Today, Abans is a diversified conglomerate. One of our greatest strengths is the foundation that has been built over generations.

Over the years, the Abans Group developed longstanding international brand partnerships, extensive market knowledge, and established capabilities across distribution, retail, marketing and operations. These strengths have allowed us to develop businesses and categories with a long-term perspective.

However, a strong legacy alone does not guarantee future success. Markets evolve, technology advances and lifestyles change. We must evolve alongside them.

Our role today is to build on what previous generations have created by identifying opportunities, strengthening our portfolio and ensuring that Home Appliances continues to make a meaningful contribution to the wider growth of the Abans Group.

Q: How has your role contributed towards taking this legacy forward?

A: For me, it is about respecting what has already been built while constantly looking at where the business needs to go next.

Home Appliances has a strong position within the Abans Group and my focus is on strengthening that position through category development, commercial growth and identifying opportunities that are relevant to changing lifestyles.

At the same time, no individual can drive a business of this scale alone. The Abans Group has been built through generations of people contributing their expertise towards a common purpose. My contribution is part of that larger journey – working with our teams and leveraging the group’s capabilities to ensure that this business remains a strong pillar of Abans.

Q: Where do you see the next major opportunity for Home Appliances?

A: The future lies in the increasing convergence of home appliances and technology. Smart living, connectivity, energy efficiency and convenience are fundamentally reshaping the modern home.

For the Abans Group, this presents a natural opportunity because we have considerable strengths across these areas. Our market knowledge, international partnerships and capabilities across multiple business categories give us a strong platform from which to evolve.

The opportunity is not simply about introducing another generation of appliances. It is about understanding how people’s homes and lifestyles are changing and positioning Abans to be part of that transformation. And we keep evolving, embracing new technologies and building what comes next.

Q: Looking ahead, what would you like Home Appliances to contribute to the next chapter of the Abans Group?

A: I want Home Appliances to continue being one of the businesses that carries the founding spirit of the Abans Group forward.

We have inherited an extraordinary legacy but our responsibility is to build upon it rather than simply celebrate it. That means continuing to evolve our portfolio, embrace relevant technologies, strengthen the business and create opportunities for sustainable growth.

Nearly six decades ago, Abans began with an ambition to make everyday living better. As we look towards the future, that purpose remains as relevant. And for us, it’s simply one thing – a better way to life.

The products and technologies may change but our ambition remains the same: to continue contributing to a stronger Abans Group while creating a better way to life for generations to come.

– Compiled by Tamara Rebeira

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• Email: info@buyabans.com
• Website: www.buyabans.com