By: Staff Writer
October 14, Colombo (LNW): Hayleys PLC has once more cemented its status as Sri Lanka’s leading listed corporation, reclaiming the top position in the 32nd edition of the LMD 100 rankings — the 10th time since the list’s inception in 1995. This recognition underscores Hayleys’ deep-rooted stature as an economic pillar, exemplifying resilience, innovation, and forward-looking value creation.
In the 2024/25 financial year, Hayleys delivered a landmark performance. The Group’s consolidated revenue reached Rs. 492.2 billion, marking a 13% increase year-on-year and representing the highest turnover in its 148-year history. Profit Before Tax climbed to Rs. 35.4 billion (a 40% increase), while Profit After Tax surged to Rs. 22.5 billion, up 52% over the prior year.
A substantial export income of US$685 million accounted for 53% of total Group revenue, reinforcing Hayleys’ role as a major contributor to Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings. Beyond its financial feats, the Group remains one of the country’s largest private-sector employers, with a workforce of approximately 38,000, and supports over 27,000 indirect livelihoods across its value chains. In 2024/25 alone, Hayleys generated Rs. 152 billion in cumulative economic value through payments to government, employees, lenders, and nearly 13,000 shareholders.
Hayleys’ diversified operations span 16 industry verticals and over 20 countries. The company holds a commanding global position in key export commodities: it supplies nearly 5% of global demand for household and industrial rubber gloves (both supported and unsupported), and commands 16% of the global market in coconut shell–based activated carbon. Within Sri Lanka, it is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fabric, aluminum extrusion profiles, processed fruits and vegetables, hybrid flower seeds, and tissue culture plants.
The Group’s leadership attributes the success to its human capital and collaborative models. The Chairman & CEO remarked that achieving the top spot in LMD 100 for the tenth time speaks not only to financial strength, but also to the dedication of employees across Sri Lanka and abroad, as well as the many thousands of small-scale partners in its value chains. He emphasized that such recognition belongs to the entire ecosystem driving Hayleys’ progress in innovation, diversification, digital transformation, and ESG integration.
The firm’s institutional priorities remain anchored in an inclusive mission: to earn for the nation, empower communities, and generate enduring value for all stakeholders. With macroeconomic signals in Sri Lanka showing tentative stabilization, Hayleys says it remains confident in future prospects and will continue investing in progress that strengthens both the nation and its own growth trajectory.
Hayleys has long been a champion of inclusive business. It links rural smallholder farmers to global markets through training, fair-buyback systems, and sustainability initiatives. Programs like ‘First Light’ (for rubber smallholders) and ‘Harith Angara’ (for coconut-based charcoal suppliers) embed fairness, security, and sustainability into its value chains. These efforts are internationally recognized for social impact and aim to ensure that export-driven growth also strengthens livelihoods widely across Sri Lanka.
In terms of financial stewardship, Hayleys has maintained its national long-term credit rating of ‘AAA (lka)’, reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings in March 2025 a testament to disciplined governance and a robust balance sheet. On the sustainability front, 74% of the Group’s energy consumption now comes from renewable sources, supporting a 14% reduction in GHG emission intensity (Scope 1 & 2) over the past year.
Through robust financial performance, inclusive business models, and strong governance, Hayleys continues to set the benchmark for Sri Lanka’s corporate sector a beacon of stability and responsible growth in challenging times.
