From humble beginnings to roaring success, Kumudu Abayasiri, COO / Director of Ceyline Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd/ Oceaneeds (Pvt) Ltd., has established a reputation as a trailblazer in the shipping industry. Being honored “Best Business Transformation Director” at the CEO Awards 2022 stands as a testament to his visionary and charismatic leadership style.
Where did it all begin? Kumudu started his education at Royal College, Panadura, graduated from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Administration. He holds professional membership in many esteemed national and international bodies. Using his wide professional knowledge and experience Kumudu turned around several organizations for the better, including Ceyline Maritime Services & Oceaneeds Private Limited. From the time he joined the company in 2019, he has steered it towards continued success while overcoming local and international barriers.
Within a short period of time, he has worked tenaciously to ensure Ceyline carved out its niche in the shipping industry. Having commenced operations in 2015, the company already provides port agency services to ships calling at all Sri Lankan ports (Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, and Trincomalee) through a scrupulously selected and molded team of marine professionals who guarantee prompt and steady service excellence. Complying with quality procedures and upholding positive work relationships with all parties involved in the local shipping industry, Kumudu’s team, advises clients on the most affordable and swift solutions for their needs. Ceyline team under his guidance, made an indelible positive impact on the local economy. His pragmatic management and visionary leadership propelled Ceyline’s service portfolio to grow immensely.
Not resting on his laurels after these successes, Kumudu, took on the reigns of Oceaneeds (Pvt) Ltd., a supplier that has been around since 1993 engaged in ship chandelling to ships that dock at all major ports in Sri Lanka. Oceaneeds is connected to procurement networks across the globe and has a track record of a ship chandler par excellence.
In today’s competitive business environment, you can either transform or lose your competitive advantage and fall behind. Kumudu with his professional expertise transformed Ceyline’ workforce into achievers of excellence. He bought in the total loyalty and commitment to work with owner mindset through a genuine process of transparent empowerment. The team works with highest enthusiasm with least supervision taking pride in their performance, continually raising the bar in pursuit of excellence. They have become true co-owners of Ceyline.
This owner mindset and unbridled enthusiasm helped them achieve remarkable growth for the company and the group. This was evident during the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent economic downturn. While many organizations were hard pressed for survival, Ceyline handled the challenge as a window of opportunity by securing a series of achievement breakthroughs.
Even though Sri Lankan shipping industry has been rather new to the art of maritime hospitality, educating and transforming the workforce to be acquainted with the field was a great contribution by Kumudu. We learnt firsthand that despite the pandemic, the workforce maintained a remarkable track record of immaculate performance. The round-the-clock service made available by Ceyline received high praise from foreign ship owners who commented that their vessels and crew were “safe and sound in Sri Lankan waters with Ceyline’s ship servicing excellence”.
Further, during the peak of the economic downturn, many businesses experienced a decline in growth and profits. In contrast, Ceyline maintained its commitment to foreign ship owners and agents and delivered outstanding results, thus achieving a remarkable inflow of earnings in USD.
Kumudu’s achievements in various spheres abundantly justify that he is a worthy recipient of this award. The point to ponder is “How he will use this triumph to influence others – and how will it affect his career?”
Kumudu feels this award will influence others in a 360-degree span around a wide area, just like the strong beam of a lighthouse. His attributes and life philosophies are poised to have a profound impact on everyone within his sphere of influence, even beyond the stakeholders of the company and may even influence his interactive contacts within the industry. Quoting his own words “My magnetic pull will enhance the succession potential of everyone in the tier below me. Even those whom I interact with within the industry, chambers and trade associations will feel my positive influence”.
Winning this award would add to his prominence in the business world and stand as a testament to his intrinsic values, thoughts and leadership. Kumudu anticipates that this achievement will open many doors to more fruitful positions, enabling him to assume more elevated commitments and make even greater contributions to the world at large.