Kolitha Wickremasinghe, Founder and Managing Director of SALOTA International, holds a vibrant journey in the global logistics landscape. He began at the age of 20 when logistics was labelled freight forwarding, a term suggestive of tradition.
Sri Lanka, during those years, developed into a vibrant market, with open market patterns and authority like Katunayake and Biyagama, indicating the textile giants of the world – JC Penny, GAP, Victoria’s Secret, Eddie Bauer – into its embrace. Having partnered with local firms such as Falcon Freight and Dart Express, Kolitha’s ambitions exceeded borders, driving him to the global stage with Expeditor’s International.
Amidst an ever-expanding story, Kolitha sought international waters, seeking to transform his expertise. His stay swept him to Saudi Arabia and then onto Libya, capturing a mosaic of cultures and challenges that sharpened his understanding. From hierarchies to horizons, each experience enriched Kolitha, laying the foundation for an aspiration – to build his empire. In 2013, the realisation of his entrepreneurial vision materialized with the inception of SALOTA.
“10 years of excellence,” SALOTA’s Anniversary tagline, perfectly captures the journey of growth and achievement that Kolitha and his team have undertaken. Over a decade, Kolitha has steered the company from its inception to a position of influence in the market, firmly establishing itself in specialized sectors. With eyes firmly set on the horizon, his vision projects a future that exceeds boundaries. As the next decade unfolds, his aspiration opens like a map, charting an ambitious course toward international expanses. SALOTA’s brand identity, enabled within Sri Lanka, is balanced for a global journey, carrying with it the legacy of being pioneers and trendsetters in logistics within the logistics realm. Kolitha not only promises growth but also an unforgettable impression on the global logistics landscape.
Kolitha’s journey, which commenced as an operations assistant, has a deep-rooted understanding of the dynamics that support a thriving organization. A determined supporter of the age-old saying, “If you look after your staff, they will look after your business,” his leadership is characterized by genuine care and support for his team. This not only fosters a pleasant work environment but also fuels a collective passion to drive SALOTA to exceptional heights.
At the heart of Kolitha’s philosophy lies the art of relationship building. “Promise . Delivered,” the SALOTA tagline, perfectly captures this commitment. “Partnership . On Trust” has been the tagline of the company for exactly a decade and with reaching “Ten Years of Excellence” the future organization will ride on “Promise . Delivered” as its tagline. Nurturing genuine connections, be it with clients, partners, or stakeholders, is the foundation upon which SALOTA’s success is built. This authenticity is further complemented by his commitment to transparency and sincerity. Kolitha’s interactions, whether with customers or collaborators, are infused with a natural sincerity that fosters trust and encourages lasting partnerships.
Kolitha oversees diverse industries incorporated into supply chain excellence. The capacity of SALOTA’s operations is awe-inspiring, stretching across vital sectors. From the complexities of Freight Forwarding to Custom House Brokering, Air and Sea Freight, Offshore business, the logistical prowess of Warehousing, and NVOCC operations – each cog in this complex machinery works in balance.
While it might appear challenging to determine synergies among these multifaceted sectors, the beauty lies in their collective resonance. SALOTA’s ability to span diverse industries with finesse is a testament to the detailed planning that Kolitha and his team have achieved. Under Kolitha, these industries blend creating a holistic environment where supply chain difficulties are transformed into strategic advantages, painting a portrait of SALOTA as not merely a logistics provider, but a catalyst for interconnected success across industries.
At the helm of SALOTA, Kolitha emphasises what sets this enterprise apart in the bustling market. Beyond competitive pricing, which undoubtedly resonates in the international arena, the art of service delivery stands as the pillar of their distinction. SALOTA lies in niche markets, where they thrive with outstanding expertise, propelling their journey to great heights. Anchored by a flat organizational hierarchy, Kolitha crafts a canvas where innovation thrives and ideas are set free to soar. Supported by a spirited and reliable team, the gears of process efficiency turn seamlessly, driving SALOTA into a league of its own.
As the company gears up to celebrate a milestone of 10 years, Kolitha’s determined spirit and guidance come to the forefront. With each passing year, his strategic expertise, maintained by the dedicated efforts of Nilu Wickremasinghe, who serves as Director of SALOTA, has led the company through challenges, revealing a trail of noteworthy achievements that illustrate the company’s years. The last decade stands as a testament to Kolitha’s commitment and the collective devotion of his strategic implementation team, including Nilu, who plays a key role not only as a director but also as the spouse of Kolitha. Through these years of growth, adaptation, and triumph, they have driven SALOTA beyond mere milestones, infusing the essence of excellence into its DNA.
In an era where Artificial Intelligence is big, Kolitha ensures that SALOTA is not a mere spectator but a dynamic participant. Acknowledging evolution, SALOTA engages in a pursuit of innovation. The commitment resonates in their in-house software developments, an investment that pushes them to the forefront of the industry’s evolving landscape. One testament to this is SALBMS – a proprietary IT platform that has become a cornerstone of SALOTA’s operations. This homegrown marvel, facilitated under Kolitha, presents a seamless fusion of technology and logistics expertise.
While excellence in logistics remains their professional hallmark, the beating heart of SALOTA’s ethos is the transformative impact they nurture within society. Like a virtuoso, Kolitha channels his energies into projects that uplift the lives of deserving families. From revitalizing livelihoods through infrastructural support to enhancing educational ecosystems by upgrading IT facilities, SALOTA influences change that extends to the grassroots. Not content with recognition, their selfless initiatives speak louder than words, touching lives in ways both visible and unseen. Their commitment to leaving the cameras behind highlights a genuine intention, where actions, not optics, define their pursuit of a better world. Additionally, Kolitha has fostered an environment conscious of its ecological footprint, adopting paperless practices and championing reduced electricity consumption.
Rooted in a flat management structure and an open-door policy, SALOTA encourages an atmosphere where hierarchies melt away, giving way to ideas and initiatives that span every corner of the organization. This is further emphasised by their dedication to cultivating a customer-centric mindset within each employee.
Fuelled by the personality of their very name, which resonates with the spirit of travel and exploration, Kolitha expects SALOTA to spread its wings and cross international markets with a bold spirit.