Innovation has always been the heart of any business. Given the fast-paced world we live in, Eng. Kamal Wimalaratne, Director/Chief Executive Officer of Advantis Engineering, asserts that adapting to new technologies and innovative thinking is what keeps organizations afloat in competitive marketplaces. Consequently, he considers it imperative to nurture people and attitudes that prompt out-of-the-box thinking, especially in a growing industry such as construction.
Diving into Kamal’s narrative, he has perpetually been intrigued by engineering, and various fields related to it, since he was a child. As the CEO, he deems himself fortunate to be doing what he is passionate about. He completed his higher education at the University of Moratuwa, after receiving his primary and secondary education at Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala. Joining Hayleys Advantis as a Management Trainee fifteen years ago was the turning point of his career, as the Company presented him with opportunities that have moulded him to be the person he is today; and he believes that there is so much more he can do for the Company’s success and the progress of the construction industry.
A purpose-driven strategy assists companies to overcome the challenges of slower growth and diminishing profits. It also helps with the soft side of management: the people-related aspects of running a business which has often proven to be the undoing of leaders. Driven by the Group’s purpose to Inspire, Connect and Enrich, Advantis Engineering is a full-service construction firm that is part of the Hayleys Advantis Group’s Projects and Engineering cluster. Hayleys Advantis, the transportation, logistics and construction arm of Hayleys PLC, provides numerous services in multiple sectors and is a key contributor to the development of the country. Amidst the trying times, Hayleys Advantis and its subsidiaries have continued to serve its clients with the help of its resilient workforce.
Articulating Advantis Engineering’s activities, Kamal notes that innovation has eternally been the company’s driving force. The desire to develop pioneering and effective ways to meet the growing needs of the building sector in Sri Lanka and worldwide, has always been a key motivating factor for the team. He affirmed the above by declaring, “The culture within the company encourages new ideas, technologies and challenges that lead us towards revolutionizing the industries that we operate in.”
He went on to state that the organization has long recognized Sri Lanka’s need for inventive building solutions, especially in large-scale projects like warehouses, bridges, factories, and manufacturing plants. Pre-Engineered Steel Building technology, where significant steel building components are created in a controlled manufacturing setting, and then transported and installed on the job site, was an appropriate solution to bridge this gap in the local industry. As mentioned by Kamal, this modular construction technology allows for tremendous optimization possibilities, permitting the best possible solutions for clients. It also addresses the limits of traditional brick-and-mortar construction processes, generating faster returns on large-scale expenditure through short project turnaround times and quality control standards. Furthermore, ‘Convertainers’ the company’s maiden product introduced in 2004, has offered innovative converted container space solutions to many industry verticals. This concept has proven to be a tremendous success within the industry, further highlighting the expertise of Advantis Engineering. The Company further provides a wide range of high-quality security and packaging products as well as container repair material to the industry. In addition, the Advantis Group’s vast fleet of construction and project machinery, as well as its strengths in shipping and freight handling, brings value to their clients and sanctions hassle-free construction solutions.
With over two decades of experience in construction, Advantis Engineering is not only restricted to Pre-Engineered Steel Building and modular constructions. Kamal points out that the company aspires to harness the synergies of engineering and logistics even further in offering large-scale civil construction, EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) and various other services across multiple industries in the country. In Kamal’s own words, “I see Advantis Engineering as a master in construction solutions, as we are able to give complete construction solutions to our clients, may it be steel or civil.” Whilst creating construction marvels, Kamal aspires and encourages his team to build purpose into what they do—a way to create shared value, improve employee morale and commitment, give back to the community, and protect the environment.
In the lexicon of management, the CEO is the epitome of leadership. Kamal’s constant innovative and adaptive mindset towards construction technologies enables Advantis Engineering to find bespoke construction solutions to change industry outlooks. In addition, the backing of Hayleys PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerates, is a strength to the company to achieve its aspirations in the construction arena. He firmly advocates the notion that a single idea could change the world.