HOW IT STARTED
The Madola Plus Story
THE TALE OF THOTAWATHTHAGE ARUNA DE SILVA
He was born into a family of business and culture in Colombo in 1974 as the youngest of sixteen children. His grand- father, John De Silva lived early 1940’s before the 2nd world war under the British Colonial rule. His grandfather sent Ceylon wooden Sofa sets of his own shop to the crown with the blessings of the Governor Lord Soulbury who was a friend of John De Silva. Crown conferred honorary title “Chelmsford Palace” to his business. In that era, there were thirteen shops dealing in furniture, bicycles and jewelry which were situated in the heart of Colombo, Galle, Badulla, Ambalangoda and Kurunegala. His grandfather imported standard cycles and musical instruments to Ceylon during that period and ran the jewelry business which also included pearls and brilliant gemstones. When the 2nd world war broke out with Japanese bombing Colombo in 1942, shops belonging to John de Silva situated at Maradana had to be demolished since the British Colonial Government wanted to widen the roads for their armed cars. A 4 acre property with a colonial style bungalow in Thalangama belonging to an Englishman was bought to set up stores. This property incidentally used to be the Athurugiriya Police Station hence the name “parana policiye watte”. It was named “Chemsford Cottage” after the business. Later his father Douglas De Silva continued his father’s business.
1890 – John De Silva & Evelyn De Silva (Nee Thenuwara)
His father’s cousin Simon Thenuwara had a furniture business under the name “Global Furnishing House” at Maradana where he supplied furniture to foreign missions while another cousin Ranjith Dharmapala was in to antiques business. He had two antiques shops namely “Treasure Trove” and “Treasure House” situated in Mtlavinia and Borella respectively. Most famous of his cousins is the late Titus Thotawatte, famous film director and one time head of the Dubbing Unit of the National Television.
Aruna de Silva is the third generation of this Thotawaththa family coming into the business after gaining 15yrs private sector of experience in the food industry. He is an Agriculture Graduate of the University of Ruhuna, Specializing in food science and Technology and Diploma Holder in Quality Management Systems at SLSI.
He started first sole proprietorship business under the name of AMI dealing in minimally processed vegetables and put those products in Srilanka’s leading supermarket chains. At the same time with the help of his loving family he started a spice garden at Attanagalla. Then he expanded his business into International trade in 2016.He is the founder of AMD Nature Products (Pvt) Ltd.
Under his initiative Sri Lankan pure and quality products such as Ceylon vanilla pods, spices, coconut products, Tea and Coffee flew to most part of the world. Countries to which his products were imported are France, Australia, Canada, Chile and Finland. Later, as a family decision he donated his company to a good cause.
He again started a new company with his family members in partnership as Madola Nature Products (Pvt) Ltd and comes to you under the Brand Name of “Madola Plus”. His concept is Farming, Processing and Trading in pure quality Ceylon Agricultural products throughout the world for better and healthier life for humankind. With each Madola Plus branded product comes to you only the pure Ceylon products and you will find in them the natural goodness of Ceylon.
