Sri Lanka marked a significant achievement in innovation and industrial engineering as Rohan De Lanerolle Snr, aged 80, received five prestigious awards at the Asia Awards 2026 in India. This event highlighted one of the most notable international recognitions for a Sri Lankan inventor in recent times.
In addition, C2S.LK, a Sri Lankan engineering brand under Abacus Tea (Pvt) Ltd, was acknowledged for Outstanding Technology and Equipment Innovation. This accolade further established Sri Lanka’s reputation for intellectual property-driven industrial solutions.
Recognition for a Lifetime of Innovation
Mr. De Lanerolle was honored with the following awards:
- Asia’s Innovative Maker Award in the Tea Industry
- Asia’s Role Model of the Year Award
- Asia’s Visionary Leader Award
- Asia’s Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
- Asia’s Lifetime Achiever Award
These awards collectively celebrate a lifetime dedicated to addressing practical industrial challenges through perseverance, experience, and innovation.
A Sri Lankan Answer to a Global Industry Challenge
The recognition centers around a patented Sri Lankan machine conversion technology that eliminates the use of metal staples in tea bags—a challenge that engineers worldwide have tried to solve for over two decades.
With stricter food safety regulations, especially in India, tea manufacturers faced the costly prospect of replacing entire machines, each valued between USD 500,000 and USD 1 million. Instead, the Sri Lankan invention offered a pragmatic solution by upgrading existing machinery to comply with global standards, thereby extending machine life and reducing waste.
To date, more than 50 machines have been converted in India and Sri Lanka for leading companies, including Hindustan Unilever, Tata, Akbar Brothers, George Steuart’s, and Union Commodities.
Economic Impact Beyond Recognition
Beyond the awards, this invention has delivered considerable economic value. It has generated substantial foreign exchange for Sri Lanka while saving the tea industries of India and Sri Lanka significant costs by circumventing the need for expensive new machinery.
This dual advantage of earning foreign exchange and preventing unnecessary outflows underscores the strategic importance of Sri Lankan engineering innovation on a regional scale.
Consistent International Recognition
The Asia Awards add to a growing list of international accolades. In recent years, C2S.LK and Rohan De Lanerolle have also been recognized at the Commonwealth Business Excellence Awards in South Africa and the South Asian Business Excellence Awards in the Maldives, reflecting sustained global confidence in their technology.
A Model for Sri Lanka’s Industrial Future
As Sri Lanka explores new avenues for economic growth, the success of C2S.LK illustrates how patented engineering solutions can generate long-term value beyond traditional exports. It emphasizes the importance of supporting innovation from the outset and nurturing ideas into globally competitive solutions.
The recognition at the Asia Awards 2026 serves as a reminder of Sri Lanka’s talent, experience, and creativity to deliver solutions with regional and global significance.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.