Badulla entrepreneur who blazed his own trail

Ajith Wattuhewa, former president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL-2014-2015) and former senior vice president of SAARC CCI (2016 -2017) was born in Badulla, the second child in a wellknown business family. He was fondly called “Wathu” by his friends. He had his education in Badulla.

Later, he followed the National Diploma in Technology at the University of Moratuwa and chose a career path of entrepreneurship. He started manufacturing rebuilt tyres and within a short period, became a big supplier in the Uva Province. His success was attributed to his simple business conviction – simple in words but deep in thought – creating wealth for the nation through sustainable business, where employees play an equally important role in the business.

He won the Provincial Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Uva Province in 2016.

From childhood, Wathu had a rare self-assertiveness. His first public engagement happened even before he became an entrepreneur. In the late 80s while at university, his indomitable leadership traits and confidence, led him to form the Badulla District Chamber of Commerce (later named the Uva District Chamber of Commerce) to fight for the cause of rural entrepreneurs. He developed the chamber to become one of the most active regional chambers in Sri Lanka with a wide sectoral representation.

In 2014 Wathu became the president of FCCISL and it was the first time a regional chamber representative had become president of FCCISL. He had a wealth of experience and knowledge on rural entrepreneurship and its challenges. He was sensitive to the economic issues of the country and strongly felt the need for businessmen to take over the leadership in the political arena. He was an ardent supporter of entrepreneurs being candidates without affiliations to any political party.

He worked selflessly for the revival of FCCISL. Wathu was very keen to grant equal rights and recognition to all in the business community and this philosophy eventually paved the way for FCCISL to elect its first lady chairperson from the Central Province Women’s Chamber. He commenced structural changes to the FCCISL governance model, empowering the secretariat, providing recognition for regional chambers, improving transparency, establishing the SAARC Trade Promotion Network (SAARC TPN). The active participation of Sri Lankan delegates at overseas trade fairs, and well attended Turning Point (Investment Forum 2015) were successfully done under his leadership. A visionary and proactive leader, he took over as the senior VP of the SAARC CCI in 2016.

He was not without weaknesses. Trusting everyone and his openness sometimes resulted in losses in his own businesses. But he absorbed these with a wry smile.

He had the rare quality of giving up social status or titles even before the expiry of such tenures. In retrospect, I believe it was a premonition he had; many times he spoke to me about his early exit from this world. We sadly lost Wathu at the prime of his life – when he had so much more left to give! He would have celebrated his 57th birthday last month.

My memory reminds me of the day I joined FCCISL. I expected advice and directions from this well experienced chamber activist. To my surprise he had only one thing to say – “I have a request for you.” I asked him what it was. His response was “You should have the courage to tell me whenever I go wrong!”

Wathu would have taken over the leadership of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry by 2018 but gave up due to personal reasons. Therefore his loss is felt by the FCCISL but SAARC CCI as well.

Many people identified Wathu and myself as Guru and disciple but we too had differences of opinions and our own ways of doing things. These though created an inseparable bond between us. Having worked very closely with Wathu for many years and looking at his short span of life I remembered the Buddha’s words –‘Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship’.

Wathu left a legacy which has a lasting impact on FCCISL. History will be the best judge of his leadership.

Stay blessed, Wathu.