Kulappu Arachchige Don Dhammika Perera, known commonly as Dhammika Perera is a Sri Lankan businessman and was regarded as the richest person in Sri Lanka for many years. He owns nearly 23 companies and regarded as a pioneer of Sri Lankan economic growth after the end of Sri Lankan Civil War. Dhammika also owns several long running popular casinos in Colombo. He is the founding Chairman of the Vallibel One Group and has been the managing director of it since 2011 and also currently the Deputy chairman of Hayleys. In December 2019, Ishara Nanayakkara surpassed him to become the richest man in Sri Lanka. He owns one of 50 limited editionBentley Mulsanne Hallmarks. He is also known for frequently addressing the required policy framework for the country.
Biography
Dhammika was born in 1967 at a private hospital in Katukurunda Nursing Home in Payagala. His father was a grocery businessman and his mother was a school teacher. In 1987, he was living with his paternal uncle who was running a cafe at Pettah. He pursued his primary and secondary education at the Taxila Central College, Horana.
Career
Perera enrolled in the National Diploma in Technology program at the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa during the time of civil war before dropping out later to pursue his business ventures. He then decided to move to Taiwan to pursue his career in technical training for a period of 6 months. However he returned from Taiwan after 3 months due to his lack of knowledge on technical skills. He started machine manufacturing business in 1987 close to his residence in Payagala and continued the business until 1991. In 1991, he had to venture into car sales centre in Paiyagala following a ban imposed on jackpot and other machinery business by then President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He also ran Tito Electronics, an electronic shop repairing electronic circuit board in Colpetty. He then ventured into gambling and started his own casino business in 1993 in Isurugiri. Dhammika also started up business producing and selling neon bulbs in 1995, at a time when none of the manufacturers were not keen on selling those bulbs. He also met then International Monetary Fundresident representative in Sri Lanka Nadeem Ul Haque in 1998 and developed strong bonds. He also ventured into large scale businesses and decided to purchase and take over the ownership of Royal Ceremics in 1992 at the time when company was making losses and he became the owner of it in 2000. He also notably purchased the Pan Asia Bank in 2002 at a time when the bank was regarded as a loss making financial institution. He also partnered with popular investor Nimal Perera after acquiring the Pan Asia Bank in 2002 and the duo became arguably the most successful pioneers of Sri Lankan economy post the Civil War. He has been the executive director of Vallibel Finance since 2014. Dhammika Perera is also the largest single shareholder of National Development Bank of Sri Lanka with a 9% stake. In 2013, Perera became Sri Lanka's wealthiest individual with a net worth of LKR 72.6 Billion. He also owns holds major stake in major financial institutions such as Vallibel Finance, Vallibel Power Erathna, The Fortress Resorts, The Queensbury Leisure Ltd and Delmege Limited. He is also the current Deputy Chairman of Hayleys, Royal Ceramics Lanka, Horana Plantations and LB Finance. He is also one of the members of the Board of Directors of Amaya Leisure, Haycarb, Hayleys MGT Knitting Mills, The Kingsbury Hotel, Dipped Products, Lanka Floortiles. He became the chairman of Lanka Tiles in 2017 and was appointed as the co-chairman of Singer Sri Lanka in October 2017 after Hayleys agreed to buy Singer. Dhammika was appointed as the chairman of Director Board of Lanka Ceramic PLC in 2017 but he resigned from the position on 31 August 2018. He was also appointed as chairman of Board of Directors of Lanka Walltiles in 2017.
Controversies
In April 2014, Parliament passed the controversial Strategic Development Project Act Gazette No. 01 which gave approval for Dhammika Perera's $300 million 500 room Queensbury Resort at D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo, an "Integrated Super Luxury Tourist Resort" with "associated facilities"" and the UNP party claimed that Dhammika's resort has a collection of casinos. In July 2019, he and his company Hayleys were accused of earning income through garbage scam which became a controversial issue after tonnes of garbage imported and dumped into the country from UK. In 2019, he was also rumoured to become the Presidential candidate representing United National Party for the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election. However he refused the allegations and termed them as rumours.
