CEAT Kelani honours top dealers with ‘Autobahn 2.0’ convention & awards gala

A dazzling celebration of partnership, performance and excellence unfolded at the Shangri-La, Colombo, when CEAT Kelani Holdings, Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturer of pneumatic tyres, hosted its annual dealer convention and awards gala with customary panache.

The event brought together the top 145 dealers of the year along with their families, for an unforgettable evening of recognition and camaraderie. They were joined by members of CEAT’s sales, marketing and export teams as well as the Company’s leadership, underscoring the importance of the occasion to the brand’s continuing success story. 

Themed ‘Autobahn 2.0,’ the convention embodied the attributes of speed, comfort and control that define CEAT Car Radials, with the German engineering, research and development expertise that fortify the brand’s superior performance on Sri Lankan roads. The event sought to bring this theme to life in every aspect of the celebration. 

Delivering the welcome address at the awards dinner, CEAT Kelani Holdings Chairman Mr Chanaka de Silva said: “We stand today at an exciting juncture. The tyre industry is undergoing rapid transformation—technological advancements, sustainability initiatives, and digital innovation are reshaping the way we operate and engage with our customers. In this context, I wish to share with you all that we have committed a further 4.5 billion Rupees towards improvement in quality and technology in the next 12 to 18 months. Therefore, this event is an opportunity for us to reflect, to learn, and most importantly, to look ahead with a bigger and better portfolio of products and range.” 

In his vote of thanks, CEAT Kelani Chief Operating Officer Mr Shamal Gunawardene said: “This event has not only helped us reflect on our achievements but also renewed our focus on the road ahead, which will have its challenges in the market. As we move forward, let us take with us the shared learnings, strengthened relationships, and renewed commitment to excellence. We look forward to continued growth, collaboration, and many more milestones together.”

The presentation of the CEAT Partner Excellence Awards was the highlight of the evening, with the top three dealers of 2024/25 receiving the highest honours. U & H Wheel Service (Pvt) Ltd – Colombo 2 was adjudged the overall winner, while Sandeew Auto Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd – Colombo 14 and Abdeen Tyre Service – Akkaraipattu were recognised as the first and second runners-up respectively. 

Category awards also celebrated excellence in specific segments, with Sandeew Auto Enterprises winning in the Radial category, while U & H Wheel Service took top honours in both the Truck and Light Truck categories. Each award carried trophies, certificates, cash prizes and gift vouchers in appreciation of exceptional performance. 

The formalities gave way to a spectacular dinner dance, where live music, alluring dance performances and non-stop entertainment carried the celebrations into the early hours of the morning, leaving guests with memories of a night as exhilarating as it was rewarding. 

Ranked Sri Lanka’s most valuable tyre brand by Brand Finance and as the ‘Most Loved Tyre Brand’ in Sri Lanka in 2025 by LMD, CEAT is Sri Lanka’s highest-selling tyre brand, with over 1.2 million tyres sold annually. CEAT Kelani’s rise to market leadership is underpinned by sustained investments in technology, innovation and capacity. The Company’s manufacturing operations encompass pneumatic tyres for passenger cars, vans, SUVs, commercial vehicles (bias-ply and radial), motorcycles, three-wheelers and agricultural vehicles. 

CEAT Kelani currently produces half of Sri Lanka’s tyre requirements and exports around 20 per cent of its output to 16 countries. Over the past decade, the joint venture has invested more than Rs. 8.5 billion in Sri Lanka, strengthening its position as a vital contributor to the local economy and a trusted partner to the nation’s transport sector.