Victor Hettigoda
Encyclopedia
Victor Hettigoda is a Sri Lanka
n entrepreneur and also was a candidate for the November 17, 2005 Sri Lanka
n Presidential Elections
.
in 1937 to a family of resounding standing, reputation and admiration. Victor was the fifth of a family of nine children. He received his education at Rahula College
, Matara. On leaving school, he joined his father as a 'helper student' in pursuit of the ancestral noble profession of Ayurveda
Medicine. It took him nearly 12 years to learn the art of Ayurveda Medicine. He spent many late nights burning the mid-night oil, engrossed in the "Ola Leaf" Manuscripts and books on Ayurveda.
Victor is married to a school teacher and has two daughters and a son. The children also involved in his businesses.
The man worked hard travelling - very often on foot- across the length and breadth of the Country selling his balm, soap and mosquito coils. Today it is a flourishing multi - crore enterprise exporting to 19 countries and employing 3,500 employees.
Moreover, Hettigoda is also one of the main founders of the wonder balm, Siddhalepa. The secret formula, which has been guarded for more than 200 years was disclosed to him by his father, and after working hard to promote the product, is now recognized worldwide as a leader in "Veda Beheth" (Sinhala for herbal based medicine).
Besides the Ayurvedic products he has also established ayurvedic hospitals cum health resort - hotels. There is the modern hospital in Anuradhapura and compost factory collecting elephant dung in Talawa
for every home in the country. He said that the cows would be used to fight off malnutrition
, suggesting that any excess milk, cheese or butter
could be exported.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n entrepreneur and also was a candidate for the November 17, 2005 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n Presidential Elections
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2005 was the fifth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 September 2005, and the election was held on 17 November 2005. Electoral participation was 73.73%...
.
Early life
Hettigoda, Chairman of Hettigoda Group of Companies, was born at Kananke, MataraMatara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
in 1937 to a family of resounding standing, reputation and admiration. Victor was the fifth of a family of nine children. He received his education at Rahula College
Rahula college
Rahula College is a boys' school in Sri Lanka, located in Matara district - . Though it was originally a Buddhist school,now it is run by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National School. It was one of the first schools which was converted to a National School...
, Matara. On leaving school, he joined his father as a 'helper student' in pursuit of the ancestral noble profession of Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
Medicine. It took him nearly 12 years to learn the art of Ayurveda Medicine. He spent many late nights burning the mid-night oil, engrossed in the "Ola Leaf" Manuscripts and books on Ayurveda.
Victor is married to a school teacher and has two daughters and a son. The children also involved in his businesses.
Manufacturing of Ayurvedic products
Victor's untiring efforts and devotion towards Ayurveda won the accolade of his father resulting in the reward of disclosing the secret Formula of "Siddhalepa" Balm - the Wonder Balm. The desire for independence and the anxiety for achievement were in him, but financial resources were a problem to him. However, the initial investment of Rs 2,500/= came to him from a trusted relative in 1971 to start his venture.The man worked hard travelling - very often on foot- across the length and breadth of the Country selling his balm, soap and mosquito coils. Today it is a flourishing multi - crore enterprise exporting to 19 countries and employing 3,500 employees.
Moreover, Hettigoda is also one of the main founders of the wonder balm, Siddhalepa. The secret formula, which has been guarded for more than 200 years was disclosed to him by his father, and after working hard to promote the product, is now recognized worldwide as a leader in "Veda Beheth" (Sinhala for herbal based medicine).
Besides the Ayurvedic products he has also established ayurvedic hospitals cum health resort - hotels. There is the modern hospital in Anuradhapura and compost factory collecting elephant dung in Talawa
Presidential election 2005
Hettigoda, one of 13 candidates in a packed field that includes current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, told Sri Lankan newspaper The Island that if elected, he would use his vast fortune to buy a cowCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
for every home in the country. He said that the cows would be used to fight off malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
, suggesting that any excess milk, cheese or butter
Dairy product
Dairy products are generally defined as foods produced from cow's or domestic buffalo's milk. They are usually high-energy-yielding food products. A production plant for such processing is called a dairy or a dairy factory. Raw milk for processing comes mainly from cows, and, to a lesser extent,...
could be exported.