ROHAN DE LANEROLLE SNR
Chairman / Engineer
Early Life and Education
Rohan De Lanerolle was born on July 27, 1945, in Galle, Sri Lanka, to Malcolm and Edith De Lanerolle. He was the third son in a family that included three sisters. His early education was completed at St. Thomas’s Matara and St. Servatious Matara. Following his father’s transfer to Moratuwa as the urban council secretary, De Lanerolle continued his studies at St. Sebastian’s College, where he also excelled in sports.
Career Beginnings
De Lanerolle began his professional journey at St. Anthony’s Jig and Tool Engineers as an apprentice. After two years, he was sent abroad for advanced training in workshop engineering, spending time in Czechoslovakia, Germany, and England. Upon returning, he earned a diploma in workshop engineering and continued working at St. Anthony’s for nearly a decade, eventually becoming an engineer.
Professional Achievements
In 1972, De Lanerolle joined Lever Brothers (now Unilever) as an engineering supervisor and quickly rose to the position of front-line manager. In 1981, he moved to MJF Exports (now Dilmah) as a plant engineer. His expertise led him to Naghi International in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1987, where he successfully installed and commissioned 22 Constanta tea bag machines. Returning to Sri Lanka in 1989, De Lanerolle became a freelance engineer, servicing and upgrading tea bag machines for numerous prestigious clients, including Lipton (Unilever Sri Lanka), Akbar Brothers, Mlesna, Eswaran Brothers, Sekem (Egypt), Damron Corporation (USA), Stuarts (USA), Quali Tea, Regency Teas (Sri Lanka), Unilever Pakistan, Unilever South Africa, JV Gokal (India, Russia, and Sri Lanka), Ahuja Group (India), Challenger Manufacturing INC (USA), and DPH International (Germany). His reputation as a skilled engineer led him to a significant project with Hindustan Lever in Pune, India, in 1999, where he overhauled machines from various Unilever plants, growing the operation from 2 to 73 machines under his supervision .
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
In 2008, De Lanerolle co-founded Abacus Tea Pvt Ltd with his sons, Rohan Jr. and Ishan, establishing a factory in Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. The company provided employment to over 50 personnel and operated 25 machines. Recognizing the global need for staple-free tea bag machines, De Lanerolle embarked on an ambitious project to convert existing machines to be staple-free. His breakthrough came in 2018 when he successfully made Constanta tea bag machines staple-free, a significant innovation for the tea industry
Achievements and Impact
Despite his advancing age and declining health, De Lanerolle’s dedication and innovative spirit have led to several notable milestones:
• Patent Success: He secured patents in India and Bangladesh for his staple-free tea bag machine conversion technology and received positive feedback through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
• Awards and Recognition: He was honored with a SAARC award and a national award in Sri Lanka. Additionally, C2S.LK, the brand under which his innovation operates, won five awards at the Commonwealth Business Excellence Awards to be presented in August 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and secured the Inventions Award under the Commercial category at the Sri Lankan Inventions Award Ceremony in October 2024. He has additionally been recognized in 5 categories at the Asia Awards powered by World Research Congress taking place in February 2026 which are:
• Economic Contributions: His innovation has converted over 40 machines, generating over USD 2 million in revenue for Sri Lanka during a period of financial restructuring. Major industry players like Unilever and Tata are among its principal buyers .
Rohan De Lanerolle Snr honored with a SAARC award in the year 2023.
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