Ramya Sanath Amaraweera Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL), who played a pivotal role in building one of Sri Lanka’s most successful food conglomerates and the iconic Munchee brand, has passed away.
CBL stands as a flagship of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship, commanding nearly 60 percent of the domestic biscuit market while expanding into chocolates through Ritzbury, cakes through Tiara, soy products through Lanka Soy, cereals such as Samaposha and Nutriline, and several other sectors with a growing international presence.
Humble Beginnings: A Family Legacy
The story of CBL traces its roots to the 1930s, when Ramya’s father, Simon Arthur Wickramasinghe (1902–1961), a planter, acquired a small handmade biscuit factory in Dehiwala from a local businessman named Williams. In 1939, he formally established Williams Confectionery Limited with just ten employees.
At a time when most biscuits consumed in Sri Lanka were imported, the venture was a modest local enterprise. In 1957, the company took a significant step forward by mechanizing its operations with Baker Perkins production lines imported from the United Kingdom.
Simon Wickramasinghe’s four sons N.P. (Pali), R.L. (Ranjith), M.P. (Mineka), and R.S. (Ramya), the youngest gradually joined the family business. Following their father’s passing in 1961, the brothers assumed responsibility for the company.
Ramya, armed with a strong interest and expertise in food science and technology, became instrumental in strengthening the company’s technical capabilities, quality standards, and product innovation.
The CARE Biscuit and the Birth of CBL
A defining moment arrived in the 1960s when the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the U.S.-based humanitarian organization CARE, sought a nutritious food supplement for Sri Lankan schoolchildren.
Mineka Wickramasinghe developed a high-protein fortified biscuit that met the programme’s nutritional requirements. In 1968, the family established Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) in Pannipitiya as a subsidiary dedicated to manufacturing the CARE biscuit.
Equipped with advanced German manufacturing technology, the new factory rapidly expanded production capacity from one ton per day at Williams Confectionery to eight tons per day, eventually reaching 27 tons daily within weeks.
The programme provided nutritional support to more than 1.3 million schoolchildren for nearly two decades, helping combat malnutrition until its conclusion in 1988. CBL also donated the recipe to CARE, enabling its use in other developing countries.
Alongside the CARE project, CBL introduced the Munchee brand to the consumer market, launching popular products such as Hawaiian Cookies and Milk Short Cake.
Ramya played a key role in establishing the quality and technical foundations that helped drive these successes. He also contributed to the development of Thriposha in 1973, another landmark nutritional initiative aimed at supporting pregnant and lactating mothers through a partnership between CARE and the Sri Lankan government.
Growth, Innovation and Diversification
Under the leadership of founder and long-serving Chairman Mineka Wickramasinghe, with Ramya serving as a key member of the leadership team and later Deputy Chairman, CBL successfully navigated economic liberalization, industry competition and changing market conditions.
Major milestones included:
- Expansion of manufacturing capacity and strategic partnerships during the 1980s.
- Growth of exports, beginning with shipments to Saudi Arabia and later expanding into Europe and other global markets.
- Entry into the chocolate sector through Ritzbury, which went on to become a market leader.
- Product innovations such as Kurakkan Cracker, made using locally sourced finger millet.
- Diversification into soy-based foods, cakes, cereals, organics and retail ventures.
- Establishment of international manufacturing operations in countries including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Ghana.
In 2015, Ramya Wickramasinghe succeeded his brother Mineka as Chairman of CBL after the latter became President Emeritus. Following Mineka’s passing in 2022, Ramya continued to guide the group, overseeing its network of Sri Lankan subsidiaries and overseas operations.
His leadership was marked by an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and global standards, rooted in his expertise as a food technologist.
Leadership Philosophy and Values
Mineka Wickramasinghe was known for his people centred leadership style, viewing employees as part of the “Munchee family” and sharing the company’s success through initiatives such as profit-sharing schemes.
Ramya complemented this approach with a relentless focus on quality and product excellence. He believed that great food begins with superior ingredients and uncompromising standards, a philosophy that helped shape CBL’s reputation both locally and internationally.
A Lasting Legacy
From a small handmade biscuit factory in Dehiwala to a diversified multinational food enterprise, the Wickramasinghe family’s journey is a remarkable story of vision, perseverance, innovation and social responsibility.
Ramya Wickramasinghe played a crucial role in transforming CBL into one of Sri Lanka’s most respected corporate success stories. His contributions to food technology, nutrition, manufacturing excellence and business leadership have left a lasting impact on the country’s food industry.
Beyond business success, his work helped improve nutrition, create employment, support local farmers and strengthen Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector.
With his passing , Sri Lanka loses one of its most influential industrialists and food technologists. However, the legacy he helped build through CBL, Munchee and numerous other ventures will continue to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
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