Sunday Times 2
Tristar Founder Chairman, Deshabandu Kumar Devapura, 63, passes away
View(s):Deshabandu Kumar Devapura, Founder Chairman of Tristar Apparel Exports Sri Lanka, passed away on Friday after a brief illness. He was 63.
He was a renowned Sri Lankan entrepreneur who gained international fame for contribution to develop the Garment industry.
He started his own factory, “Thushara Garments”, with just 10 sewing machines at Katubedda, Moratuwa, in 1979. Later, he set up a second factory, “Tristar”, in Ratmalana.
Among his many achievements were winning the Presidential Export Awards for Garment Industry in 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1993. He also won the Special Presidential Export Awards in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, as the highest foreign exchange earning enterprise in the Garment sector.
Mr Devapura was also conferred the National honour of “Deshabandu” in 1992, for his outstanding services to the nation.
The Cortège will leave the Tristar Apparel Exports headoffice in Ratmalana, at 10.30 a.m. today for burial at the Mount Lavinia General Cemetery at 11.30 a.m.