Vision

Earning consumer trust through uncompromising quality and integrity; equipping the nation with the tools to build a better tomorrow.

Mission

Addressing the needs of a nation through propagation of sustainable energy, access to pure drinking water, creating opportunity through the manufacturing of quality hardware products, evolving the construction landscape through the introduction of tools and technologies, and earning the trust of our partners and customers through uncompromising service.

Our History

Mr. A.Y.S. Gnanam the founder of St. Anthony’s Group, established his initial business venture by trading in scrap iron and soon expanded the business to export scrap iron to Europe and Asian countries, which paved the way for his entry into the hardware industry in Ceylon, launched in 1944 as the trading arm.
1942
1942
A.Y.S. Gnanam established St. Anthony’s Group by collecting scrap iron remains of World War 2 and trading it first locally, and eventually exporting them to Europe.
1942
1944
1944
St. Anthony's Paradise Stores (later renamed St. Anthony’s Consolidated) was launched as the trading arm of the group, distributing hardware, machinery building materials, cement and consumer electronics.
1944
1960
1960
St. Anthony’s Industries was launched, initially manufacturing wire nails, followed by PVC pipes, fittings, gutters, tanks and other consumer plastics. This company became more commonly known as Anton, one of Sri Lanka’s premier PVC brands.
1960
1963
1963
St. Anthony’s Group enters the textile industry by launching Ceylon Synthetic Textile Mills Ltd, in its first international joint venture with Mitsui, Toray and Sakision of Japan. The company manufactured synthetic and blended woven fabrics for the domestic market.
1963
1965
1965
Rhino Roofing Ltd is formed. Rhino has grown to become the nation’s undisputed leader in roofing solutions.
1965
1969/72
1969/72
Signed an agency agreement with Sanyo, Japan, who St Anthony’s represented in Sri Lanka for over 3 decades, even assembling and servicing their consumer electronics.
1969/72
1977
1977
St Anthony’s further diversifies its operations by starting Alexandra Industries to manufacture and export of heavy Gauge Sweaters.
1977
1980
1980
Sascon Knitting Company commenced its operations and start to manufacture fine knit fabric to service the international Polo and T-shirts markets. A few years later a garment factory was commissioned to service the local market.
1980
1981
1981
St Anthony’s Roofing (Pvt) Limited commenced operations to manufacture low cost corrugated roofing sheets for the domestic market. The company’s manufacturing facilities, located in Puttalam, utilized recyclable local raw materials.
1981
1982
1982
Tokyo Cement Company commenced operations of the country’s first automated cement factory in Trincomalee as a joint venture between Mitsui Mining, Japan and St. Anthony’s Consolidated. Tokyo Cement is currently the largest cement and concrete manufacturer in Sri Lanka, with 23MW of biomass power plants and its own cargo vessels for importing of raw materials.
1982
1983
1983
San Fashion Ltd started operations with 115 sewing machines and 220 personnel for manufacture woven apparel export to the US market.
1983
1987
1987
St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for Watertec (Malaysia), introducing an entire range of plumbing fittings manufactured with engineering plastics.
1987
1994
1994
St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent Husqvarna (Sweden), introducing a highend range of chainsaws and brush cutters.
1994
1995
1995
Precision Fasteners (pvt) Ltd, commenced operations manufacturing of commercial grade fasteners and concrete nails, becoming one of the largest manufacturers of industrial fasteners in Sri Lanka.
1995
1996
1996
St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as Sole Agent for Prince Brand Kitchen Sinks by M/s. Valli Steel Industries, India.
1996
1997
1997
St. Anthony’s Group initiated a Tri-Party Joint Venture agreement with Watertec (Malaysia) and UMS Group (India) under Watertec (India) to manufacture Watertec products in Coimbatore, for distribution to the Indian market.
1997
2000
2000
St. Anthony’s Hardware, formed a chemical division and was appointed as Sole Agent for Pigments from Elementis, UK’s largest specialty chemical company.
2000
2002
2002
St. Anthony’s Hardware, was appointed as sole agent for WR GRACE (USA), to supply admixtures to the construction industry.
2002
2009
2009
St. Anthony’s Hardware launched its own power tool brand, ATLAS.
2009
2009
2009
St. Anthony’s Hardware introduces Blue Whale Air Compressors and pneumatic power tools.
2009
2009
2009
St. Anthony’s Hardware introduces globally recognized welding transformer brand, KENDE.
2009
2010
2010
St. Anthony’s Hardware formed a Joint Venture with Valli Steel Industries (India) to manufacture kitchen sinks in Palleleke Industrial Zone in Kandy. Prince Kitchen Sinks is the market leader for its domestic range of sink products.
2010
2010
2010
St. Anthony’s Solar is formed and quickly becomes the market leader in rooftop solar water heating.
2010
2010
2010
St. Anthony’s Hardware, was appointed as an agent for KENT (India), to distribute and service reverse-osmosis (RO) water purifiers to the market.
2010
2011
2011
ST Anthony’s Solar begins installing rooftop solar for home and industrial power requirement, with technology from the #1 inverter brand SMA (Germany), and one of the global leaders in solar panels, RENESOLA.
2011
2015
2015
St Anthony’s Hydropower subsidiary, ESCAS commissions 2.8MW Minihydro in Owala.
2015
2017
2017
HomeMart, Sri Lanka’s only hardware and homewares supermarket with the largest selection of the best brands under one roof.
2017
2018
2018
St Anthony’s Hydropower subsidiary, ESCAS commissions 6.4MW Minihydro in Ankanda.
2018

Our Companies

Since its inception in 1942, St. Anthony’s has grown into numerous industries across every sector from construction to hospitality, from water to power, from manufacturing to retail. Here is a synopsis of some of our most prominent brands that dominate today’s marketplace.