Our Team

Dr. Austin Au

Managing Director

Dr.Austin Au was drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry from the very beginning of his professional career. While completing his tertiary education at University, he received a comprehensive academic background in textiles. Furthermore, at the time (the mid-1980’s), the textile industry was a major player in the economy of Hong Kong — his home country. It is as a result of these factors that he chose textiles as his area of expertise. Dr.Austin’s academic qualifications specific to the industry include a Higher Diploma in Textile Chemistry gained in the year 1985 from HK Polytechnic and, subsequently, an MSc and a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds completed in 1989 and 1996, respectively. He has persisted with the industry for as long as he has due to the simple reason that he enjoys his career immensely. In his eyes, Ocean Lanka is unique among other textile manufacturers due to its people and the culture that is evident across the organization. It is multicultural in nature and fosters principles of inclusion at all times. Dr.Austin wishes to continue setting the direction of Ocean Lanka along with his expert-team to ensure that the company remains the preferred knitted fabric supplier in the region.

Mr. Shisheng Huang

Assistant General Manager, Production

Huang Shisheng was drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry from the very beginning of his professional career. While completing his education at Guangdong Polytechnic, he received a comprehensive academic background in textiles. He has persisted with the industry for as long as he has due to the simple reason that he enjoys his career immensely. In his eyes, Ocean Lanka is unique among other textile manufacturers due to its people and the culture that is evident across the organization. It is multicultural in nature and fosters principles of inclusion at all times. Huang Shisheng wishes to continue setting the direction of Ocean Lanka along with his expert-team to ensure that the company remains the preferred knitted fabric supplier in the region.

Mr. Nowzad Abdullah

Mr.Abdullah, first, considered joining the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its importance within the Sri Lankan economy and, also, the country’s industry-competitiveness globally. He currently holds, both, a Bachelor of Science in Textile and Technology as well as a Master of Business Administration degree. He has remained loyal to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its rewarding nature in terms of, both, personal growth and finances. Mr.Abdullah believes that Ocean Lanka stands tall in the industry, well above its competitors, due to the multicultural makeup of the company as well as its reputation as a top-notch manufacturer of textiles with a host of reputed partners. He wishes to draw upon his 22 years of experience in the industry to serve as an effective team leader and contribute positively to textile manufacturing in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Wen Qiyong

Deputy General Manager

Mr.Qiyong is, originally, from an engineering background and possesses several decades worth of experience in the textile industry — 31 years to be precise. His higher education was completed at the China Textile University, where he completed his Bachelor of Engineering degree. Mr.Qiyong’s initial entry into the textile industry occurred as a result of his strong interest in the area of textiles and textile production. He has remained in the textile industry, for as many years as he has, due to the opportunities it provides to learn new skills, to study further, and to continuously engage in research and development. The industry presents him with a chance to challenge and improve himself on a daily basis, which he values immensely. He believes that Ocean Lanka stands out in the industry because of its ability to cater to their customers’ exact requirements. Mr.Wen’s long-term objective is to lead the team expertly and ensure that Ocean Lanka is recognized as the topmost fabric manufacturer in the textile and apparel industry in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Saman Bandara

Assistant General Manager - Finance

First drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its fast-paced and dynamic nature, Mr.Bandara proudly states that it is a leading contributor towards the country’s national income. Upon completing a Bachelor of Science (Special) Degree in Accountancy & Financial Management, he commenced working in the areas of Finance and Auditing. Subsequently, he fulfilled the requirements necessary to gain the qualification of Member of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka(ACA). Of his 16 years of experience in Finance, 12 have been in manufacturing companies catering to the export market, including his 7 years at Ocean Lanka so far. He relishes being a part of the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to the rapid growth it consistently experiences, despite the lulls. it displays at certain times. Mr.Bandara enjoys the challenges he has to overcome as a Finance professional in this industry, and he strongly feels that it adds much value to his career every single day. He believes that the good reputation that Ocean Lanka has built in the industry is attributable to, not only, the quality of its work but also the technical know-how of fabrics that it has consistently provided to peers in the industry, other mills, and the apparel sector as a whole. As an individual, Mr.Bandara would like to progress further as a leading professional in the areas of Finance and Operations, within the corporate sphere.

Mr. Ruwan Mudalpath

Assistant General Manager - Sales and Marketing

From a very early stage in his professional career, Mr.Mudalpath had displayed a strong passion for textiles, fashion and the apparel industry as a whole. This is what first prompted him to work in the industry and he has remained, thereafter, due to the dynamic nature of fashion, changing trends worldwide, the challenges faced, new areas of interest, and the scale of product innovation. He, thoroughly, relishes the opportunities for learning that the industry provides. In terms of his academic qualifications in the areas of Sales and Marketing, Mr.Mudalpath has completed a Professional Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing (CIM UK) as well as a Diploma in Business Management. Furthermore, he fulfilled the requirements necessary to gain the qualification of Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). In total, he has 24 years of experience in the apparel and textile industry, including hands-on experience in handling export-based Marketing, Business Development, and Operations. What sets Ocean Lanka apart, Mr.Mudalpath believes, is its reputation as an established yet flexible supplier of textiles who can handle quick turnaround times. Also, he says that Ocean Lanka has the firm advantage of being able to provide a range of weft-knit solutions to the market: solids, prints, and yarn dyeing. Mr.Mudalpath wishes to, further, strengthen Ocean Lanka’s name as the best weft-knit solutions provider in the region.

Mr. Nalaka Buddhadasa

Assistant General Manager - Administration

Mr.Buddhadasa comes from a military background and what he brings to the table at Ocean Lanka involves administrative processes and the handling of our employees. A, now, Retired Military Officer (Major), he served in Infantry and Special Forces for a period of 15 years. His many years in the military involved passing through the ranks of the Sri Lankan Military Academy as well as the Pakistan Military Academy. He was previously employed with Brandix Lanka Ltd. and gained his initiation to the textile industry in this role. He relishes the challenges and opportunities that are a part of the dynamic textile and apparel industry. Mr.Buddhadasa believes that the industry’s potential is ever-increasing due to its consistent standing as the top foreign-exchange earner in Sri Lanka. Ocean Lanka stands out from the pack, he says, due to its emphasis on innovation and its provision of sustainable textile solutions to the weft-knitted fabrics market.