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A disciplined holding platform built for long-term value creation, responsible growth, and enduring impact.
The story of Hands International Group is one of ambition, resilience, and purpose. Founded in 1987 by the late Graetian Gunawardhana, the Group began as a modest family venture that grew into one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and diversified conglomerates.
Before entering business, Mr. Gunawardhana served for over twelve years in the Sri Lanka Police Department, a tenure that shaped his discipline, leadership, and sense of duty. With the earnings from overseas employment, he invested his savings to establish Poly Gloves Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., a small glove manufacturing enterprise operating out of a family home in Negombo with another ten employees.
From the beginning, his mission was clear: build a business rooted in trust, quality, and opportunity. What began as a simple local operation soon evolved into a pioneering export company serving global markets.
Founded on 25th July 2012 by Mr. Kushal Perera, Hands International Holdings is the principal holding company of the Hands International Group. Designed as a strategic anchor rather than an operating entity, it exists to provide direction, governance, and long-term stewardship across the Group’s portfolio of businesses.
As demand for Sri Lankan industrial products grew, Mr. Gunawardhana’s business secured its first major international partnership with Edmond, an American glove manufacturer. With technical guidance from the partner (name?) and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Poly Gloves Lanka expanded rapidly, transforming the backyard workshop into a fully operational industrial facility.
In 1996, the company underwent a major transformation with the establishment of Hands International (Pvt) Ltd., which unified all glove manufacturing operations under a single corporate entity. This marked the formal beginning of the Hands International Group and its transformation.
The company’s facilities expanded from one acre to over 20 acres in Seeduwa, employing more than 3,000 workers. Its exclusive partnership with Ansell Inc., a globally recognized manufacturer of protective industrial gloves, further elevated the Group’s international standing. For over 24 years of unwavering collaboration, Hands International has blossomed into one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent and influential exporters of industrial gloves, with a goal to make a lasting impact on the nation’s industrial landscape.
By 2014, the company had grown from an initial annual turnover of USD 1 million to over 30 times that value, demonstrating consistent and exponential growth.
Hands International Holdings was established with a long-term vision: to unify, strengthen, and strategically guide the diverse business interests of the Hands International Group under a single, coherent structure.
Providing clarity, direction, and long-term planning across the portfolio.
Ensuring ethical leadership, transparency, and responsible decision-making.
Investing in scalable, sustainable, and high-impact businesses.
Balancing profitability with resilience, innovation, and social impact.
This allows each subsidiary to operate with independence and agility, while remaining aligned with shared values, purpose, and performance standards.
Built on trust, foresight, and integrity, Hands International Holdings plays a central role in identifying sustainable opportunities, nurturing innovation, and safeguarding long-term value creation. Every investment is assessed not only on financial merit, but also on its contribution to operational stability, responsible growth, and positive impact.
At its core, Hands International Holdings reflects the founder’s philosophy: to build a lasting legacy rather than pursue short-term gains empowering businesses, supporting people, and shaping opportunities that endure across generations.
Manages purpose-built industrial and manufacturing facilities leased to Ansell Textile Limited (ATL), supporting large-scale glove manufacturing with integrated infrastructure and renewable energy solutions.
Operates advanced, internationally compliant manufacturing facilities designed for glove production, serving as an active leased manufacturing location for Ansell.
