Established in 1904 as a brokering company, Bartleet Group has witnessed the march of history as it unfolded in Ceylon and then Sri Lanka for over a century, withstanding the ensuing peaks and troughs with resilience.

Today, it is a dynamic group with multiple interests closely linking its corporate vision with the nation’s economic growth trajectory. The conglomerate has pioneered a gamut of successful businesses and ventures over the past 117 years, evolving and transforming itself to establish a steadfast legacy that has contributed to economic growth and enhanced the lives of many Sri Lankans.

Backed by a culture that operates within the bounds of integrity, honesty, reliability, and good governance, Bartleet stands tall among the nation’s iconic corporates.

As the country embarks on an extensive economic growth plan, the diverse activities of the Bartleet Group further augment the potential impact on the holistic well-being of millions of Sri Lankans. Partnered with fitting business associates, we want to see the realization of our unique purpose which is ‘To Connect. To Build’ and work towards accomplishing those goals by 2025.

Bartleet Group was owned and managed exclusively by British partners Wilton Bartleet and George White & Co. (UK) until 1958. The former spearheaded the company’s inauguration in 1904 by naming it Bartleet & Co.

A chance encounter between Bartleet and Somerville – a tea broker – led to a friendship that saw Bartleet being established as a tea broking operation, which expanded to rubber and coconuts.

In November 1958, in what is a historical milestone, Mallory Wijesinghe was appointed the first Ceylonese director and assumed duties as the Chairman of Bartleet & Co – a moment of pride for the country, which paved the way for a local board of directors.

He also held prestigious positions between 1961 and 1990, serving in the capacity of Honorary Consul-General of the Netherlands to the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) – a position that the group’s present Chairman Eraj Wijesinghe held in 2002 – Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Colombo Brokers Association.

In addition, he was the Founder President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Founder Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation.

His scion Eraj Wijesinghe took up the mantle and worked his way up across all departments before being appointed as the Chairman of Bartleet. He is one of the conglomerate’s stalwarts with his most significant contribution being the group’s diversification from tea and commodities to other interests over 40 years.

Founded as a family run business, Bartleet Group has been passed down to the third generation with Eshanth Wijesinghe spearheading operations as Group Managing Director.

Having pioneered some innovative efforts within the Financial and IT sectors of the country, our involvement in bringing about a positive change within these sectors is a legacy on its own. Presently, the group’s focus revolves around three key verticals that play a part in maintaining its robust heritage as well as shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s business landscape.

Having laid a solid foundation for the banking sector through such IT enhancements, we also hold fort and play leading roles in many other business verticals of the country. From stock and money broking, wealth management, life insurance, mineral quartz processing to even preserving our dominant position within the tea and export industries, we have holistically contributed towards a sound nation building campaign.

From global conglomerates like Religare Securities to the Life Insurance Corporation of India, who have enabled the Bartleet Group to stay competitive in a volatile environment, the Company’s like-minded entities who can further assist the Company’s ability to penetrate markets in India, China and Europe (I.C.E). Founded as a family run business operating in its 3rd generation of entrepreneurs, the Company likens itself to admirable Chinese cultural value systems that thrive on stability and perseverance. With the current Free Trade Agreements in place with I.C.E countries, Sri Lanka is well placed for a deeper investment thrust.

As a long-standing corporate citizen of the country, we have weathered some of the most gruesome times of the country’s history and have emerged stronger than ever. Backed by a culture that operates on integrity, honesty, reliability, and good governance, Bartleet is ready to take our unflinching vision to the 21st century.