Deshabandu Deshabandhu (; ) is the third highest Sri Lankan honours system, national honour awarded in Sri Lanka. It is awarded "for meritorious service". The title is held by no more than 150 living holders at any time. It is conferred with a citation and ...

Victor Hettigoda (1937 – 2 April 2022) was a Sri Lankan entrepreneur and a candidate for the

2005 Sri Lankan presidential election Presidential elections were held in Sri Lanka on 17 November 2005. Nominations were accepted on 7 September 2005 and voter turnout was 74%. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa of the governing United People's Freedom Alliance was elected, receiving ...

. He was considered as one of the most successful Sri Lankan entrepreneurs post-independence. He died on 2 April 2022, at the age of 84.

Early life

Hettigoda, Chairman of Hettigoda Group of Companies, was born at Kananke, Matara in 1937 to a family of resounding standing, reputation and admiration. Victor was the fifth of a family of nine children.School drop-out who scaled ladder of success
Sunday Observer, retrieved 1 August 2010. He received his education at

Rahula College Rahula College () is a boys' school in Sri Lanka, located in Matara district. Though it was originally a private Buddhist school, now it is run by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National School. Rahula College has two sections - the Primary s ...

, Matara. On leaving school, he joined his father as a 'helper student' in pursuit of the ancestral noble profession of

Ayurveda Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

Medicine. It took him nearly 12 years to learn the art of Ayurveda Medicine. He spent many late nights burning the mid-night oil, engrossed in the " Ola Leaf" Manuscripts and books on Ayurveda. Victor was married to a school teacher and has two daughters and a son. The children are also involved in his businesses.

Manufacturing of Ayurvedic products

Victor's untiring efforts and devotion towards Ayurveda won the accolade of his father resulting in the reward of disclosing the secret Formula of "Siddhalepa" Balm – the Wonder Balm. The desire for independence and the anxiety for achievement were in him, but financial resources were a problem to him. However, the initial investment of Rs 2,500/= came to him from a trusted relative in 1971 to start his venture. One of the biggest investors in the Sri Lankan equity market, Dr. T Senthilverl financially supported him to grow his business in the initial stage. The man worked hard travelling – very often on foot- across the length and breadth of the country selling his balm, soap and mosquito coils. Today it is a flourishing multi – crore enterprise exporting to 19 countries and employing 3,500 employees. Moreover, Hettigoda was also one of the main founders of the wonder balm, Siddhalepa. The secret formula, which has been guarded for more than 200 years was disclosed to him by his father, and after working hard to promote the product, is now recognized worldwide as a leader in "Veda Beheth" (Sinhala for herbal based medicine). Besides the Ayurvedic products he has also established ayurvedic hospitals and health resort – hotels. There is the modern hospital in Anuradhapura and compost factory collecting elephant dung in Talawa.

Presidential election 2005

Hettigoda, one of 13 candidates in a packed field that included then

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Mahinda Rajapakse Mahinda Rajapaksa (; ; born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa; 18 November 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the sixth President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015; the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005, 2018, and 2019 to 2022; the ...

and then former Prime Minister and former

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Ranil Wickremesinghe Ranil Wickremesinghe (; ; born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who served as the ninth president of Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2024. He has also served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993–1994, 2001–2004, 2015–2018, 2018-2019 a ...

, told Sri Lankan newspaper ''The Island'' that if elected, he would use his vast fortune to buy a

cow Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are called co ...

for every home in the country. He said that the cows would be used to fight off

malnutrition Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients which adversely affects the body's tissues a ...

, suggesting that any excess milk, cheese or butter could be exported.

References

External links

Official Website of Hettigoda Group (Siddhalepa)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hettigoda, Victor 1937 births 2022 deaths Candidates in the 2005 Sri Lankan presidential election Alumni of Rahula College Sinhalese people Sri Lankan businesspeople Deshabandu People from Matara, Sri Lanka