Upali Wijewardene - Revision history

Bhashi at 06:07, 30 October 2025

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	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />

			[[Category:profile]]

Bhashi at 12:22, 23 October 2025

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	==References==		==References==
			<references />

Bhashi at 12:22, 23 October 2025

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	'''Philip Upali Wijewardene''' (17 February 1938 – 13 February 1983: Sinhala: උපාලි විජේවර්ධන) was a Sri Lankan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_magnate business magnate] and entrepreneur. In 1983, Wijewardene had a net worth of US $50 million. He was the founder and chairman of Upali Group, the first multi-national business in Sri Lanka. Upali Group has businesses in the US, UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.[1] The Upali Group diversified from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confectionery confectionery] to electronics, automobile manufacturing, publishing, print media, leisure, and aviation. It developed many brands, including Kandos, Delta, Unic, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Air Upali Air], Upali Mazda and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Newspapers Upali Newspapers], which Insight Magazine UK said was achieved "largely through bravado and wit."~~[2]~~		'''Philip Upali Wijewardene''' (17 February 1938 – 13 February 1983: Sinhala: උපාලි විජේවර්ධන) was a Sri Lankan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_magnate business magnate] and entrepreneur. In 1983, Wijewardene had a net worth of US $50 million. He was the founder and chairman of Upali Group, the first multi-national business in Sri Lanka. Upali Group has businesses in the US, UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.<ref>"A6 : Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2014.</ref> The Upali Group diversified from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confectionery confectionery] to electronics, automobile manufacturing, publishing, print media, leisure, and aviation. It developed many brands, including Kandos, Delta, Unic, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Air Upali Air], Upali Mazda and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Newspapers Upali Newspapers], which Insight Magazine UK said was achieved "largely through bravado and wit."<ref>"Colombo". Collins English Dictionary (13th ed.). HarperCollins. 2018. ISBN 978-0-008-28437-4.</ref>

	Wijewardene was presumed dead on 13 February 1983, when his private Learjet disappeared over the Straits of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca Malacca] soon after leaving Malaysia en route to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo Colombo].~~[3]~~		Wijewardene was presumed dead on 13 February 1983, when his private Learjet disappeared over the Straits of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca Malacca] soon after leaving Malaysia en route to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo Colombo].<ref>"Colombo". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2020.</ref>

	==Early life and family==		==Early life and family==

Bhashi at 12:20, 23 October 2025

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	'''Philip Upali Wijewardene''' (17 February 1938 – 13 February 1983: Sinhala: උපාලි විජේවර්ධන) was a Sri Lankan business magnate and entrepreneur. In 1983, Wijewardene had a net worth of US $50 million. He was the founder and chairman of Upali Group, the first multi-national business in Sri Lanka. Upali Group has businesses in the US, UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.[1] The Upali Group diversified from confectionery to electronics, automobile manufacturing, publishing, print media, leisure, and aviation. It developed many brands, including Kandos, Delta, Unic, Upali Air, Upali Mazda and Upali Newspapers, which Insight Magazine UK said was achieved "largely through bravado and wit."[2]		'''Philip Upali Wijewardene''' (17 February 1938 – 13 February 1983: Sinhala: උපාලි විජේවර්ධන) was a Sri Lankan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_magnate business magnate] and entrepreneur. In 1983, Wijewardene had a net worth of US $50 million. He was the founder and chairman of Upali Group, the first multi-national business in Sri Lanka. Upali Group has businesses in the US, UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.[1] The Upali Group diversified from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confectionery confectionery] to electronics, automobile manufacturing, publishing, print media, leisure, and aviation. It developed many brands, including Kandos, Delta, Unic, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Air Upali Air], Upali Mazda and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upali_Newspapers Upali Newspapers], which Insight Magazine UK said was achieved "largely through bravado and wit."[2]

	Wijewardene was presumed dead on 13 February 1983, when his private Learjet disappeared over the Straits of Malacca soon after leaving Malaysia en route to Colombo.[3]		Wijewardene was presumed dead on 13 February 1983, when his private Learjet disappeared over the Straits of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca Malacca] soon after leaving Malaysia en route to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo Colombo].[3]

	==Early life and family==		==Early life and family==

Bhashi: /* Disappearance */

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Disappearance

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	A wheel that was thought to be part of the disappeared plane was found on Pandang Island, leading the authorities to conclude that the plane had suffered a mid-air explosion. Later investigations revealed that the plane manufacturer did not make this wheel.[18] According to K. Godage, former Malaysian High Commissioner, the government of Sri Lanka showed no interest in investigating the disappearance further.[14] Rumours later circulated that Wijewardene was to have been named the minister of finance by president J. R. Jayewardene the next day, on his return to Colombo.[citation needed]		A wheel that was thought to be part of the disappeared plane was found on Pandang Island, leading the authorities to conclude that the plane had suffered a mid-air explosion. Later investigations revealed that the plane manufacturer did not make this wheel.[18] According to K. Godage, former Malaysian High Commissioner, the government of Sri Lanka showed no interest in investigating the disappearance further.[14] Rumours later circulated that Wijewardene was to have been named the minister of finance by president J. R. Jayewardene the next day, on his return to Colombo.[citation needed]

	~~See also~~
	~~List of people who disappeared~~		==References==
	~~Upali Air~~
	~~Upali Newspapers~~
	References

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Print media

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	In 1970, Wijewardene founded the Upali Motor Company (UMC), which began assembly of Mazda Capellas under license in his Homagama plant These cars were known locally as the UMC Mazda or, more colloquially, Upali Mazda. Over 500 units were assembled. In 1978, UMC began the assembly of the Fiat 128, known locally as Upali Fiat.[12]		In 1970, Wijewardene founded the Upali Motor Company (UMC), which began assembly of Mazda Capellas under license in his Homagama plant These cars were known locally as the UMC Mazda or, more colloquially, Upali Mazda. Over 500 units were assembled. In 1978, UMC began the assembly of the Fiat 128, known locally as Upali Fiat.[12]

	==Print media==		====Print media====
	In 1981, he started Upali Newspapers and published daily and weekly newspapers, including Divaina, The Island and Navaliya. He used his aircraft to deliver newspapers to remote areas such as Anuradhapura and Jaffna.		In 1981, he started Upali Newspapers and published daily and weekly newspapers, including Divaina, The Island and Navaliya. He used his aircraft to deliver newspapers to remote areas such as Anuradhapura and Jaffna.

Bhashi: /* Automotive */

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Automotive

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	He started the Upali Electronic Company in the 1970s, introducing radios, calculators, wall clocks, air-conditioners and television sets. These were assembled locally under the import restrictions of the time.		He started the Upali Electronic Company in the 1970s, introducing radios, calculators, wall clocks, air-conditioners and television sets. These were assembled locally under the import restrictions of the time.

	==Automotive==		====Automotive====
	In 1970, Wijewardene founded the Upali Motor Company (UMC), which began assembly of Mazda Capellas under license in his Homagama plant These cars were known locally as the UMC Mazda or, more colloquially, Upali Mazda. Over 500 units were assembled. In 1978, UMC began the assembly of the Fiat 128, known locally as Upali Fiat.[12]		In 1970, Wijewardene founded the Upali Motor Company (UMC), which began assembly of Mazda Capellas under license in his Homagama plant These cars were known locally as the UMC Mazda or, more colloquially, Upali Mazda. Over 500 units were assembled. In 1978, UMC began the assembly of the Fiat 128, known locally as Upali Fiat.[12]

Bhashi: /* Electronics */

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Electronics

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	In the aviation sector, he founded Upali Air in 1968. Flight operations started in the late 1970s with several aircraft for private, domestic and international flights.[3]		In the aviation sector, he founded Upali Air in 1968. Flight operations started in the late 1970s with several aircraft for private, domestic and international flights.[3]

	==Electronics==		====Electronics====
	He started the Upali Electronic Company in the 1970s, introducing radios, calculators, wall clocks, air-conditioners and television sets. These were assembled locally under the import restrictions of the time.		He started the Upali Electronic Company in the 1970s, introducing radios, calculators, wall clocks, air-conditioners and television sets. These were assembled locally under the import restrictions of the time.

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Aviation

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	Wijewardene began soap manufacturing, introducing the brands Crystal and Tingle Sikuru.		Wijewardene began soap manufacturing, introducing the brands Crystal and Tingle Sikuru.

	==Aviation==		====Aviation====
	In the aviation sector, he founded Upali Air in 1968. Flight operations started in the late 1970s with several aircraft for private, domestic and international flights.[3]		In the aviation sector, he founded Upali Air in 1968. Flight operations started in the late 1970s with several aircraft for private, domestic and international flights.[3]

Bhashi: /* Manufacturing */

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Manufacturing

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	Wijewardene founded the Upali Group of Companies in the mid-1960s, consolidating his holdings and forming a conglomerate of companies.[10][11]		Wijewardene founded the Upali Group of Companies in the mid-1960s, consolidating his holdings and forming a conglomerate of companies.[10][11]

	==Manufacturing==		====Manufacturing====
	Wijewardene began soap manufacturing, introducing the brands Crystal and Tingle Sikuru.		Wijewardene began soap manufacturing, introducing the brands Crystal and Tingle Sikuru.