In celebration of the 85 th birthday of late chairman & founder of Hettigoda Group, Sahassrabisheka Waidyashuri Deshabandu Ayur Dr. Victor Hettigoda (LittD), a Maha Pirith Chanting Ceremony followed by an alms giving was held on 12 th & 13 th of September 2022 with the participation of
Chairman & Managing Director Mr. Asoka Hettigoda and the board of directors: Mrs. Rupasiri Wickramanayaka, Mrs. Vidyani Hettigoda, Mrs. Lankani Hettigoda, Mrs. Dilanthi Fernando, Mrs. Sarojini Fernando, Mr. Wasantha Ariyathilaka, company staff, relatives and neighbors.
Sahassrabisheka Waidyashuri Deshabandu Ayur Dr. Victor Hettigoda (LittD) is the son of renowned Kidney Specialist and Astrologer, Dr. Hendrick de Silva Hettigoda who hailed from a 200-year old ancestry of Ayurveda physicians, who introduced Siddhalepa Balm to the market in 1934. He then handed the brand to Dr. Victor Hettigoda, in 1972 and became the Chairman of Siddhalepa Group.
Over the next twenty years, he built an Ayurvedic Empire and today he is regarded as the “Father of Modern Ayurveda” in Sri Lanka. He created the famous branding slogan “The doctor in every home” which is now recognised by everyone in Sri Lanka. Siddhalepa today is the market leader in the Ayurveda pain relief category and also the Ayurveda industry leader who promotes Hela Ayurveda across the globe via its diversified arms in healthcare and tourism sectors.
He was a unique marketer who believed in doing things differently. Dr. Hettigoda understood the key driving force to introduce the product and created consumer moments around the Siddhalepa brand, by providing it free-of-charge at pilgrim sites such as Adam’s Peak, Kataragama, Kandy Perahera, Madu Church and Nallur Kovil; national events like the Esala Perahera, and even in schools. This strategy of targeting consumption moments and allowing consumers to experience the product has tremendously helped the company build brand loyalty and equity. Dr. Victor Hettigoda believed in growing together with our society. Thus he initiated many CSR projects that has benefited the society at large. He was an exemplary leader and an entrepreneur who is widely considered as a legend in entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.
