For more than eight decades, the St. Anthony’s Group has grown from a modest trading venture into one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and diversified business groups. Rooted in a tradition of integrity, innovation, and service excellence, the Group has expanded across key industries such as construction, manufacturing, hardware, industrial solutions, energy, and home services. Each company within the Group contributes to this shared legacy — upholding the same commitment to quality and reliability that has earned the trust of households, businesses, and communities across the nation. Today, the St. Anthony’s Group continues to evolve, carrying forward its heritage while driving progress for future generations.
In 1942, Mr A.Y.S. Gnanam established St. Anthony’s Group by collecting scrap iron remains of World War 2 and trading it first locally and eventually exporting them to Europe.
In 1944, St. Anthony's Paradise Stores (later renamed St. Anthony’s Consolidated) was launched as the trading arm of the group distributing hardware, machinery building materials, cement and consumer electronics.
In 1960, St. Anthony’s Industries was launched, IInitially company started to manufacture wire nails and followed by PVC pipes, fittings, gutters, tanks and other consumer plastics. This company became more commonly known as Anton, one of the Sri Lanka’s premier PVC brands.
In 1963, St. Anthony’s Group enters the textile industry by launching Ceylon Synthetic Textile Mills Ltd, in its first international joint venture with Mitsui, Toray and Sakision of Japan. The company manufactured synthetic and blended woven fabrics for the domestic market.
In 1968/72, - Signed an agency agreement with Sanyo Japan who St. Anthony’s represented SANYO for over 3 decades, even assembling and servicing their consumer electronics.
In 1977, St. Anthony’s further diversifies its operations by starting Alexandra Industries to manufacture and export of heavy Gauge Sweaters.
In 1980, Sascon Knitting Company commenced its operations and started to manufacture fine knit fabric to service the international Polo and T-shirts markets. A few years later a garment factory was commissioned to service the local market.
In 1981, St. Anthony’s Roofing (Pvt) Limited commenced operations to manufacture low cost corrugated roofing sheets for the domestic market. The company’s manufacturing facilities located in Puttalam utilized recyclable local raw materials.
In 1982, Tokyo Cement Company commenced operations of the country’s first automated cement factory in Trincomalee as a joint venture between Mitsui Mining Japan and St. Anthony’s Consolidated. Tokyo Cement is currently the largest cement and concrete manufacturer in Sri Lanka with 23MW of biomass power plants and its own cargo vessels for importing of raw materials.
In 1983, San Fashion Ltd started operations with 115 sewing machines and 220 personnel for manufacture woven apparel export to the US market.
In 1987, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for Watertec (Malaysia) introducing an entire range of plumbing fittings manufactured with engineering polymer.
1994, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent Husqvarna (Sweden) introducing a highend range of chainsaws and brush cutters.
In 1995, Precision Fasteners (pvt) Ltd, commenced operations manufacturing of commercial grade fasteners and concrete nails becoming one of the largest manufacturers of industrial fasteners in Sri Lanka.
In 1996, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for Prince Brand Kitchen Sinks by M/s. Valli Steel Industries, India.
In 1997, St. Anthony’s Group initiated a Tri-Party Joint Venture agreement with Watertec (Malaysia) and UMS Group (India) under Watertec (India) to manufacture Watertec products in Coimbatore for distribution to the Indian market.
In 2000, St. Anthony’s Hardware, formed a chemical division and was appointed as Sole Agent for Pigments from Elementis, UK’s largest specialty chemical company.
In 2002, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for WR GRACE (USA) to supply admixtures to the construction industry.
In 2009, St. Anthony’s Hardware launched its own power tool brand, ATLAS
In 2009, St. Anthony’s Hardware introduced Blue Whale Air Compressors and Pneumatic power tools.
In 2009, St. Anthony’s Hardware Introduced globally recognized welding transformer brand KENDE.
In 2010, St. Anthony’s Solar is formed and quickly becomes the market leader in Solar PV systems and Solar Water Heating systems.
In 2010, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as an agent for KENT (India) to distribute and service reverse-osmosis (RO) water purifiers to the market.
In 2010, St. Anthony’s Hardware formed a Joint Venture with Valli Steel Industries (India) to manufacture kitchen sinks in Palleleke Industrial Zone in Kandy. Prince Kitchen Sinks is the market leader for its domestic range of sink products.
In 2011, St. Anthony’s Solar begins installing roof top solar for home and industrial power requirement, with technology from the #1 inverter brand SMA (Germany), and one of the global leaders in solar panels, RENESOLA.
In 2015, St. Anthony’s Hydropower subsidiary ESCAS commissions 2.8MW Minihydro in Owala.
In 2015, St. Anthony’s Chemicals introduced their Ecomix brand. Which is a high-pe ormance admixture super plasticizer range that based on advanced polymer technology.
In 2015, St. Anthony’s Chemicals was appointed as the Sole Agent for Econex, world leading concrete admixture Manufacturer in Korea.
In 2015, St. Anthony’s Chemicals introduced Montania Portland Cement into the market.
In 2017, HomeMart, Sri Lanka’s only hardware and homewares supermarket with the largest selection of the best brands under one roof.
In 2018, St. Anthony’s Hydropower subsidiary ESCAS commissions 6.4MW Minihydro in Ankanda.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s Chemicals introduced its own titanium dioxide brand Titanax to the market.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for Safety Jogger brand, one of the leading industrial safety wear manufacturer in the world.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s Hardware was appointed as the Sole Agent for Spanish Amig brand, a company with more than 75 years of experience within the industry of hardware, DIY and industrial supplies.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s Chemicals was appointed as the Sole Agent for Dubayrox, international enterprise for pigments and colorants production, also coating additives.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s Chemicals was appointed as the Sole Agent for Venator, leading global chemical company dedicated to the development and manufacture of color pigments and pe ormance additives.
In 2019, St. Anthony’s hardware Introduced Goldmill pallet trucks.
