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Losing his parents early in his life, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa was raised by his grandmother who continuously found opportunities for him which led to the birth of the finest footwear company in Sri Lanka – DSI Samson Group.
Driven by a self-discipline that was very evident from the age of 14, he travelled between his hometown, Galle and Colombo working at several places until one day he opened up his own white cloth trading business in the streets of Pettah. Even after the devastating destruction of the World War II which sent him back to Galle, he came back and resurrected his business once more.
The foundation of DSI Samson Group was laid there in Pettah when he ventured into footwear and started bringing down international styles into Sri Lanka such as the famous ‘Ballerina’ slippers. He saw the potential of this trade and opened up his first factory in Galle to manufacture slippers locally. His vision of creating a loyal and friendly work environment, and creating a product that carried a reputation of quality and comfort was a huge success with praise even coming in from the Late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the Industrial Exhibition in 1964.
From shoes to garments, the DSI Samson Group name expanded with vigour and abundance. Even though the business grew large, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa always remained the same humble man from Galle. Giving in abundance back to his home city by creating a plethora of jobs, his Company helped put Galle on the map. He understood the value of branding and the value of customer loyalty. Thus his products were manufactured mainly putting the customer’s needs in the forefront while the advertising was targeted at reaching their hearts and minds. His strong conviction and inherent ability to quickly identify opportunities created a strong foundation for the future of DSI Samson Group, which led to a resilient brand and a diverse group of companies that stands tall among its competition even today. As the family expanded, the children too played a part in the legacy in the 1970s maintaining the values set by their father – values such as fair treatment, equal opportunities, impeccable discipline and unparalleled levels of customer as well as employee loyalty.
Through the hard times and all the obstacles that came his way, Mr. Rajapaksa always set his success story on a background of persistence while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never disregarded his roots or the value of family, and treated his employees with a relationship similar to that of father and child. His legend and vision has endured the test of time and has touched the lives of many through significant contributions to religious events, education as well as the growth of the community. This diversity has become recognised by the many awards and achievements the Group has received such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NCE Export Awards and CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence.
The story of young orphaned boy coming to Colombo in search of work with the blessings of his grandmother is legendary and has over the years transformed itself in to one large resolute family that is today the DSI Samson Group. The sky is the limit as far as our future is concerned and the Group can only expand into more trades and lines of business whilst driving the existing subsidiaries to grow from strength to strength.
Losing his parents early in his life, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa was raised by his grandmother who continuously found opportunities for him which led to the birth of the finest footwear company in Sri Lanka – DSI Samson Group.
Driven by a self-discipline that was very evident from the age of 14, he travelled between his hometown, Galle and Colombo working at several places until one day he opened up his own white cloth trading business in the streets of Pettah. Even after the devastating destruction of the World War II which sent him back to Galle, he came back and resurrected his business once more.
The foundation of DSI Samson Group was laid there in Pettah when he ventured into footwear and started bringing down the International Footwear Styles into Sri Lanka such as the famous ‘Ballerina’ slippers at that time. He figure out the potential of this business trade and opened up his very own Footwear Factory in Galle to manufacture slippers locally. His vision of creating a loyal and friendly work environment, and creating a product that carried a reputation of quality and comfort was a huge success with great acknowledgment and praise even coming in from the Sri Lankan Late President Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the Industrial Exhibition held in 1964.
From shoes to garments, the DSI Samson Group name expanded with vigour and abundance. Even though the business grew large, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa always remained the same humble man from Galle. Giving in abundance back to his home city by creating a plethora of jobs, his Company helped put Galle on the map. He understood the value of branding and the value of customer loyalty. Thus his products were manufactured mainly putting the customer’s needs in the forefront while the advertising was targeted at reaching their hearts and minds. His strong conviction and inherent ability to quickly identify opportunities created a strong foundation for the future of DSI Samson Group, which led to a resilient brand and a diverse group of companies that stands tall among its competition even today. As the family expanded, the children too played a part in the legacy in the 1970s maintaining the values set by their father – values such as fair treatment, equal opportunities, impeccable discipline and unparalleled levels of customer as well as employee loyalty.
The story of the DSI Samson Group begins with a young orphan boy who, with the support of his grandmother, traveled to Colombo in search of employment. This humble beginning has evolved into the foundation of the DSI Samson Group, a prominent and resilient family business. Over the years, the DSI Samson Group has grown significantly, transforming into a major player in various industries. The group’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and adaptability. As the business continues to thrive, the future holds vast possibilities. The DSI Samson Group is poised to expand its mission further by venturing into new markets and industry verticals, all while nurturing the ongoing successes of its existing companies. This vision of growth and diversification ensures that the DSI Samson Group remains a dynamic and influential entity in the business world, continuously building on its rich legacy and paving the way for future accomplishments.
Through the hard times and all the obstacles that came his way, Mr. Rajapaksa always set his success story on a background of persistence while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never disregarded his roots or the value of family and treated his employees with a relationship akin to that of a father and child. His legend and vision have endured the test of time and have touched the lives of many through significant contributions to religious events, education, and the growth of the community. This commitment to diversity and community has been recognized by numerous awards and achievements. The DSI Samson Group has received prestigious accolades such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NCE Export Awards, and the CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence. These honors reflect the group’s dedication to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, cementing its reputation as a leading and respected business entity.
Losing his parents early in his life, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa was raised by his grandmother who continuously found opportunities for him which led to the birth of the finest footwear company in Sri Lanka – DSI Samson Group.
Driven by a self-discipline that was very evident from the age of 14, he travelled between his hometown, Galle and Colombo working at several places until one day he opened up his own white cloth trading business in the streets of Pettah. Even after the devastating destruction of the World War II which sent him back to Galle, he came back and resurrected his business once more.
The foundation of DSI Samson Group was laid there in Pettah when he ventured into footwear and started bringing down the International Footwear Styles into Sri Lanka such as the famous ‘Ballerina’ slippers at that time. He figure out the potential of this business trade and opened up his very own Footwear Factory in Galle to manufacture slippers locally. His vision of creating a loyal and friendly work environment, and creating a product that carried a reputation of quality and comfort was a huge success with great acknowledgment and praise even coming in from the Sri Lankan Late President Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the Industrial Exhibition held in 1964.
From shoes to garments, the DSI Samson Group name expanded with vigour and abundance. Even though the business grew large, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa always remained the same humble man from Galle. Giving in abundance back to his home city by creating a plethora of jobs, his Company helped put Galle on the map. He understood the value of branding and the value of customer loyalty. Thus his products were manufactured mainly putting the customer’s needs in the forefront while the advertising was targeted at reaching their hearts and minds. His strong conviction and inherent ability to quickly identify opportunities created a strong foundation for the future of DSI Samson Group, which led to a resilient brand and a diverse group of companies that stands tall among its competition even today. As the family expanded, the children too played a part in the legacy in the 1970s maintaining the values set by their father – values such as fair treatment, equal opportunities, impeccable discipline and unparalleled levels of customer as well as employee loyalty.
The story of the DSI Samson Group begins with a young orphan boy who, with the support of his grandmother, traveled to Colombo in search of employment. This humble beginning has evolved into the foundation of the DSI Samson Group, a prominent and resilient family business. Over the years, the DSI Samson Group has grown significantly, transforming into a major player in various industries. The group’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and adaptability. As the business continues to thrive, the future holds vast possibilities. The DSI Samson Group is poised to expand its mission further by venturing into new markets and industry verticals, all while nurturing the ongoing successes of its existing companies. This vision of growth and diversification ensures that the DSI Samson Group remains a dynamic and influential entity in the business world, continuously building on its rich legacy and paving the way for future accomplishments.
Through the hard times and all the obstacles that came his way, Mr. Rajapaksa always set his success story on a background of persistence while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never disregarded his roots or the value of family and treated his employees with a relationship akin to that of a father and child. His legend and vision have endured the test of time and have touched the lives of many through significant contributions to religious events, education, and the growth of the community. This commitment to diversity and community has been recognized by numerous awards and achievements. The DSI Samson Group has received prestigious accolades such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NCE Export Awards, and the CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence. These honors reflect the group’s dedication to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, cementing its reputation as a leading and respected business entity.
Losing his parents early in his life, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa was raised by his grandmother who continuously found opportunities for him which led to the birth of the finest footwear company in Sri Lanka – DSI Samson Group.
Driven by a self-discipline that was very evident from the age of 14, he travelled between his hometown, Galle and Colombo working at several places until one day he opened up his own white cloth trading business in the streets of Pettah. Even after the devastating destruction of the World War II which sent him back to Galle, he came back and resurrected his business once more.
The foundation of DSI Samson Group was laid there in Pettah when he ventured into footwear and started bringing down international styles into Sri Lanka such as the famous ‘Ballerina’ slippers. He saw the potential of this trade and opened up his first factory in Galle to manufacture slippers locally. His vision of creating a loyal and friendly work environment, and creating a product that carried a reputation of quality and comfort was a huge success with praise even coming in from the Late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the Industrial Exhibition in 1964.
From shoes to garments, the DSI Samson Group name expanded with vigour and abundance. Even though the business grew large, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa always remained the same humble man from Galle. Giving in abundance back to his home city by creating a plethora of jobs, his Company helped put Galle on the map. He understood the value of branding and the value of customer loyalty. Thus his products were manufactured mainly putting the customer’s needs in the forefront while the advertising was targeted at reaching their hearts and minds. His strong conviction and inherent ability to quickly identify opportunities created a strong foundation for the future of DSI Samson Group, which led to a resilient brand and a diverse group of companies that stands tall among its competition even today. As the family expanded, the children too played a part in the legacy in the 1970s maintaining the values set by their father – values such as fair treatment, equal opportunities, impeccable discipline and unparalleled levels of customer as well as employee loyalty.
Through the hard times and all the obstacles that came his way, Mr. Rajapaksa always set his success story on a background of persistence while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never disregarded his roots or the value of family, and treated his employees with a relationship similar to that of father and child. His legend and vision has endured the test of time and has touched the lives of many through significant contributions to religious events, education as well as the growth of the community. This diversity has become recognised by the many awards and achievements the Group has received such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NCE Export Awards and CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence.
The story of young orphaned boy coming to Colombo in search of work with the blessings of his grandmother is legendary and has over the years transformed itself in to one large resolute family that is today the DSI Samson Group. The sky is the limit as far as our future is concerned and the Group can only expand into more trades and lines of business whilst driving the existing subsidiaries to grow from strength to strength.
The monumental industry that is DSI Samson Group wasn’t built in one day, but it was certainly built by one man with a vision. The Late Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa JP, the great founder of the brand DSI, was driven at a young age to make a sounder livelihood for him and his family.
Losing his parents early in his life, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa was raised by his grandmother who continuously found opportunities for him which led to the birth of the finest footwear company in Sri Lanka – DSI Samson Group.
Driven by a self-discipline that was very evident from the age of 14, he travelled between his hometown, Galle and Colombo working at several places until one day he opened up his own white cloth trading business in the streets of Pettah. Even after the devastating destruction of the World War II which sent him back to Galle, he came back and resurrected his business once more.
The foundation of DSI Samson Group was laid there in Pettah when he ventured into footwear and started bringing down international styles into Sri Lanka such as the famous ‘Ballerina’ slippers. He saw the potential of this trade and opened up his first factory in Galle to manufacture slippers locally. His vision of creating a loyal and friendly work environment, and creating a product that carried a reputation of quality and comfort was a huge success with praise even coming in from the Late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the Industrial Exhibition in 1964.
From shoes to garments, the DSI Samson Group name expanded with vigour and abundance. Even though the business grew large, Mr. D. S. Rajapaksa always remained the same humble man from Galle. Giving in abundance back to his home city by creating a plethora of jobs, his Company helped put Galle on the map. He understood the value of branding and the value of customer loyalty. Thus his products were manufactured mainly putting the customer’s needs in the forefront while the advertising was targeted at reaching their hearts and minds. His strong conviction and inherent ability to quickly identify opportunities created a strong foundation for the future of DSI Samson Group, which led to a resilient brand and a diverse group of companies that stands tall among its competition even today. As the family expanded, the children too played a part in the legacy in the 1970s maintaining the values set by their father – values such as fair treatment, equal opportunities, impeccable discipline and unparalleled levels of customer as well as employee loyalty.
Through the hard times and all the obstacles that came his way, Mr. Rajapaksa always set his success story on a background of persistence while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never disregarded his roots or the value of family, and treated his employees with a relationship similar to that of father and child. His legend and vision has endured the test of time and has touched the lives of many through significant contributions to religious events, education as well as the growth of the community. This diversity has become recognised by the many awards and achievements the Group has received such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NCE Export Awards and CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence.
The story of young orphaned boy coming to Colombo in search of work with the blessings of his grandmother is legendary and has over the years transformed itself in to one large resolute family that is today the DSI Samson Group. The sky is the limit as far as our future is concerned and the Group can only expand into more trades and lines of business whilst driving the existing subsidiaries to grow from strength to strength.
