LAUGFS Holdings
Sri Lankan diversified conglomerate active in energy, retail, manufacturing, logistics, automotive services, leisure and pharmaceuticals.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
LAUGFS Holdings is a Sri Lankan diversified conglomerate founded in 1995 by W. K. H. Wegapitiya and U. K. Thilak De Silva. The name LAUGFS derives from Lanka Auto Gas Fuelling Systems, reflecting the group’s original focus on automotive gas conversion and related energy services. From that starting point, the group developed a broad portfolio spanning liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum retailing, lubricants, renewable power, supermarkets, restaurants, engineering, industrial tyres, salt and chemicals, vehicle-emission testing, logistics and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The group’s early expansion was closely connected to Sri Lanka’s energy and automotive sectors. Gas Auto Lanka introduced an auto-gas conversion business, while LAUGFS later entered the domestic LPG market and developed capabilities in the manufacture of high-capacity LPG storage tanks. In 2000, the group moved into consumer retail with a 24-hour supermarket in Havelock Town, described in the reference material as Sri Lanka’s first 24-hour supermarket. LAUGFS Petroleum followed in 2004, giving the group a presence in fuel retailing as well as gas distribution. Diversification continued through consumer-facing and industrial ventures. Jade Restaurants was launched in 2006, and the group subsequently built businesses in vehicle-emission testing, lubricant blending, engineering fabrication, maritime transport and leisure. LAUGFS Lubricants markets automotive and industrial lubricants blended locally, while LAUGFS Engineering fabricates LPG pressure vessels and storage tanks. LAUGFS Corporation (Rubber) produces industrial tyres for domestic and export markets. LAUGFS Salt and Chemicals operates a large salt-production site in Hambantota and sells products under brands including Magam Table Salt and Rasa Musu. Energy remains the group’s central business area. LAUGFS Gas supplies LPG through a nationwide dealer and distributor network and operates storage and filling infrastructure. LAUGFS Terminals runs an LPG transshipment facility at Hambantota International Port. LAUGFS Petroleum operates fuel stations and has introduced services such as corporate NFC fuel-payment cards, nitrogen and digital-air facilities, lubricants and vehicle-care products. LAUGFS Power develops solar, hydro and wind projects, including a solar plant described in the reference material as Sri Lanka’s largest. The group also operates LAUGFS Supermarkets, LAUGFS International, LAUGFS Car Care, LAUGFS Eco Sri, LAUGFS Maritime Services and LAUGFS Life Sciences. Its pharmaceutical manufacturing business in Koggala produces intravenous products, including large-volume parenteral fluids using form-fill-seal technology. By 2023, the reference material reported 38 LAUGFS supermarket outlets and 95 vehicle-emission-testing centres. The group has also operated internationally, including through its 2015 acquisition of Petredec Elpiji Ltd in Bangladesh. In 2025, Dhammika Perera’s investment vehicle Vallibel Three (Pvt.) Ltd acquired a 50% stake in LAUGFS Holdings from the two founders; the transaction was accompanied by Thilak De Silva’s resignation from the board, according to the supplied reference material.
History
LAUGFS Holdings began in Sri Lanka in 1995 as Lanka Auto Gas Fuelling Systems, a business established by W. K. H. Wegapitiya and U. K. Thilak De Silva to serve automotive, power and energy customers. Its early auto-gas conversion activity provided the foundation for a wider energy platform. The group later entered LPG distribution and engineering, including the manufacture and assembly of large LPG storage tanks and pressure vessels. A major diversification step came in 2000 when LAUGFS opened a 24-hour supermarket in Havelock Town. The retail initiative established a consumer-facing arm alongside the group’s industrial businesses. In 2001, the company entered Sri Lanka’s domestic LPG industry and founded LAUGFS Engineering. Petroleum retailing followed in 2004 through LAUGFS Petroleum. These moves broadened the group from vehicle-gas services into household energy, commercial fuels, storage, distribution and supporting infrastructure. LAUGFS continued to add businesses during the following decade. Jade Restaurants entered the restaurant sector in 2006. LAUGFS Lubricants began marketing locally blended automotive and industrial lubricants in 2008, while LAUGFS Eco Sri was also established in 2008 to participate in Sri Lanka’s mandatory vehicle-emission-testing system. LAUGFS Corporation (Rubber) developed industrial-tyre manufacturing, and the group expanded into car care, logistics, trading and other services. LAUGFS International, founded in 2014, became a trading and agency business representing products such as Yamaha generators, Airman equipment, Denso automotive parts and Fujitsu products. The group’s energy infrastructure expanded through LAUGFS Gas, LAUGFS Petroleum, LAUGFS Terminals and LAUGFS Power. Its LPG operations developed a nationwide distribution network, while the Hambantota terminal added large-scale transshipment and storage capability. LAUGFS Power pursued renewable generation through solar, hydro and wind projects. In 2010, LAUGFS Gas PLC completed an initial public offering, providing a listed corporate vehicle for an important part of the energy portfolio. International expansion became more visible in 2015, when LAUGFS acquired Petredec Elpiji Ltd in Bangladesh. The group subsequently developed or operated businesses in salt and chemicals, maritime LPG transport and pharmaceutical manufacturing. LAUGFS Life Sciences established a Koggala facility producing intravenous products, including large-volume parenteral solutions in polypropylene bags. By 2023, the supplied reference material reported 38 LAUGFS supermarket outlets and 95 LAUGFS Eco Sri testing centres. In 2025, Vallibel Three (Pvt.) Ltd acquired a 50% holding from the founders, and Thilak De Silva left the board. The transaction marked a change in ownership while leaving LAUGFS positioned as a diversified Sri Lankan group with energy at its core.
- 2025
Change in shareholding
[1]Vallibel Three (Pvt.) Ltd acquires a 50% stake, while U. K. Thilak De Silva resigns from the board.
- 2023
Retail and testing networks expand
[1]Reference material reports 38 LAUGFS supermarket outlets and 95 LAUGFS Eco Sri vehicle-emission-testing centres.
- 2017
Renewable-energy expansion
[1]LAUGFS Power develops a major solar-power project and continues work across solar, hydro and wind generation.
- 2015
Bangladesh acquisition
[1]LAUGFS acquires Petredec Elpiji Ltd in Bangladesh, expanding its energy operations beyond Sri Lanka.
- 2014
Trading and maritime expansion
[1]LAUGFS International and LAUGFS Maritime Services are established, extending the group’s agency and LPG-logistics activities.
- 2010
LAUGFS Gas PLC IPO
[1]LAUGFS Gas PLC completes an initial public offering.
- 2008
Lubricants and vehicle testing businesses develop
[1]LAUGFS Lubricants and LAUGFS Eco Sri become part of the group’s industrial and automotive-services portfolio.
- 2006
Jade Restaurants launches
[1]LAUGFS expands into restaurants with the Jade Chinese-cuisine chain.
- 2004
LAUGFS Petroleum is established
[1]The group enters petroleum retailing through LAUGFS Petroleum.
- 2001
Entry into domestic LPG
[1]The group enters Sri Lanka’s LPG market and develops high-capacity LPG storage-tank manufacturing capabilities.
Products and positioning
A Sri Lankan multi-sector business group built around energy infrastructure and expanded through vertical integration and diversification into consumer, industrial and service businesses.
LPG and energy distribution · 2001
LAUGFS Gas
LAUGFS Gas supplies LPG to domestic, commercial and industrial customers in Sri Lanka through dealers, distributors, tankers and storage-and-filling infrastructure. The business is the group’s principal consumer-energy platform.
Fuel retail · 2004
LAUGFS Petroleum
LAUGFS Petroleum operates fuel stations offering petroleum products, lubricants, domestic gas cylinders, vehicle-care products, nitrogen and digital-air services. It also introduced NFC-based fuel-management services for corporate customers.
Automotive and industrial lubricants · 2008
LAUGFS Lubricants
LAUGFS Lubricants produces locally blended automotive and industrial lubricants from base oils and additives. The business operates blending and research facilities and markets products for Sri Lankan road and climate conditions.
Supermarket and convenience retail · 2000
LAUGFS Supermarkets
LAUGFS Supermarkets combines supermarkets, convenience retail and selected fuel-station formats. Its outlets have included 24-hour operations, pharmacies, bakery products, salad bars and imported wines.
Industrial tyres · 2008
LAUGFS Corporation (Rubber) tyres
The rubber business manufactures solid, press-on, resilient and skid-steer industrial tyres. Its products are marketed in Sri Lanka and exported internationally.
Vehicle-emission testing · 2008
LAUGFS Eco Sri
LAUGFS Eco Sri provides vehicle-emission testing under Sri Lanka’s mandatory testing framework, supporting the annual vehicle revenue-licence process.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
LAUGFS Life Sciences intravenous products
The Koggala pharmaceutical facility manufactures large-volume parenteral and other intravenous products, using form-fill-seal production technology and polypropylene bags.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale of a 50% holding to Vallibel ThreeM&ABackground
The founders transferred half of the holding company to an investment vehicle associated with Dhammika Perera.
Action taken
Vallibel Three (Pvt.) Ltd acquired 10.4% from W. K. H. Wegapitiya and 39.6% from U. K. Thilak De Silva.
Aftermath
Thilak De Silva resigned from the board, representing a change in ownership and governance.
2015
Acquisition of Petredec Elpiji LtdM&ABackground
LAUGFS sought to extend its LPG and energy business beyond Sri Lanka.
Action taken
The group acquired Petredec Elpiji Ltd in Bangladesh.
Aftermath
The acquisition made Bangladesh an international operating market for the group’s energy business.
2000
Diversification into 24-hour retailStrategyBackground
After beginning in automotive gas and energy services, LAUGFS sought to build a consumer-facing business.
Action taken
The group launched a 24-hour supermarket in Havelock Town.
Aftermath
Retail became one of the group’s continuing business sectors and later expanded into supermarket, convenience, pharmacy and food-service formats.
Recent events
- 2025
Dhammika Perera acquires a 50% stake in LAUGFS Holdings[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Vallibel Three (Pvt.) Ltd, an investment vehicle associated with Dhammika Perera, acquired 50% of LAUGFS Holdings from W. K. H. Wegapitiya and U. K. Thilak De Silva. De Silva resigned from the board in connection with the transaction.
- 2015
LAUGFS expands into Bangladesh through Petredec Elpiji acquisition[1]
M&A
LAUGFS acquired Petredec Elpiji Ltd in Bangladesh, marking an international expansion of its energy business.
Sources1 sources
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