Singer
Sri Lankan retail and manufacturing group selling home appliances, furniture, consumer electronics and related financial services.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC is a Sri Lankan holding and operating company whose business is centered on retailing and wholesaling household appliances, consumer electronics, furniture and related products. Although the Singer name first entered the Sri Lankan market through sewing-machine sales in 1877, the local company has developed into a diversified consumer-business group rather than remaining solely a sewing-machine brand. Its activities include retail stores, wholesale distribution, appliance manufacturing, finance, property-related operations, digital media and business education. The company was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1974 and became a public company quoted on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1981. Its expansion into local manufacturing began in 1988, when its subsidiary Regnis Lanka started producing refrigerators. Singer later broadened its manufacturing and retail platform through the acquisition of the Sisil refrigerator brand in 2000 and the development of large-format retail. The first Singer Mega shop opened in 1998, providing a broader showroom format for appliances, electronics and household products. By 2013, the company had opened its 400th Singer showroom, illustrating the breadth of its Sri Lankan distribution network. Singer also expanded beyond traditional appliances. It entered smartphone sales in 2011 and became active in consumer electronics, including computers. In 2020, it was reported as the market-leading Dell laptop seller in Sri Lanka. Demand for electronics increased during the COVID-19 period as remote work and distance learning expanded, although the available reference material does not establish that this represented a permanent change in the company’s business mix. The company’s operations are supported by subsidiaries including Singer Finance (Lanka), Singer Industries (Ceylon), Regnis Lanka, Realty (Lanka), Singer Digital Media and Singer Business School. In 2017, Hayleys acquired a controlling interest in Singer (Sri Lanka), making Singer part of the Hayleys Group. The transaction was reported at LKR 10.9 billion and described as one of the largest acquisitions of a listed Sri Lankan company at the time. Singer remains a listed Sri Lankan enterprise rather than a privately held global sewing-machine brand. Its current positioning combines a widely distributed retail network, availability of consumer finance, local manufacturing capability and a broad home-product portfolio. The business has also received local brand recognition, including multiple People's Brand of the Year awards and placement among Sri Lanka's leading brands in Brand Finance's annual assessments. The company's exact current product mix, leadership roster and official website address should be checked against its latest annual report and corporate disclosures.
History
The Singer name has operated in Sri Lanka since 1877, when the Singer Corporation began selling sewing machines in the market. This origin gave the local business an association with home sewing and durable household equipment, but the Sri Lankan operation later evolved into a much broader consumer-products enterprise. The modern corporate entity was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1974 and was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1981. A major stage in the company’s development was the move into domestic manufacturing. In 1988, Regnis Lanka, a Singer subsidiary, began manufacturing refrigerators. This helped Singer build capabilities beyond importing and distributing products and gave it a platform for developing a locally rooted appliance business. In 1998, Singer opened its first Mega shop, introducing a larger retail format capable of presenting multiple appliance, electronics and household categories in one location. In 2000, the company acquired Sisil, a local refrigerator brand, further strengthening its position in the appliance market. Singer continued to diversify during the 2010s. It entered smartphone sales in 2011 and expanded its showroom and distribution presence; the opening of its 400th Singer showroom was reported in 2013. Its retail offer came to include consumer electronics, computers, household appliances and furniture alongside its historic sewing-machine business. The company also developed activities in finance, property and related services through subsidiaries and associated operations. In 2017, Hayleys acquired control of Singer (Sri Lanka). The reported LKR 10.9 billion transaction placed Singer within one of Sri Lanka’s major conglomerate groups and marked a significant change in ownership for the listed company. Singer subsequently continued operating as a diversified retail, wholesale, manufacturing and services business under the Hayleys umbrella. The COVID-19 period influenced the company’s sales mix. As households, students and businesses adopted remote work and distance learning, demand for laptops and other consumer electronics increased. Singer was reported to be Sri Lanka’s leading Dell laptop seller in 2020 and recorded LKR 16.7 billion in sales in the second quarter cited by the reference material. The company’s business also includes Singer Finance (Lanka), Singer Industries (Ceylon), Regnis Lanka, Realty (Lanka), Singer Digital Media and Singer Business School. In 2021, Singer announced a three-for-one share split. It also received the People's Brand of the Year award at the SLIM-Nielsen Awards for the fifteenth consecutive time and regained the Youth Choice Brand of the Year award after three years. Fitch Ratings assigned the company an A+(lka) rating in April 2022. Brand Finance placed it among Sri Lanka’s leading brands, while the LMD 100 ranking cited in the reference material placed it seventeenth in the 2020/21 edition. These indicators describe the continuing prominence of Singer in Sri Lanka, but they do not make it equivalent to the separate international Singer sewing-machine brand or to Singer businesses in other countries.
- 2022
Fitch rating reported
[1]Fitch Ratings assigned Singer (Sri Lanka) an A+(lka) credit rating in April.
- 2021
Three-for-one share split announced
[1]Singer announced a three-for-one split of its shares.
- 2017
Hayleys becomes controlling shareholder
[1]Hayleys acquired a controlling stake in Singer (Sri Lanka) in a reported LKR 10.9 billion transaction.
- 2013
400th Singer showroom opens
[1]Singer reported the opening of its 400th showroom in Sri Lanka.
- 2011
Entry into smartphone sales
[1]The company expanded its consumer-electronics activities into smartphones.
- 2000
Sisil acquisition
[1]Singer acquired the local Sisil refrigerator brand.
- 1998
First Singer Mega shop opens
[1]Singer launched its Mega shop retail format for a wider range of household and consumer products.
- 1988
Refrigerator manufacturing begins
[1]Subsidiary Regnis Lanka began manufacturing refrigerators.
- 1981
Listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange
[1]Singer (Sri Lanka) became a quoted company on the Colombo Stock Exchange.
- 1974
Local company incorporated
[1]Singer (Sri Lanka) was incorporated as a limited liability company.
Products and positioning
A broad Sri Lankan household-goods and consumer-electronics retailer supported by local manufacturing, retail distribution and consumer finance.
Home appliances
Singer household appliances
The company’s core retail assortment includes household appliances sold through Singer showrooms and wholesale channels. The referenced material specifically identifies refrigerators and describes the company as a retailer and wholesaler of home appliances. The broader current assortment is not enumerated in the available source and should be checked against current company catalogues.
Sewing equipment · 1877
Singer sewing machines
Sewing machines are the historical foundation of Singer’s presence in Sri Lanka, dating from the brand’s market entry in 1877. They remain part of the Singer identity, although Singer (Sri Lanka) has expanded far beyond sewing equipment into appliances, electronics, furniture and services.
Refrigeration · 1988
Singer refrigerators
Refrigerators became an important local manufacturing category after Regnis Lanka, a Singer subsidiary, began production in 1988. Singer later strengthened its refrigerator business by acquiring the Sisil local brand in 2000.
Consumer electronics · 2011
Consumer electronics
Singer’s electronics activities include smartphones, computers and laptops in addition to other consumer-electronics products sold through its retail network. The company was reported as the leading Dell laptop seller in Sri Lanka in 2020, when electronics demand was supported by remote work and distance education.
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture is part of Singer (Sri Lanka)’s retail and wholesale home-product portfolio. The available reference confirms the category but does not provide a detailed breakdown of collections, formats or proprietary product lines.
Brand decisions
2021
Three-for-one share splitOtherBackground
Singer announced a share split during its continued operation as a Colombo Stock Exchange-listed company.
Action taken
The company announced a three-for-one stock split.
Aftermath
The available reference does not specify the subsequent trading or shareholder effects.
2017
Hayleys acquisition of Singer (Sri Lanka)M&ABackground
Singer was a listed Sri Lankan consumer-business company with retail, manufacturing and related operations. Hayleys sought control of the company through a major share acquisition.
Action taken
Hayleys acquired a controlling stake in Singer (Sri Lanka), becoming its parent company.
Aftermath
Singer continued as a listed operating company within the Hayleys Group. The transaction was reported at LKR 10.9 billion and described as one of the largest acquisitions of a listed Sri Lankan company.
Reported acquisition value. LKR 10.9 billion (2017)
Recent events
- 2022
Singer receives A+(lka) credit rating[1]
Other
Fitch Ratings assigned Singer (Sri Lanka) an A+(lka) credit rating in April 2022, as reported in the cited company overview.
- 2021
Singer announces a three-for-one share split[1]
Other
The company announced a three-for-one stock split, according to the cited company history.
- 2021
Singer wins People's Brand of the Year for the fifteenth consecutive time[1]
Other
Singer received the People's Brand of the Year award at the SLIM-Nielsen Awards for the fifteenth consecutive time, and also regained the Youth Choice Brand of the Year recognition after a three-year gap.
- 2020
Singer reports increased electronics demand during the pandemic[1]
Other
Remote work and distance education contributed to stronger demand for consumer electronics, and Singer reported second-quarter sales of LKR 16.7 billion in the cited period.
- 2020
Singer becomes a leading Dell laptop seller in Sri Lanka[1]
Other
Singer was identified as the market-leading seller of Dell laptops in Sri Lanka during 2020.
- 2017
Hayleys acquires controlling stake in Singer (Sri Lanka)[1]
M&A
Hayleys acquired a majority interest in Singer (Sri Lanka), bringing the listed consumer-business company into the Hayleys Group. The reported transaction value was LKR 10.9 billion.
- 1987
Singer changes control after a corporate raid[2]
M&A
Investor Paul Bilzerian acquired control after a takeover campaign in which no white-knight alternative emerged. Subsequent asset sales broke up several of Singer’s diversified businesses.
- 1986
Singer’s sewing-machine business is separated[2]
Other
Singer announced plans to spin off its sewing-machine operations under the name SSMC Ltd. amid pressure from international competitors and broader corporate restructuring.
- 1980
The Clydebank Singer factory closes[2]
Other
The Scottish factory ended more than a century of sewing-machine production after declining orders, financial difficulties, and restructuring.
- 1976
Singer announces withdrawal from data processing[2]
Other
Singer began arranging the transfer of management and international rights for its System 10 and point-of-sale products to TRW and ICL as it withdrew from data processing.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources4 sources
- 1Singer (Sri Lanka)en.wikipedia.org
- 2胜家在公司突袭后更换控制权en.wikipedia.org
- 3Malaysia's Signature Group announces Joint Venture with Singer Sri Lanka to penetrate local kitchen cabinet market - Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business Newsbizenglish.adaderana.lk
- 4SIGNATURE Group announces Joint Venture with SINGER Sri Lanka to penetrate into the kitchen market in Sri Lankatheedgemalaysia.com
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