Connecting People through Innovative Lifestyle Solutions

Having started from humble beginnings in Sri Lanka, Orel Corporation has now emerged as a dynamic multinational company with operations in 28 countries. In its remarkable journey of success, human contribution has played a substantial role. Reflecting on the experience of working at Orel Corporation, Mr. Chamal Ahangama, Category Head – Lighting has shared his thoughts.

“In my opinion, Orel Corporation is like a workplace-university”, Mr. Ahangama says. He continues, “Innovation is at the forefront of how it operates, and people here continuously think about improved avenues when they come up with solutions”. During his tenure, Mr. Ahangama has experienced the expansion of the company's focus from electrical building infrastructure to lifestyle-oriented product ranges such as smart home solutions and lighting products, among other products utilizing cutting-edge technologies. Mr. Ahangama and his department are heading Orel Corporation’s lifestyle-oriented products and he views that through such products, he and his team are able to connect people and empower humanity. Mr. Ahangama explains, “We enable people to be connected with their homes through products like Orel Home, our smart home solution. For example, even if someone is away from his/her home, we enable the user to adjust the settings in the house, to connect with and facilitate the needs of a family member who is inside. We have demonstrated our ability to know people’s lifestyles and their needs. According to specifications and designs based on those needs, our department provides solutions”.

Further expanding the focus on lifestyle-oriented solutions, Orel Corporation recently launched Orel Kitchen, a range of premium stainless-steel customizable kitchens. “Among many aspects of a home with which people are connected the most is the kitchen,” Mr. Ahangama says. “We came up with the idea to design a kitchen utilizing an eco-friendly and long-lasting material to provide a solution through which people can connect with their homes while saving trees. Although these kitchens are made of stainless steel, we have designed and manufactured them to resemble high-end kitchens made with conventional materials. Because of the extremely high longevity of stainless steel, Orel Kitchen products can last for decades—connecting people across generations”.

Reflecting on his work at Orel Corporation involving connecting people, Mr. Ahangama acknowledges the value of those experiences in enhancing his career as well as personal development. He has been involved in heading various products such as electrical building infrastructure (switches and sockets), lighting, lighting controls, and lifestyle solutions. “Throughout my tenure of 8 years at Orel Corporation, I have been able to connect people by providing various solutions through Orel Corporation”, Mr. Ahangama says. He continues, “This has been a marvelous place to work and gain experiences while enjoying myself. Working here involves a substantial amount of hands-on experiences leading to learning and self-satisfaction—I get to be a solutions provider, not just a product supplier. I have an exciting career here. I appreciate the support from the management, through products and developments, and I am really happy to be a part of Orel Corporation”.

While Mr. Ahangama describes his journey at Orel Corporation, he also recognizes how his work has changed during the pandemic and emerging new trends. “As everyone was affected by the pandemic, we noticed that we couldn’t connect with people—a key element of my role—like we normally do. As an alternative, we managed to connect with people electronically. Although we are now seeing a bounce back to normalcy, the current trend we are noticing is connectivity based on IoT. Houses around the world are now equipped with connected devices enabling people to stay connected with each other. A key theme of new technology is connecting people at a deeper level. In line with that, we have introduced Orel Home which I mentioned earlier. There are numerous possibilities in the field of IoT for people to connect with each other and elevate their lifestyles”.

Having worked at Orel Corporation with a focus on connecting people and elevating lifestyles, Mr. Ahangama appreciates the dynamic and innovative nature of the company. For those who are planning to start a career at Orel Corporation, he advises, “Working at Orel Corporation will be a great opportunity for people with open minds. It is like being enrolled at a university where you study the theory to become more knowledgeable. At Orel Corporation, you can learn, experience, and deliver results, while earning as an employee. I believe that is ideal for young people who are seeking to develop diverse skills and acquire knowledge. We are not a stagnant company with just one product—there is a dynamic range of products that brings endless possibilities”.