ABOUT US
Since 1971, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon (Pvt) Limited has connected the finest Ceylon produce with markets around the world. From our production base in Sri Lanka, we have built long-standing relationships with farmers, suppliers and customers across 50+ countries, giving us deep knowledge of our products, their origins and the markets we serve.
Our portfolio spans Ceylon Cinnamon and spices, tea, coffee, cocoa, natural oils and other agricultural produce. Strong relationships at source give us visibility from origin to shipment, supporting traceability, consistency and reliable supply for our customers.
Our founder, the late Mr. V. P. Rajan, built the business on a simple principle: stay the course. That principle has carried through three generations and shaped our approach to the changing demands of international trade. Today, we carry that foundation forward with the same clarity of purpose: to take the finest of Ceylon produce out into the world.
shuhumar Rajan
Managing Director | Chairman
Since joining the family business in 1993 at the age of 23, our Chairman, Mr. Shuhumar Rajan, has spent more than three decades in international trade, building enduring relationships with farmers and customers while taking Ceylon’s finest produce across continents.
With a background in Commerce from the University of Madras and first-hand experience across markets in Asia, Europe, Australia and the USA, his approach has remained constant: create value for the customer, conduct business with integrity, and success will follow.
'Our customers’ success is the most important ingredient in our own'.
dharshini shuhumar
Director | CEO
Dharshini Shuhumar brings experience across asset management, financial planning, quality management and customer relationships, providing a strong practical understanding of the standards required to serve international customers. In 2026, she assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, bringing this experience to Seven Seas’ continued growth.
Raised in a business-oriented family, her commercial grounding was shaped early by her late father, a prominent industrialist and garment exporter, whose enterprises also encompassed fine jewellery boutiques and tea estates. Educated at Wycherley International School with professional studies at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), she brings this foundation to maintaining quality, reliability and enduring customer relationships.
Nikhita sHUHUMAR
DIRECTOR
Nikhita Shuhumar represents the third generation of leadership at Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon (Pvt) Limited. Educated at the University of Melbourne, Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University, and the University of Lancashire, she holds a Master’s in Marketing and Communications, graduating top of her class with a thesis focused on the Ceylon cinnamon industry. Her academic grounding in accounting and experience across financial operations complement her expertise in marketing and communications.
Since 2020, she has worked across marketing, sales and commercial operations, developing a firsthand understanding of international markets, customers and business performance. She was shortlisted among 24 finalists from over 700 nominees across 20 countries for the UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Award for Youth Leadership for Generation Equality in Business (Under 35) 2021, becoming the first Sri Lankan leader and business recognised.
As the granddaughter of our late founder, V. P. Rajan, she brings a new-generation perspective and international outlook while remaining deeply connected to the heritage on which Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon was built.
Our Leadership
Our History
Our story began in 1971, when our late founder, V. P. Rajan, established Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon with a vision to take the produce of Ceylon to the world. Having studied finance in Colombo and begun his professional life in banking, he entered international trade during one of Sri Lanka’s most restrictive economic periods, when foreign exchange and international commerce were heavily controlled. During its first decade, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon exported Ceylon spices, coffee beans, cocoa beans and other agricultural produce, later expanding into Ceylon Tea and the import of food products.
From its earliest years, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon became firmly established within Sri Lanka’s trade community while building relationships far beyond its shores. By the 1970s, the company held memberships with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, National Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka Association for Spices and Allied Products, and Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council, laying the foundations for an international network that would continue to grow over the decades.
Early Innovation
Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon (Pvt) Limited Office, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1980
International Award To Export 1986
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1986
By the early 1980s, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon had established a strong presence in international coffee markets, driven by growing overseas demand for Ceylon coffee. During this period, our late founder, V. P. Rajan, was instrumental in advancing Sri Lanka’s coffee export trade, working with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish the framework required for Sri Lankan coffee to enter international markets under the International Coffee Organization (ICO) Certificate of Origin. The resulting approval opened the way for Sri Lanka to export an initial 5,000 metric tonnes of coffee. Following the approval, Seven Seas exported approximately 1,000 metric tonnes annually, establishing a significant presence in the country’s developing international coffee trade. Its importance extended beyond our company, creating a pathway through which Sri Lankan coffee could reach international buyers on a considerably larger scale. Our standing within the international coffee trade was subsequently reflected in our recognition in UKERS and Coffee and Cocoa International (CCI), long-established international tea, coffee and cocoa trade references in which Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon continues to be recognised today.
As the Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon name travelled further, the company became increasingly recognised across international markets, particularly throughout Europe and the United States, for Ceylon spices, coffee and agricultural produce. Among the international recognition received during this period was the “International Award To Export 1986,” presented in Amsterdam, Holland, by Editorial OFICE - an important milestone in our journey.
The principles that shaped those early decades continue to inform the way we operate today. Across our supply chain, we work with carefully selected sources operating under recognised international standards and responsible sourcing frameworks, including ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems, ISO 14064-1 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Verification, Rainforest Alliance and the Ethical Tea Partnership. Our international operations are further supported by U.S. FDA registration, while our approach to responsible and inclusive business is guided by the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Our business practices are also guided by the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, encompassing human rights, fair labour practices, environmental responsibility and anti-corruption. For customers with specific market or product requirements, we can additionally source from Kosher-certified, Halal-certified and Organic-certified sources upon request. Individual shipments can also be independently inspected by SGS for quality and weight at the customer’s request, providing an additional level of third-party assurance.
More than five decades later, his legacy continues through the second and third generations of our family. With our production base firmly rooted in Sri Lanka, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon has operated over the years with a global team and presence spanning Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, India and the Maldives. Markets have changed and generations have changed, but the vision established in 1971 remains at the heart of who we are: taking the produce of Ceylon to the world.
Telex Chapter
Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon (Pvt) Limited Office, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1976
Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon, Beyond Ceylon
Paris, France, 1970
The Joy
of Giving
With every shipment, Seven Seas Holdings Ceylon sets aside a contribution to support selected causes across Sri Lanka. Through these partnerships, our giving currently reaches around 150 children across Colombo, Maskeliya and Galle, with a focus on education, wellbeing and opportunity.
For our customers, every shipment becomes part of this continuing commitment - connecting their supply chain with positive social impact in the country of origin.
As our trade grows, so does our capacity to give.
