In the world of manufacturing, building machines and systems is a testament to expertise and. Shaping a legacy defined by innovation, leadership and lasting impact, requires vision. As we mark nearly 30 years of dedicated service, we honor a journey that has not only evolved alongside Haycarb, but helped shape it into the global, purpose-driven leading organization it is today.
This is a story of how a young engineer became a visionary leader, engineering transformation.
Joining Haycarb in October 1996 as a Maintenance Engineer at the Badalgama manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka, fresh out of university, he stepped into a dynamic environment. With limited resources but abundant potential, he was quick to identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and resilience. What he brought was not just technical skill, it was initiative. He laid the groundwork for a Preventive Maintenance Programme, cultivating a culture of readiness and adaptability, traits that remain part of Haycarb’s DNA.
Two years later, he was transferred to the Colombo Head Office as a Project Engineer. This move marked the beginning of a shift from maintenance to innovation. Working closely with senior leadership, he took on complex projects, including the design and installation of Coir Fibre Pith Dryers for Lignocell Ltd., a subsidiary of Haycarb at the time. This project went beyond the design of equipment to groundbreaking, transformation of agricultural waste into a value-added export product. His role underscored a key Haycarb principle: finding value where others see waste.
His advancement to managerial positions evolved his role from execution to strategy. In 2001, Brahman was tasked with one of Haycarb’s pioneering initiatives, Recogen, a first-of-its-kind mechanized, eco-friendly charcoal-making and biomass power generation plant. What began as an internal energy solution evolved into a patented global innovation. Recogen didn’t just reduce waste and carbon emissions; it redefined how the activated carbon industry viewed sustainability, and Haycarb led that conversation.
As Haycarb expanded globally, he rose into senior leadership, taking on the role of Head of Engineering Projects, demonstrating a remarkable ability to be grounded in technical excellence whilst playing a strategic role in leading large-scale projects. He led the launch of Ultracarb manufacturing operations in Badalgama and Madampe Sri Lanka, contributing to the Haycarb’s journey of innovating high-performance products and solutions.
The next phase of his career saw Brahman progressing to lead the large manufacturing operations of Haycarb Group in Sri Lanka, Thailand Indonesia. This period marked Haycarb’s push toward operational consistency and cultural alignment across borders, and his leadership ensured Haycarb’s values and innovation ethos remained central.
His appointment to the Board of Haycarb PLC in 2015 as Head of Manufacturing and Engineering Projects was a fitting recognition for someone who had helped engineer the backbone of the organization. His portfolio soon expanded to lead Puritas (Pvt) Ltd. the environmental arm of our Sector, reflecting trust in his ability to drive strategy across the Group.
In April 2023, Mr. Brahman Balaratnarajah was appointed Deputy Managing Director of Haycarb Group, a key step in the Group’s succession strategy. His mentorship and steady guidance remain vital to Haycarb’s continuity, resilience, and forward-looking culture. That same year, he took the helm of Haycarb’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiatives coinciding with the launch of “Activate” the ESG Road Map of Haycarb Group that formalized the sustainability DNA that has long been part of Haycarb – from Recogen to sustainable manufacturing.
With changes underway in Europe, he is set to lead the transformation of Eurocarb, guiding Haycarb’s European operations with a forward-looking approach that ensures agility and alignment with the Group’s long-term vision.
He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree (First Class) from the National Institute of Technology in India and is an Alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He also serves as the Chairman of the Industrial Association of Sri Lanka under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, advocating for national industrial development.
Looking back, what stands out is not just the scale of projects he led, but the lives he touched, the teams he built, the engineers he mentored, and the systems he left stronger than he found. As we celebrate this nearly 30-year journey, we honor more than a career, we honor a legacy. One shaped by quiet strength, tireless curiosity, and a deep belief that innovation matters most when it uplifts both people and purpose. His leadership has never been about loud declarations, but about consistent, thoughtful action, steadily building the systems, structures and culture that continue to define Haycarb today.
