No sooner the first ever state run Wheel Alignment Centre (WAC) for the four wheel light vehicle class was launched on 11 September, demand for its services peaked โthat too, not from state owned vehicles but from private vehicle owners hungry for trustworthy servicing. โEight vehicles, including high-roof ambulances, have been serviced within just seven hoursโ of opening of STC Wheel Alignment Centre (STCWAC). More private vehicles are now being bookedโ said a pleased Chairman of government owned State Trading (General) Corporation (STC) Hussein Bhaila on 12 September. STCWAC is a free gift to the STC by Unimo Enterprises Ltd โthe fully owned subsidiary of United Motors Lanka PLC โand was launched by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development & Vocational Training (ICTPDPCDSDVT) Rishad Bathiudeen on 11 September in Colombo, joined by his State Minister Buddhika Pathirana, Chairman Bhaila and STC Executive Director Reyaz Salley.
STCWAC is the first ever state run Wheel Alignment Centre providing services to the public โand at very competitive prices. โSTC sells ten tyre brands and one such brand is Yokohama, the Japanese made tyre which is among the global top ten. We sell Yokohama tyres on behalf of Unimo Enterprises Ltd, its sole distributor in Sri Lanka. Unimo Enterprises Ltd gifted the WAC to usโ said Chairman Bhaila. STC uses a number of auto-technicians and auto servicing assistants in its WAC.
At the 11 Septemberโs WAC launch event, Minister Bathiudeen thanked Unimo Enterprises Ltd and United Motors Lanka PLC for their free grant to STC. โWe thank them for this gift. We now start with light vehicles, and based on its success, we can open a new one for heavy vehicles too. Also based on the success of this WAC, we will go for more WACs in the other eight showrooms of STCโ added Minister Bathiudeen.
โThanks to Unimo Enterprises Ltd and United Motors Lanka PLS, STC is now becoming a one stop shop for customers visiting to purchase their tyres as they can correct their wheels right here. This WAC is not for heavy vehicle class but for light vehicles โthough it can service high roof light vehicles including ambulances, SUVs, and double cabsโ said Chairman Bhaila on 12 September.
The total value of setting up the STCWAC is around Rs 5 million (excluding the land value). STC, under Minister Bathiudeenโs Ministry, is the sole, state owned diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka, offering a vast range of products and services -from household equipment to industrial machinery.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress