Our History
The company was founded in 1835 by James Steuart, a British sea captain who sailed the Southern Seas and discovered Ceylon and its great commercial potential. He, together with his brothers Joseph and George established themselves initially as Merchant Bankers. Transforming into an Agency House, over time the company become a large scale exporter of Coffee, until the Coffee blight hit
Ceylon in the 1870's. Supporting the national export drive by converting its export interests to Tea, the company continued its growth momentum. The new high-rise "Steuart House" located in the heart of the business capital became the company's headquarters. The 1975 nationalization programme, adversely affected the company, which at this point in time was managing the largest acreage of tea plantations in the country. Undeterred by this setback and gaining a renewed energy to succeed, the company recouped and set in motion a new drive to diversify and expand its activities. Fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the people was always at the forefront of the company's progress. Today, 177 later George Steuart & Co Ltd is proud to be one of the most dynamic Group of Companies, with business involvement in Exports, Health, Leisure & Travel, Real Estate, Telecommunications, Shipping, Insurance, Recruitment & Higher Education.
