Achievements

Sri Lankan-born entrepreneur Mr. Shan Halamba has been recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs at the Governor’s North Texas Business Forum held recently. The forum, held on August 02 at the Irving Convention Center recognized some of the state’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Founder and CEO of Ceyhinz Link International, Inc, Mr. Shan received the “Business Champion of the Year” award from Texas workforce Commissioner Mr. Andres Alcantar during a special presentation.He is the first native Sri Lankan and the youngest Texas based business entrepreneur to receive a Texas Business Champion of the Year award.

The Office of the Governor also launched the Business Forum program in 2010 across the state to provide small business ownersin Texas, access to valuable information on workforce development, training grants, expanding markets and other business growth opportunities. Through regional collaboration with hundreds of community, business and educational organizations throughout Texas, the Governor's Business Forums are one more reason Texas is wide open for Business.

Mr. Shan is the President and Co-Founder of Ceyhinz Link International, Inc. headquartered in Irving, Texas, the parent company for RIOCOCO and CEYTIPS.

In 2011, Mr. Shan received the ‘International Businessman of The Year Award’ from the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, presented to him by Dallas Mayor, Hon. Mike Rawlings. This 2011 honor is also the first time a young Sri Lankan business Entrepreneur was recognized by the largest American business chamber in the United States. In 2007, he was also presented “The Exceptional Performance by a Young Professional” award at the 5th Annual Sri Lanka Foundation Awards Ceremony held in Los Angeles, California.

The continuing growth of RIOCOCO is the source of much of Mr. Shan’s recognition for success. His brand RIOCOCO is based on ethical ecological standards, producing RIOCOCO branded organic growing media substrates for greenhouses around the world. This is made from coconut fibers, material that Mr. Shan saw potential for in the global horticultural and agricultural businesses. Today RIOCOCO is recognized as the top coir-based substrate among the top greenhouse growers worldwide, spanning 30 countries including United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and Japan.

And in 2010, Mr. Shan introduced the Ceytips Ceylon tea from his country- Sri Lanka. Ceytips teas is single-origin, single-leaf tea with variety of flavors and traditional black Ceylon teas, currently enjoyed by customers and discerning tea fans in Texas and many other cities in the USA.