Aban Pestonjee

Aban Pestonjee (Sinhala: අබාන් පෙස්ටොන්ජි), the chairperson and founder of the Abans group of companies and known as one of the first entrepreneurs who initiated in first bringing Korean technology to Sri Lankan consumers.

Pestonjee is part of the Parsi community.

She started off her business in 1968 in her home garage where she managed to restore the used appliances which she acquired from auctions and home sales to better working condition and sell them at her corner shop in Galle road.

In 1978, the economy opened up and there was a huge inflow of imported products. This led to an increased demand from the customers for quality global brands. First, she imported products from England, then from Thailand, China, Japan and Korea.

Abans Group is mainly divided into 5 business categories such as retail, services, logistics, manufacturing and real estate and infrastructure development under which come Abans (Pvt) Ltd, Abans automobile, Abans Abstract, S.A. Electricals (Pvt) Ltd Services, Abans Central AC Division, Abans Finance, Abans Tours, AB Securities (Pvt) Ltd etc.

• The Award of Excellence for Woman Achievers for Outstanding Achievement from the SAARC Women's association in Year 2000.
• “The Bronze Award” for the Large Business Category by the Women's Chamber of Industry & Commerce at the Year 2000 Women Entrepreneurs of the Year Award Ceremony.
• “KOTRA Plaque of Appreciation -- 2005” for forging strategic foreign economic ties between Korea & Sri Lanka presented by Mr. Young Kyo, president and CEO of the Korea Trade Promotion Agency.
• In 2006, she received International Recognition for winning the Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World award. Mrs. Pestonjee was awarded the prize by the Princess of Thailand.
• She also received the LG award for the Best Importer on South-East Asia on behalf of Abans Limited.