Nawaloka Timber Stores founded in 1945, by Deshamanya H.K. Dharmadasa, the Chairman of Nawaloka Group of Companies, by opened up a timber depot on a piece of land he owned at Peliyagoda, All the timber requirements for the construction industry was made available at the store. In addition to the sales of timber, recruited skilled carpenters to manufacture household furniture. Chairman got an unexpected break when he won the contract to supply tea chests for the tea exporters. With the reputation he earned for the good quality chests, orders from tea factories all over the country began to pour in.