Late Mr .Bernard Botejue, a Sole Proprietor, established Bernards in 1948 to manufacture men’s Vests and T-Shirts for the domestic market. In the 60′s the Company opened its own retail outlet and expanded the product range to include Men’s, Ladies & Kids Apparel, Sportswear and Underwear. By the late 60′s Bernards became a household name in Knitted garments.

The Company’s first Export order of men’s Interlock T-Shirts was shipped to Sweden in 1972. With the open economic policies of the government in 1977 Bernards launched full scale into the Export Market. By the 80′s the Domestic Market was separated to an Associate Company and Bernard Botejue Ind. Ltd became a full time Exporter of Knitted Garments operating 4 production lines.

In the year 1992 the company Expanded with a provincial factory in Kolonna located in the South Central part of the country with an additional six production lines of 24 Machines each. By the turn of the Millennium the provincial factory Expanded to 9 Lines in addition to the 3 production lines in Colombo.

Presently the company manufactures ladies underwear mainly for European markets. Bernards was awarded ISO 9002 1994 in the year 2000 and was recertified for ISO 9000 2000 in 2003. In 2003, Sentrino Embroidery Pvt Ltd was established to provide the factories and subcontractors with printed and embroidered garments. In 2010, Sentrino Embroidery changed its name to Sentrino Pvt Ltd and in addition to embroidery and printing it also became the preferred supplier for promotional advertising t-shirts and sports wear.

To become a preferred supplier of quality apparel,
offering a total turnkey solution to our customers while improving the standards and benefits to our employees and
striving to achieve the objectives of our stakeholders.

To be a preferred, fully integrated total solutions provider to our target market.

The company plays an active role in society and has been involved in many projects. Bernards has assisted the communities around where the factories are located:

• By granting scholarships for students sitting for the university entrance exam.
• By providing library facilities for the local communities.
• By sponsoring fishing boats for the fishermen in Hambantota after the devastation caused by the Tsunami.
• By annually upgrading and maintaining the hospital in Hambantota
• Assisting with contributions to the village temples and childrens orphanages.
• Bernards has also co-sponsored the ‘Senehasa Youth Camp’ for orphans from inception

Bernards also sponsored an orphaned elephant who was cared for by the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home and released back into the Udawalawe National Park when it reached maturity.

The company plays an active role in society and has been involved in many projects in and around the areas where the factories are located. A few of these activities include:

• Granting scholarships for students sitting for the university entrance exam.
• Providing library facilities for the local communities.
• Sponsoring fishing boats for the fishermen in Hambantota after the devastation caused by the Tsunami.
• Annually upgrading and maintaining a hospital in Kolonna.
• Reconstructed a lake which revived many abandoned paddy fields in the area.
• Assisting with contributions to the village temples and childrens orphanages.
• Bernards has also co-sponsored the ‘Senehasa Youth Camp’ for orphans from inception.
• Sponsoring an orphaned elephant who was cared for by the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home and released back into the Udawalawe National Park when it reached maturity.