CEYLON BUSINESS NEWS
Welcoming our new Indian - Junior Kuppanna Sri Lanka
Text and Pics by Shivanthi Medagoda
Newly opened Indian Restaurant in Number 20 Station Road, Colombo 4. This is their first global flagship store in Sri Lanka.
The restaurant opened on Saturday, May 27th. It's definitely a place to check out if you're into authentic South Indian food. They cater the best delicacies of Kongu cuisine only at Junior Kuppanna Sri Lanka. They serve authentic biryani with many other curries; you can taste the different flavours, the rice is cooked to perfection, and the spicy meats are succulent.
A historic heritage property that was neglected for 120 years and in poor condition is now brought back to life in all its splendour as a brand-new dining experience with a heritage theme emerges from Junior Kuppanna Sri Lanka.
Over the past 60 years, this brand has travelled the world and caused people to savour its flavour and distinctiveness. Founded in 1960 by Kongu Cuisine experts Thiru Kuppusamy and Thirumati Rukmini Amma. It goes without saying that the most popular brand in regional Kongu cuisine is Junior Kuppanna. Check out their branch networks and further information at http://kuppanna.com/
Samahan to the peak
By Shivanthi Medagoda
As Johann Peries prepares to climb Mount Denali, Link Samahan will provide electricity. Johann Peries, a mountaineer and explorer from Sri Lanka, will be supported on his most recent excursion by Link Natural, a division of CIC Moldings, as he looks for Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America
A newly launched experiential centre, "Swastha by Link Natural," is at No. 6 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7, which hosts spa treatments and sells its own Link products.
Johann Peries became only the second Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest in May 2018. He has also summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kalapattar in Nepal, Mont Blanc in Switzerland, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. Mount Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. It is also known to be the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land, measuring 18,000 feet.
Sharing his thoughts, Johann Peries stated, "I am excited about this new expedition and thankful to Link Natural for their support in helping me achieve my goal. I have been using Link products for a very long time, and I have complete faith in the power of each product to ease any discomforts during my journey. Samahan will be very helpful in maintaining my immunity at a high level in challenging cold weather conditions. Meanwhile, Musclegard will combat muscular and joint ailments and promote muscle recovery, while Crampgard Plus will help me prevent any muscle cramps that I may develop along the way due to extreme weather conditions."
Link Natural Products Head of Marketing Romero Linden stated, "Johann Peries is a Sri Lankan icon—a mountaineer who has continued to put Sri Lanka on the world map by embarking on unparalleled adventures. He is once again helping all Sri Lankans dream big and showing us all that we too can achieve any feat if we set our minds to it and work hard.
In addition to Ayurvedic medicines, Link Natural is a well-known manufacturer and marketer of herbal healthcare and personal care products. The company's noble idea is to offer customers safe, effective, and high-quality herbal healthcare solutions that help people live healthier, longer, and more active lives by fusing Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science, technology, and methodologies.
Its signature product, Link Samahan, is a 100% organic, real-herbal beverage made with 14 well-known Ayurvedic herbs that have been eaten regularly for millennia to improve immunity and general well-being. Sudantha, Swastha Amurtha, Swastha Triphala, Musclegard, SP Balm, Kesha, and many other tried-and-true goods can also be found at Link Natural. Consumers have had access to holistic well-being through these items for many years. The brand's most recent entry into the retail market is its line of herbal personal care items.
Pics by Prabodha de Silva
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amanté launches exclusive Nugegoda boutique
amanté, Sri Lanka’s leading intimate apparel brand, has now added a 4th independent boutique to its growing repertoire of premium retail stores across the country. The occasion was marked on Wednesday the 12th of April 2023 at 9.06 am, with popular actress and media personality Yureni Noshika cutting the ribbon to officially open the new outlet at the newly opened Cool Planet Nugegoda shopping centre.
Yureni, former Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World, also made the first purchase at the trendy new boutique. “What I love about amanté is that as a local label, it keeps a keen eye on global trends, but with the aim to cater exclusively to the needs and preferences of South Asian women,” she commented.
The event and opening day saw over 150 guests and customers walk in and experience amanté’s signature shopping experience as well as a sneak preview of the brand’s latest looks across all contemporary amanté collections; namely innerwear, athleisure, sleepwear, swimwear, as well as its other innovation lines.
“We’re excited to have been able to unveil our newest outlet here, in one of Sri Lanka’s busiest shopping districts, and to expand our reach of making accessible our superior collection of comfortable and fashionable womenswear,” said Gayani Gunawardena, General Manager amanté Lanka. “Over the next few years, we are looking at further strengthening our exclusive store network and also cementing our presence as the country’s complete intimate wear destination with constantly evolving product lines in tune to the global fashion industry.”
This year, Colombo Fashion Week was broadcast from March 29 to April 2, 2023. The goal of its founder and president, Ajai Vir Singh, to establish Sri Lanka as the South Asian fashion hub has come a long way since the journey's beginning in 2003, and it is now only 20 years later.
There were 30 Sri Lankan and international designers showcasing at CFW, such as Darshi Keerthisena of Buddhi Batiks, Suneet Varma, Charini Suriyage, Divya Jayawickrama, Dimuthu Sahabandu, Sonali Dharmawardena, Amilani Perera, Sharmila Ruberu of Meraki, Fouzul Hameed of Hameeda, Indi Yapa Abeywardena of House of Indi, Asanka De Mel of LOVI, and many others.
This year's CFW was made possible with their collaboration and the help of sponsors who joined in to make the fashion show successful. The Shangri-La Colombo, the official host hotel of CFW and one of the top hotel chains in the globe and Sri Lanka, will once again partner with the event this year. CFW marks the beginning of a significant new partnership with the renowned brand Mastercard. Their goal is to digitize effectively by 2025 while fostering and assisting SMEs, which aligns with CFW's goal.
Kerry Logistics and CFW had joined for their extensive portfolios and networks to reach Asia. Tresemme also returns this year as the official hair care partner for CFW Summer 2023. This year, Juniper Group, a business, has a notable real estate and financial investment portfolio in Sri Lanka. As the Official Hair and Make-up Partner and a supporter of all Colombo Fashion Week endeavours, Ramani Fernando Salon has been part of this journey since 2003. Hameedia is extending its long-standing relationship with CFW this year as well. Prevense by British Cosmetics is the official skincare partner, and Chupa Chups lollipops by Perfetti van Melle's most recognizable and well-loved names enters as a lifestyle confectionery brand. Finally, to recognise and assist a high-potential young designer, the Italian Embassy established a significant prize for designers. Under Her Excellency Rita Manella's direction, the Italy Award is in its second year at CFW.
Equity Hackathon by Virtusa on International Women's Day
65,000+ female coders participate globally, $10000 in scholarships are awarded to Sri Lankan students
Colombo today, as part of its global campaign to close the gap in gender equity across the IT industry and STEM fields.
Virtusa, a global provider of digital strategy, digital engineering and IT services and solutions, will host the global Engineering Equity hackathon, to spur innovation in tech solutions that advance gender equity while nurturing female talent. Over 65,000 female students from 9 countries including Sri Lanka registered for the hybrid event, which offers built- in mentoring along with job opportunities, scholarships, as well as cloud and technology certifications.
Scholarships worth USD 10,000 will be awarded to female participants through partner universities around the world, including a number of universities in Sri Lanka, namely the University of Colombo, the University of Jaffna, the University of Vavuniya and the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Ahead of the hackathon, Virtusa organized a week of hands-on learning for registrants, from coding basics to understanding the challenges with gender equity in technology. This was also an opportunity for participants to meet and speak with powerhouse female talent, and gain exposure to global personalities and interests. The Engineering Equity hackathon aims to address and solve societal problems by encouraging participants to develop apps, platforms and programs based on four identified challenges. These include a chronic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject gender gap at schools and universities, a
shortage of female role models, the perception of technology careers for women and a lack of understanding of how technology can enable women to change the world.
"At Virtusa we believe that equity is about understanding unique requirements and providing the exact resources for a person to succeed," said Sundar Narayanan, Chief People Officer at Virtusa. "Women will never reach gender equity in the STEM field, unless we apply the same rigor to solving gender equity that we apply to the most challenging engineering problems. The Engineering Equity hackathon aims to do just that, providing a platform to create solutions and training for women by women." To cap off the events, Virtusa hosted a number of virtual panels and fireside chats with female leaders, including a panel discussion in Sri Lanka, with the participation of a several inspiring women across technology and other sectors, who shared their experiences and learnings on how to navigate the gender equity gap, and how to succeed in an ever-evolving career landscape. The panellists included Virtusa's Senior Director of Finance- Dinoo de Mel and Associate Director of Delivery-Rangika Perera, alongside CEO and Co-founder of Hatch Works - Brindha Selvadurai, and Advocate and Educationist on Environmental and Human Rights - Anoka Abeyrathne. The panel was moderated by Hirushi De Silva, Associate Director- Business Consulting at Virtusa.
A live stream of the panel discussions will be available on Virtusa social media channels following the event to engage the broader public in the conversation.
Pics by Prabodha de Silva
Dance Epicure brings UK and Sri Lankan dancers together
Dance Epicure, Sri Lanka’s very first Dinner Dance Theatre concept produced by With My Feet is all set to entertain and delight on the 2nd of April at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. The vision and brainchild of the legendary Naomi Rajaratnam, the uniquely curated evening of dance and gastronomy produced by the Colombo Dance Theatre will feature a roster of extraordinary international and local dancers paired with a night of culinary delight.
The latest initiative by Naomi, the Colombo Dance Theatre comprises of a company of elite international and local dancers woven firmly together by masterful choreography and a great love for dance. Dance Epicure will not only be the Theatre’s inaugural performance, but also the first of its kind in Sri Lanka; where artfully choreographed dance segments will be performed between a four-course sit-down menu. The highly anticipated event will feature the likes of world-renowned dancers - namely five-time undefeated UK National Latin American Champions Gunnar Gunnarsson and Marika Doshoris, as well as the formidable Nauris Kalva and Manuja Hughes, Blackpool Open Smooth Champions - sharing the stage with the best Sri Lankan dancers from Naomi’s own dance company With My Feet.
Naomi’s desire to uplift dancers from far-flung rural areas in Sri Lanka by providing them with the opportunities and spotlight they deserve has always been encapsulated in her dance showcases. It is with this vision in mind that Dance Epicure will also feature a heart-warming performance by the children of the Warehouse Project; an urban community solution in partnership with the Sri Narada Foundation. Additionally, as with all of Naomi’s shows, part of the proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will go towards the Dev Siri Sevana Elders Home in Welisara.
Commenting on the upcoming event, Naomi Rajaratnam said, “I am so honoured that some of the UK’s leading dancers have chosen to collaborate with us, and I am equally thrilled to be able to showcase the best of our Sri Lankan talent on the same platform.”“The concept of a Dinner Dance Theatre has been on my mind for the longest time and I couldn’t think of a better moment to finally turn this dream into a reality,” she added. “The calibre of these world-renowned dancers paired with the best of With My Feet dancers is the perfect opportunity to offer a something truly unique to our Sri Lankan audience.”
The principal partners of Dance Epicure are Standard Chartered Bank Priority, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories, John Keells Properties, Sri Lankan Airlines, Shangri-La Colombo, Wijeya Newspapers and Capital Maharaja Group.
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Kala Pola 2023 concludes with splendour
Vala Pola. Sri Lanka's Annual Open-Air Art Fair, which was held on 19th February, celebrated its 30th vear in 2023. The event was first conceptualised by the George Keyt Foundation in 1993, and has since been held with the continued support and patronage of the John Keells Groun since 1994. Kala Pola is the country s largest and most vibrant platform for artists to chowrase their work and to interact with the art community. This year's event showcased the
talents of over 300 local artists from all over the country. His Excellency Paul Stephens, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Maldives, graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Vogue's latest eyewear in Sri Lanka
Vogue has unveiled brand new additions to its extensive range of Vogue Eyewear sunglasses available in Sri Lanka.
In the sunny, hot and humid weather of Sri Lanka, sunglasses are the perfect accessory to keep your eyes safe while also elevating your overall look. No matter what your style is, they add the perfect finishing touch to beat the heat, provide protection from harmful UV rays and dust, and also add that touch of glam and fashion appeal.
Vogue Eyewear is crafted by experts and specially curated for any occasion. The latest additions to Vogue Eyewear range include bold, chic and elegant eyewear styles that are available in a variety of classic and avant-garde frames, playful designs and a mix of gradient lenses to compliment every woman’s wardrobe. They come in frame colours such as rose-gold, gold, silver, and black and include a wide variety of lens colours such as blue gradient, grey, brown, grey gradient, brown gradient, pink gradient, and violet gradient that match the frames perfectly.
These fresh styles from Vogue Eyewear are also the perfect choice to pamper yourself or the favourite women in your lives! Make the day more special by gifting a statement piece from this selection of fashionable sunglasses from Vogue Eyewear. The new models are available at selected Vision Care branches Islandwide starting from Rs. 20,000 upwards giving you the opportunity to choose from a versatile range of trendy eyewear styles to express yourself.
Baby Cheramy expands its floral range with Nil Manel
Baby Cheramy, Sri Lanka's number one baby care brand, celebrates 60 years of bringing its valued customers safe and caring products. The brand has always focused on high quality and safety standards that are good for the delicate skin of your little one. The Brand is closely connected to its consumers' evolving needs and, with that, Baby Cheramy recently launched two new additions, Nil Manel Floral Baby Cream and Soap, to their floral range.
The two additions are specially formulated with the goodness of natural Nil Manel extracts and milk, which are known to nourish, retain skin moisture, and soothe your baby’s skin. They are also manufactured by complying to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) requirements, making them suitable for your baby.
From the moment a baby is conceived, parents wish to provide the best of everything for their precious bundles of joy to ensure the utmost safety and comfort. In the quest for the safest and best quality products to use for their baby, mothers increasingly look for products that provide the required moisturization that is essential for healthy-looking skin. The Nil Manel Floral Baby Cream and Soap most importantly help retain skin moisture, which is prone to dry fast mainly due to our tropical climate with its added cooling properties providing a soothing feel to your baby’s skin.
The new Nil Manel Floral Baby Cream and Soap are both developed with a safe formula, which is dermatologically tested for safety & can be considered as Non-Irritant to skin. It is also free from parabens, petroleum oil, and formaldehyde.
Baby Cheramy has been winning the hearts and trust of parents for generations, for nearly 6 decades. They offer a complete product range manufactured to the highest quality and safety standards, catering to all baby care requirements. Its wide range of products includes Baby Soap, Baby Cologne, Cream and Lotion, Laundry Wash Powder and Liquid, Bottle Wash, Cotton Buds, Diapers, Nappy Rash Cream, and many more, all of which ensure the utmost protection and nourishment for your baby's skin.
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VEGAN Body Butters by Body Shop
The Body Shop Sri Lanka released its exciting new range of vegan body butters at a launch event held at its Colombo City Centre store on Thursday, introducing eight updated flavours for one of the brand's most iconic and best-selling product lines. Originally introduced nearly three decades ago, the newly revamped products feature 100% vegan ingredients, a longer-lasting efficacy, and wholly sustainable packaging.
At the launch, guests, key influencers, and members of the media were able to get better acquainted with the nourishing new formulas. With this new range, The Body Shop is asking its customers to “Go Love Yourself.” Enriched with body-loving formulas, each updated body butter promises intense moisturisation for a whopping 96 hours, and without the stickiness that is often associated with thicker creams. Made with 95% natural-origin ingredients, these vegan-friendly flavours just melt into the skin to instantly nourish and rejuvenate. The scoop, spread, and slather is a sensory experience in itself, but also leaves behind a naturally beautiful afterglow and of course, softer, smoother and great-smelling skin.
Just as every unique body deserves to be loved, so does the planet. In addition to creating high-quality skincare, bodycare, haircare, and cosmetics, The Body Shop are also industry pioneers in its commitment to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact. With this new collection in particular, The Body Shop harnesses the nourishing power of Community Fair Trade shea butter from the Tungteiya Women’s Association in northern Ghana, helping to provide financial independence for Ghanaian women. With regards to sustainability, all products in the new line come housed in a tub made of 100% recycled plastic - including Community Fair Trade recycled plastic collected off the streets of Bengaluru by India’s marginalized waste-pickers- and aluminium lids – making this the brand’s most environment-friendly product range to date.
The Body Shop customers in Sri Lanka can choose from a wide range of these newly released flavours. For sensitive skin types, the Almond Milk Body Butter -enriched with Community Trade almond milk and oil from Spain- gently soothes and nourishes dry and sensitive skin with its creamy and great-smelling formula. Argan Body Butter for very dry skin is another lifesaver. Formulated with organic babassu oil from Brazil, this nutty product provides intense and lasting moisturisation, to bid dryness ‘good riddance!’ once and for all. Made with sustainably sourced Hass avocado oil and Community Fair Trade shea butter, the new Avocado Body Butter helps nourish dry skin. For a natural looking glow opt for the intensely creamy Moringa Body Butter, or the Shea Body Butter for seriously dry skin.
Normal skin types can choose from fragrant British Rose Body Butter –made with English rose extract, citrusy Satsuma Body Butter with satsuma oil from Argentina, or Strawberry Body Butter made with strawberry seed oil. While they all make your skin feel loved like it has never been before, each with its unique scent also leaves behind a unique scent trail that will have noses turning.
The newly released body butter range -as well as all other bath and body collections- are available at The Body Shop flagship store on Bagatale Road, Odel in Alexandra Place, the Kandy City Centre, and at the Colombo City Centre in Colombo 02.
‘Envoy London’ succeeds in, London
Envoy London, the iconic fashion brand, has been enjoying great success among the elite shoppers of Kensington High Street in London, ever since it opened its doors in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, in April 2020.
The story began two decades ago when former England cricket captain and celebrated commentator Tony Greg became the first-ever Brand Ambassador for Envoy London.
Years down the line, in 2015, the story took a modern-day spin when Sri Lankan fashion guru Fouzul Hameed’s piece-de-resistance men’s fashion brand ‘Envoy London’ became the brand of choice for the prestigious Mr. England competition that year.
Since then, this Sri Lankan home-grown brand has continued to win the confidence and admiration of discerning shoppers on London’s fashion promenade
Elaborating on the success of Envoy London, its creator, fashion mogul Fouzul Hameedia, referred to the brand as a portrayal of a "true gentleman."
“Envoy has become a world-class brand that has developed a total solution for gentlemen's fashion requirements around the world. The philosophy behind Envoy is creating world-class luxury clothing. Moreover, absolute precision and attention to detail in the quality control process enable sheer perfection in the haute couture portfolio produced by Envoy. The wearer thus luxuriates in the feel and comfort of a high-end luxury product with superior quality”, he says.
Laying claim to its fame in the international fashion arena is Envoy London’s collaboration with Mr. England over the past six years. The top three contenders vying for the title are given the opportunity to represent Envoy London as Brand Ambassadors for the duration of their reign.
The first-ever brand representation was in 2015 by the then Mr. England winner, Christopher Bramell. The brand thereafter gained further prominence in 2017 by Mr. England, Jack Eyers, and 1st runner up, Jack Heslewood, who then went on to win the coveted Mr. World title in 2019.
This year too, Mr. England 2021 Liam Ulla, 1st runner up Lewis Hussle, and 2nd runner up Jake Mathot work closely with the brand. Prior to the grand finale on 17th August, were the preliminary rounds of selection where the Brand Ambassadors made an official visit to the Envoy London store to select their attire for the grand finale.
Speaking of the quality of the product Hameed went on to say that “Envoy London products are made using the finest fabrics, superior craftsmanship and best accessories to embody the definition of sartorial excellence”.
Exuding a quintessence of luxury and elegance, Envoy London is meticulous about its choosing the correct designs, innovations, technology and the finest fabrics which are from some of the world-famous mills, such as Ermengildo Zegna, Loro Piana, Vitale Barberies (VBC), Cerruti, Dormruli, Cotonificio Albini, Thomas Mason, Tessitura Monti, and some top-of-the-line Asian fabrics.
The Envoy London store at Kensington High Street has a comprehensive selection of formal, casual, ceremonial, smart casual, leather, and accessories, including made-to-order and made-to-measure tailoring options. “Envoy London provides the best solution for fashion conscious and discerning men who are looking to high-end clothing to create lasting impressions,” stated Hameed.
Its close collaboration with the Mr. England pageant and the brand’s own acceptance among fashion-conscious gentlemen internationally have made Envoy London’s rise to stardom mercurial.
PHOTO (L to R) are Liam Ulla / Jake Mathot / Lewis Hussle
Big Bad Wolf is back
By Chanaka de Silva
The World’s Biggest Book Sale – Big Bad Wolf Books is to return to Sri Lanka once again. Bibliophiles and fans of Big Bad Wolf Books should look forward to a new and wider range of titles this time around said, co-founder of BBW Jacqueline Ng, at an online press meet held recently.
The 3rd of November will be the day to wait for and the sale will continue until the 10th of November. This period will make it able for a book lovers to make their purchases online using any of their preferred devices. she said. She further commented that considering a few technical difficulties faced back at the previous Book Sale held in May on the first couple of days and, that is why the Wolf has enlisted the help of his BIG BAD friend, Shopify, who is a globally known name in the e-commerce industry.
Wolfies can now take part in the “Share and Win” contest hosted by the Wolf on Facebook or Instagram which is running now until the 1st of November 2021. Participation is incredibly easy! To enter, Wolfies would only need to share the respective posting on Facebook or Instagram and include the hashtags: #BigBadWolfBooks #WolfieisBack. A total of 100 lucky Wolfies can look forward to receiving an Rs. 1,000 Big Bad Wolf Books Gift Card to be spent during the Sale period which will be announced on the 2nd of November 2021!
What’s more, the Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale will also be offering Free Shipping for orders placed at Rs. 9,000 and above! Be ready to check out the Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale (lk.bbwbooks.com), as discounts of up to 95% off retail recommended prices awaits all book fan! So, put your reading hats on, find a cosy corner and get ready for a totally rejuvenating experience from the comfort of your own home. The Big Bad Wolf is ready to huff and sail to Sri Lanka with all of your favourite books picked from all around the world, once more this year with a whole new e-commerce platform (lk.bbwbooks.com)!
Pics by Prabodha de Silva
Sri Lanka's real-estate icon: ALTAIR opens
Altair Colombo, be known for its unique and acclaimed architectural value and splendorous addition redefining the skyline of Colombo, in par with the ongoing real-estate boom, to the new Colombo Skyline, was ceremoniously declared open today (27th October 2021) by the
Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development Namal Rajapaksa.
The ceremonial opening of the iconic residential towers denotes the epitome of positive and expedient economic backing of neighbouring India to Sri Lanka, with Altair notably, being the biggest FDI investment in Colombo for real estate to date and the only FDI investment from the South City Group of Kolkata, an Indian investor in Sri Lanka of its calibre. Altair, therefore, is truly a symbol and a showpiece of the foreign investment potential in the real estate industry in Sri Lanka for all enthusiastic investors around the globe.
Alongside Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the grand opening of ALTAIR was held under the auspices of Indian High Commissioner (Guest of Honour) HE. Gopal Baglay, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Sirinimal Perera (Special Authorized Officer- Altair Project), Sushil Mohta,
Jugal Khetawat, Rajendra Bachhawat, Prakash Bachhawat (Directors/ Shareholders of South City Projects Kolkata Ltd) and Manmohan Bagree, Director Indocean Developers Pvt Ltd.
The event also exemplifies that customers are now able to initiate the fit-outs of the apartments through a phased-out schedule with the total sold apartments ready to be handed over within the next few weeks. Since there were architectural and engineering challenges that encompassed unto creation of a one-of-its-kind edifice, the construction and finishing of ALTAIR posed many complexities
which affected construction schedules. Therefore, as the main developer, Indocean (Pvt) Limited., the local subsidy of the world-renowned South City Projects (Kolkata) Ltd expressed their delight over the acceleration of the project progress in the last few months especially amidst the Covid 19 pandemic due to the significant support extended by the Government of Sri Lanka The breath-taking real estate masterpiece is a creative magnum opus of living legend Moshe Safdie, creator of Marina Bay Sands and the Jewel in Singapore and many other icons.
ALTAIR comprises 404 luxurious apartments spread across 1.5mn square feet on 68 floors with ventilation, light, privacy and optimally laid out living spaces as its' design guidance. With the full completion and the commencement of the handover process, Indocean
Developers Pvt Ltd is confident that the lifestyle facelift that Altair would bring into Sri Lanka with sophisticated brand experience would become a true value addition to the vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle in new Colombo.
The Wolf is back with exciting books
By Shivanthie Medagoda
The biggest book sale online is taking place for the second time for eight consecutive days from 5th May to 12th May 2021. The book sale is only taking place online this year due to the ongoing pandemic situation. For the safety of our dear fans, they follow the safety health regulations.
The co-founder of BBW Jacqueline Ng, Andrew Yap, and Dipak Madhavan. Nishan Wasalathanthri, Director Pro Read Lanka(Pvt) Ltd and partner Big Bad Wolf building Sri Lanka, decided with their partners to continue the book sale online this year as well and also a new team of the customer care team to serve BBW loyal customers/fans by offering them to shop anytime from the comfort of their smartphone or computer and keep themself safe.
Andrew Yap, Co-Founder of Big Bad Wolf books explained the importance of providing high-quality English books at an affordable price for beloved reader and children in Sri Lanka. We are excited and pleased since the book sale is online and many fans across Sri Lanka can order and enjoy it.
Their missions are to nurture the reading habit amongst children and adults.
Big Bad Wolf features a wide range of books across all genres; including fiction and non-fiction of bestsellers, young adults fiction, children's workbooks l, accessories, and much more.
Jacqueline Ng, Co-Founder of BBW explained the promotions as mentioned below;
-Dork Diaries collection " Buy 3 and above, Get 20% Off"
-Rick Riordan collection "Buy any 3 for the price of 2"
-Workbook- wipe clean collection "Buy any 3 for the price of 2"
-Workbook- Mad for Math collection " Buy 2 for the price of 1"
-10% off minimum spend LKR 17,000
- Free Shipping for orders above LKR 9000
-Sampath Bank credit cardholders Installment plans for 3,6 or 12 months for orders above LKR 10,000.
Addition Radio Station Promotions
- Lite87 X Big Bad Wolf Book Contest Giveaways
- TNL Now X Big Bad Wolf Book Contest Giveaways
(10 lucky winners stand a chance to win book e-vouchers worth LKR 1000 each) (Pics by Prabodha de Silva)
Kala Pola showcases Sri Lankan Artists
By Shivanthi Medagoda
Kala Pola pop up sale took place at the Arcade Independence Square on the 10th of April. After a successful online campaign done by John Keells Foundation. The event took place only one day from 10 am to 6 pm. The customers were temperature checked and taken in. The team adhere to all health guidelines at the Kala Pola pop up sale.
However, due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the event was limited to 25 stalls only. The talented artists showcased their own style and variety of interesting unique pieces for sale. These artists were able to sell their paintings and also meet customers interested in art. The stalls consist mostly of wall paintings and one stall represented upcycling metal pieces and creating a masterpiece. The staff volunteers of the John Keells Group helped to organize the event along with the event organizers.
The event was graced by the Chairman of The George Keyt Foundation, Mike Anthonisz together with Trustees and the Chairman of John Keells Group, Krishan Balendra and senior management.
The event also hosted a live music performance by their volunteer staff singers and musicians of the John Keells [11:00, 14/04/2021] Shivanthi Top City: Group. Also, certain artists did portrait sketching and there were food stalls for customers by elephant house products that took place at the Kala Pola.
Pics by Chanaka de Silva
Vision Care “Fashionable Eyewear Partner” at CFW
Vision Care, Sri Lanka’s largest eye care solutions provider, has extended its longstanding partnership with the Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) for the 8th consecutive year by teaming up as the “Fashionable Eyewear Partner” for the 2021 edition of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious fashion event that was held across 3 days at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Vision Care collaborated with several designers including Emerging Designers Chamanka Pehesara, Divya Jayawickrama, Hashani Fernando, Naduni Katuwandeniya on Day 1, as well as established designers Dinushi Pamunuwa, Charini Suriyage, Conscience on Day 2 and Nilusha Maddumage and Ayesh Milendra on Day 3 who used top global brands such as D&G, Prada, Ray-Ban and Vogue in their creations. In addition to these brands, Vision Care also offers customers a wide array of top global brands for frames and sunglasses such as Emperor, Armani, Michael Kors, Polaroid, Bvlgari, Vintage, Polarsun, Carrera, Coach, Oakley, Gucci, Porsche and many others.
Harsha Maduranga - General Manager of Vision Care stated, "The Colombo Fashion Week is probably the most prestigious event in Sri Lanka’s fashion calendar and every year all eyes are on the fashion designers to see what sort of amazing creations they come up with. Vision Care is proud to be a part of this event as the “Fashionable Eyewear Partner” for the 8th consecutive year. It goes without saying that our wide range of world-class, trendy eyewear brands fits seamlessly into this world of fashion. We are thrilled to have worked with several highly-talented emerging as well as established designers who incorporated our eyewear elegantly into their exquisite fashion creations.”
Colombo Fashion Week is a developmental project that aims to drive progressive change in every aspect of the fashion industry in Sri Lanka. Since its inception in 2003, CFW has focused on nurturing the next generation of Sri Lankan fashion designers. In its 18th year, the 2021 edition of CFW is themed the "Week of Circularity" where the focus is on encouraging the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka to transform itself and create fashion products that are relevant to the new environment. Given the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is seen as the year of transformation for the fashion industry. Having restructured significantly in 2020, like many other industries, the fashion industry is attempting to make changes to align to the realities of the new normal where consumption patterns have changed drastically.
Sadaharitha rewards customers
Sadaharitha Plantations Limited, the pioneer in the Green Investment sector and leader in commercial forestry in Sri Lanka, created history on March 03 at a ceremony themed ‘Trust Rewarded’. During the milestone event in Sri Lanka’s Agarwood industry, Sadaharitha repurchased the Agarwood harvests from its customers upon the completion of their tenure by rewarding them with higher rate of returns-much higher than dividends offered by any financial institution.
The ‘Trust Rewarded’ event, held at Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo, was graced by Chairman of the Sadaharitha Group, Sathis Nawarathna who is a pioneer and veteran in introducing commercial forestry as a source of foreign exchange to Sri Lanka. The ‘Trust Rewarded’ event was conducted adhering to all the COVID-19 precautions. At the March 03 ‘Trust Rewarded’ event Sadaharitha – the first company to introduce Agarwood as a commercial forestry based investment – offered dividends to the customers who purchased spots in their first-ever plantation located in Neboda.
Addressing the gathering at the event, Mr. Sathis Nawarathna stated: “I am incredibly pleased to see this important day unfolding into reality, as this is the day we buy the harvest from our investors while being able to deliver higher returns – much more than what was promised. Right from the inception and introduction of Agarwood to Sri Lanka, we have long planned to bring in foreign exchange to the country, strengthening local investors, and to protect and preserve nature. And as a company, I can confidently say that we are delivering the very best to our customers. Our customers have been with us for over 19 years and this is a true reflection of the ‘trust’ that we have won, nurtured and strengthened over the years. Further fortifying our stance, we remain highly and continuously committed in providing the highest returns through innovative technology and extensive research and development” he said, taking a moment to thank the customers who had placed their trust in the company.
As the forerunner in Commercial Forestry in Asia, Sadaharitha had proved to be a sustainable and secure investment avenue. The company has tied up with over 35,000 investors, offering them high returns while ensuring support to conserve the country’s forest cover. It has nurtured the trust of its customers for nearly two decades while offering maximum profits that were matched by none.
The ‘Trust Rewarded’ event was one where the investors – those who had invested in the Agarwood projects seven years ago – were offered a value of LKR 50,000 which was double the amount that of the promised rate by the company as a liability upon completion of the harvest. It is notable that Sadaharitha’s dividends recorded an annual return of 22.4% which is substantially higher than rates of return offered by any other financial institution.
Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director and CEO of Sadaharitha Plantations Dr Pradeep Edward said: “The Sadaharitha Group is a pioneer in the commercial forestry of Agarwood –and ensures catalyzing the highest market value. The international markets require Agarwood of the highest quality and our threshold of being able to produce and supply the products directly to those markets allow us to reward the investors with the highest profit return ratios in the forestry and investment industry. We believe that this will be a sustainable and reliable source of income for our customers. We are now a major stakeholder in the foreign exchange earnings for the country.”
Sadaharitha Agarwood – the only stable Sri Lankan brand in the global Agarwood market – is constantly committed in providing the highest quality Agarwood to the rest of the world. Its commendable research and development division together with its expert staff produce high-quality agave through technology and innovation. Sadaharitha Plantation has also been named amongst the top 10 companies in the global agarwood market based on international research reports on world market behavior. Being the only Sri Lankan brand that’s currently making its mark in the Global Agarwood Market it has committed to producing the highest quality of Agarwood. This has primarily been possible due to Sadaharitha’s dedicated exclusive research and development division along with its valued experts who paved the way to produce the highest quality Agarwood through extensive research and the implementation of world-class technology and innovation.
Director, Sales and Marketing, Sadaharitha Group Jayampathy Mirando said: "I take this opportunity to thank all our 35,000 customers, who we value very much. We have been able to offer dividends for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka primarily due to being able to provide a reliable and cordial service to our customers. We are committed to further strengthen that trust and providing superior services to our customers in time to come.”
Sadaharitha Plantations being ranked amongst the top 10 companies in the global Agarwood market is a testament to this promise and quality. The supportive reports have been derived through international research on patterns and market behavior over a period of 10 years.
Yasmin’s cafe scoops out Carino, Coffee and Cake
Yasmin’s -the ‘coolest’ new addition to Sri Lanka’s dessert scene- officially opened its doors on 7 December 2020, introducing sweet fans to a brand-new creamery concept from its prime location in Madiwela, Kotte. Yasmin’s will be the only parlour in the country serving up the much-loved local artisanal ice cream brand Carino, scooping out over 16 flavours of decadent frozen desserts.
Owned by hospitality industry veteran, Yasmin Cader, Yasmin’s is conveniently housed at the Masterpieces showroom; the parlour interiors borrowing from the classic, yet the contemporary charm of its host. Whether to fulfil an insatiable sweet tooth or a craving for a frozen dessert, visitors can take in the large sunlit interiors, in between scoops of all-too-familiar creamy goodness. Yasmin's extensive menu includes favourites from all of the five lip-smacking Carino ranges (Crème, Addict, Guilt-Free (vegan), Chill Out, and After Dark), be it French Vanilla or Salted Caramel, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Strawberry Sorbet, Coconut Cream, Decadent Chocolate, and Stracciatella to name a few all sprinkled with your topping of choice. For true ice-cream connoisseurs, there’s reason to keep coming back for more as all 50 of Carino’s flavours will be rotated on a regular basis, for both viewing and tasting pleasure. Highly-anticipated seasonal specials and exciting sundaes will also be on the menu for those who wish to indulge.
For those in the mood for a bite or sip of something other than ice cream, Yasmin’s offering goes beyond just flavourful scoops; also serving an assortment of sorbets and sundaes, alongside a selection of baked goodies including the Sri Lankan favourite - Ribbon Cake, the Perfect Chocolate Cake and a decadent Coffee Cake by The Cake Factory. Many a beverage -both warming and thirst-quenching- can also be had in the form of rich, Italian Bonomi coffee brews, indulgent milkshakes, as well as Narang juices, ginger beer, and iced coffee by Cherine’s Quench.
Yasmin Cader is no stranger to the limelight, both a familiar face and highly respected force among society and trade circles alike. Having previously held managerial roles at the Hilton and Cinnamon Hotels Group for over 30 years, and active member of the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation since its inception, Yasmin has now decided to expand her hospitality and leisure portfolio through this venture.
"Although I’ve had an extremely fulfilling career in one of the most fascinating industries, I have always aspired to have a business I can call my own,” said Yasmin at the launch. “I believe it’s never too late to follow through with your dreams, and so, when the opportunity arose to join hands with Sheriff of Masterpieces, I naturally jumped at the chance.”
“Good ice cream is one of life’s little joys,” she added. “At Yasmin’s, we hope customers will find comfort in the taste and innovation they have come to love from Carino, enjoying it all the more among the company, and in a setting that is both accessible and aesthetically pleasing.”
Carino creates artisan ice creams, sorbets, and frozen yoghurts in both classic and wildly inventive flavours that appeal to the adventurous and traditional sampler alike. Italian for ‘love and affection’ Carino has always been a brand with heart, now decades on, continuing to make its ice creams, mix-ins, and other treats only from fresh and natural ingredients. Carino’s extensive vegan range of Guilt-Free ice creams are made with nut-based milk produced in house, with the range’s sorbets comprising of no dairy at all. All Carino products are gelatin-free and vegetarian, made up of recipes that keep sugar to a minimum without compromising on taste; instead of using alternative sugars (such as palm sugar, jaggery, palm syrups and bees honey) and flavours from natural derivatives (fruit, spices, vanilla, etc.). Additionally, no added colours or artificial preservatives are used in the making of these treats.
Yasmin’s will be open to serve customers all year round, from 11.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m. seven days a week.
Samsung support an Island First Student
Samsung Sri Lanka gifts all-new Galaxy Tab S7+ to support an Island First Student’s advanced engineering studies
Samsung Sri Lanka recently presented a Samsung Tab S7+ to the brilliant Engineering student, Vinura Osada Gallage, who was declared all-island first in the new syllabus category in the Engineering Technology stream for the 2019 G.C.E A/L exam. An ardent Samsung smartphone user, the brilliant student has been doing his entire examination preparation regularly on devices from the Samsung eco-system.
On his request, Samsung gifted Vinura a Galaxy Tab S7+ as a strategic educational aid to support his advanced engineering studies under its vision for promoting latent talent through greater digitalization.
The large-sized 12.4-inch display enhances visual acuity and increases productivity while also supporting 120Hz display. Other useful features such as Samsung DEX, writing on PDFs, taking pictures and writing on them, making instant sketches, using pop-up windows, the air command menu and its features are some of the features that increase productivity.
Moreover, the enhanced S-Pen feature offers a more life-like experience when writing or drawing on the tablet using the stylus. Also, the Galaxy Tab S7+ ’s long-lasting battery and the S-Pen’s Bluetooth function allows you to perform presentations on the generous-sized screen while multitasking with 3 apps open simultaneously to get more done while switching with ease back and forth.
As online learning becomes more of a reality in the present context, students need powerful educational devices to support their learning and Samsung provides an entire range from smartphones and tabs to laptops and personal computers to fuel students’ ambitions for a prosperous future.
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Not a fairy tale anymore - Big Bad Wolf Book Sale
“Access to thrice more titles this year”- Andrew Yap
Book lovers across Sri Lanka, it’s time to get ready for the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale. The Sale is coming to Sri Lanka for the 4th consecutive year, along with its popular 50%-90% discounts. What is intriguing this year is that the Sale is venturing to an online platform, promising a pioneering experience for every Sri Lankan.
Behind this initiative and ensuring the Book Sale’s return for the 4th consecutive year, is Co-Founder, Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Andrew Yap and Director, ProRead Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Nishan Wasalathanthri. Excerpts of the interview where the duo describes the preparations for the Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale and what the fans can expect from the latest edition of the World’s Biggest Book Sale.
Q. The idea of an Online Book Sale seems to be the right move at present. What are your thoughts on this?
Andrew: Yes. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major shift in daily affairs making people search for alternatives to combat the challenges thrown at them. During a time when Sri Lankans have gradually absorbed the challenges and are optimistic about their future, we felt that we could make a difference and improve their outlook towards all that has happened and is happening, bringing in positivity. We believe that knowledge must never be felt as an entitlement that needs to be chased but instead must be made equally available to everyone. As you know there is a heartfelt need for access to brand-new and affordable books from diverse genres and creations for everyone. True to our purpose we want to encourage people to read more, educate themselves and improve their English knowledge.
It is a challenging time for all of us and safety needs to be our top priority. The rise of e-commerce during these times kept many needs and wants fulfilled. We feel e-commerce is the best and safest solution moving forward and it is also encouraging to observe how consumers have embraced and adopted the “new normal”. As the organizers of the World’s Biggest Book Sale, we did not want to disappoint our long-standing fans, hence we decided to take the Sale to an online platform this year.
The Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale 2020 is a prime example of our focus on safety, customer convenience and affordability, opening up a plethora of reading treasures to all readers in Sri Lanka. We want to take this opportunity to point out the excellent efforts made by the Sri Lankan Government and praise the authorities who worked hard to curtail the pandemic. It is commendable to see how the authorities are persisting with precautionary measures, stressing on the safety of the public. We want to support these efforts, work further adhering to best safety standards, while assuring our fans an even more “Bigger and Better Experience” this time around.
Q. How do you think the fans would benefit through an Online Sale?
Nishan: With this Online Sale, we make sure that customers can shop from the comfort of their homes. They don’t need to waste their time travelling to a physical location, wait in traffic, get agitated over parking, worry about safety and use sanitizers, wear masks and so on. What they can do is stay at home, order their desired books and they will be delivered to their doorsteps. This is what we mean by a “hassle free shopping experience”. Other than the amazing offers in store, I think it is the ability to access the books within seconds that will be the greatest attraction for the customers.
Since the sale is online this year if you think you have missed one haul, you could definitely come back for more, continuously, whether you are at home, office or with your friends and family. You could even team up, “book pool” or even have “book lovers get together/ nights” making it a memorable and fun occasion. This I feel is a unique advantage of having an Online Sale this year.
The search option in the website will also make the browsing experience more convenient than browsing books physically. The books will be categorized in to various niches and buyer interests such as automobile, design, photography, food, beverages, etc, further facilitating easy browsing.
Q. As “The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale” is the first online international Book Sale, will there be any additional costs for the consumer?
Andrew: We saw many book aficionados making their way from all parts of the country for the previous three editions. This time book lovers across the entire island will have an opportunity to virtually visit the World’s Biggest Book Sale, whether you are in the North, East, South or West or the Central part of the country. Travelling, time, accommodation and cost are no longer obstacles for you. Access to a world of knowledge is available at your fingertips with the click of a button.
We are very excited this year as this is an international Sale and Sri Lankans get to experience its online version for the very first time. Wolfies will have access to more than thrice the number of titles than in any of the other previous editions in Sri Lanka. This also gives us the opportunity to provide an affordable shipping option as opposed to any international couriering service any purchase from the sale up to LKR 7,999 will only need to pay domestic courier charges. whereas any transaction of LKR 8,000 and above will not pay any courier charges at all!
Q. Can you describe a bit about the overall experience and the challenges you came across in organizing this Online Sale?
Andrew: The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale’s mission stands clear, it is to build a new generation of readers by providing access to affordable brand-new English books. We have been able to create a massive following and an emotional fan base within a short time span and they have been supporting us from the inception of this Sale in Sri Lanka.
The comments we receive through social media platforms and messages mean a lot to us and encourage us further to come up with more offers and make us further improve our level of services and offerings this year.
The team is well geared to serve the customers and bestow a unique Online Book Sale experience upon them, despite the challenges. This year, the team is tasked with extra responsibilities such as the packing of books, maintaining and updating the website etc. Since this is a novel experience, we are getting ourselves equipped to face all challenges. In August, Thailand was the first testing bed. This made us better equipped, helping us to understand and overcome any shortfall – which will make the Sri Lankan Online Sale a better and happier experience. We hope our fans will support us in making this first Big Bad Wolf Online Book Sale in Sri Lanka a smooth one.
Q: Finally, what do you have to say to your Wolfies?
Andrew: We invite everyone to be a part of the World’s Biggest Book Sale, grab their favorite books, and enhance their knowledge. The Sale is available only for four days, customers will need to hurry up and order their books while they enjoy the many offers available. Rest assured “The Wolf” is paying its dearest attention possible to all our loving followers’ requests. Your feedback really helps us to provide a superior offering every year. I am pretty sure that most of our fans will visit the Online Sale again and again throughout the four days. The Online Sale is open 24 hours non-stop from 1st October to 4th October.
We take this opportunity to invite all book lovers across Sri Lanka to stay up to date on the latest news and upcoming contests through our website and our social media pages: Website: http://www.bigbadwolfbooks.lk/, Facebook: https://facebook.com/bbwbookssrilanka and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks_lk.
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Axiata Digital partners LK Domain Registry for web competition
Axiata Digital Labs announced that they have entered into a partnership with LK Domain Registry to sponsor the BestWeb.lk Awards 2020. The partnership results in Axiata Digital Labs being crowned as the Exclusive Technological Partner of the 2020 Awards.
The Awards, originally commenced in 2009, is considered as Sri Lanka’s only web design competition.
As one of Asia’s fastest growing and most innovative software and IT service providers, the trailblazing partnership also cements Axiata Digital Labs’ position as a regional IT powerhouse. Spread across seven countries, Axiata Digital Labs - the technology hub of Axiata Group Berhad Malaysia - is an innovative software service provider offering telco focused digital and IT services. Its range of IT software, solutions and services include IoT, Cloud Computing, API Management & Microservices, Data Analytics & AI, and UI + UX Consultancy.
“The website's design should satisfy the goals you set and the message should come across loud and clear, but more importantly, the site should be straightforward and easy to use for everyone” said Thushera Kawdawatta, CEO of Axiata Digital Labs. “LK Domain Registry recognizes and celebrates the best Sri Lankan designed websites and we are very excited to partner with them to sponsor the BestWeb.lk Awards in 2020” adds Kawdawatta.
The BestWeb.lk Awards 2020 will be held on September 9 at the Shangri-La Hotel.
“We are delighted to bring on Axiata Digital Labs as the Exclusive Technological Partner for BestWeb.lk 2020,” said Professor Gihan Dias, CEO of LK Domain Registry. “LK Domain Registry has conducted the BestWeb.lk competition annually since 2009 and has recognised the most attractive and effective websites in Sri Lanka over the years. Axiata Digital Labs shares our vision of enriching and celebrating the efforts of Sri Lankan web designers and developers and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Axiata Digital Labs.”
Founded in 2019, Axiata Digital Labs is an innovative software service provider offering telco focused digital and IT services and solutions that enable individuals, enterprises, associates and society as a whole. With over 800 professionals spread across 7 countries, ADL helps global customers in the space of telecommunications, digital services & financial services. Axiata Digital Labs is the technology hub of Axiata Group Berhad Malaysia, one of the leading telecommunication groups in Asia.
The LK Domain Registry was established in 1990. Since its inception, it has served the country not only by providing a professional domain registration service, but also by facilitating development of Internet infrastructure to improve the Internet in Sri Lanka. The LK Domain Registry is the sole administrator for web addresses that end in “.lk” in Sri Lanka. As the national-level domain name, a “.lk” domain provides Sri Lankan organizations and individuals with their unique brand identity on the Internet. We register a wide range of domain names including the top-level domains. .lk,. com.lk, .org.lk and .edu.lk. In addition to English, domain names can also be registered in the Sinhala and Tamil language top-level domains. Its clientele spans all countries, with a majority residing in Sri Lanka.
Women in Management, IFC Launch Tenth Professional and Career Women Awards 2020,
Promoting Women’s Business Leadership in Sri Lanka
Marking the tenth year of honoring inspiring Sri Lankan women, Women in Management (WIM), in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the government of Australia, today launched the 'Top 50' Professional and Career Women Awards 2020.
The move marks IFC’s sixth consecutive year in co-hosting the awards which recognizes and celebrates Sri Lankan women who have excelled in their careers, businesses, and everyday life, inspiring others.
With over 420 past award winners, representing a wide array of professions such as banking and finance, hospitality, media, legal, logistics and supply chains, the 'Top 50' Professional and Career Women Awards,’ demonstrates the significant role women play in bringing about transformational change as employees, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.
“The decade of recognizing women leadership in Sri Lanka by WIM has open many closed doors for women as well as corporates to find best talents and it has delivered profitable results to the country economy,” said Dr. Sulochana Segera Founder/Chairperson of WIM. “It’s not about the night of the award that matters, it’s all about finding the hidden success of women and bringing them out to appreciate their silent leadership and also to encourage them to mentor more men and women towards gender equality.”
For IFC, gender equality is not only a social and moral imperative, but also makes business sense. Globally, companies are increasingly recognizing that they can gain greater competitive advantage and improve profits by targeting women as employees, entrepreneurs, consumers and business leaders. Increasing the share of women in corporate leadership roles is associated with higher company profits and improved environmental and social outcomes.
“We believe recognizing women who have demonstrated success in their chosen career creates a legacy that inspires others,” said Sarah Twigg, Program Manager for Women in Work, IFC. “These awards challenge traditional views of women’s roles as business leaders, and help prompt companies to take action to create more gender equal workplaces.”
In IFC’s 50-years of operations in Sri Lanka, WIM has been a longstanding partner. Together, IFC and WIM continue to provide skills-building and training opportunities for women in senior management, middle-management and those entrepreneurs who lead, or work in, micro and small businesses in Sri Lanka. These initiatives, including the 'Top 50' Professional and Career Women Awards 2020, are instigated under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work program.
“Supporting women to participate the economy and build a sustainable future for their country is very important, particularly in the time of COVID-19. In Sri Lanka, this participation is celebrated through the Professional and Career Women Awards, and we are proud to partner with WIM in highlighting the achievements of Sri Lankan women,” said David Holly, Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka. “It is exciting, alongside many high profiled judges, to be part of the Awards judging panel.”
The awards, which have expanded globally with presence in Canada and the Maldives, are not only a catalyst for the award winner’s own career or business trajectory, but also encourages many other aspiring women to shatter the glass ceiling, propelling them to reach higher in their chosen field.
This year’s panel of judges, chaired by Shiromal Cooray, Chairman & Managing Director of Jetwing Travels, include H.E. David John Holly, High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, Nadija Tambiah, Executive Vice President of John Keells Group, Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, CEO of Clootrack Sri Lanka/Maldives & Pakistan, Sarah Twigg, Program Manager of Women in Work, Nisthar Casim, Editor of Daily Finance Times, Jayanthi Dharmasena, Managing Director of Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd, Kumara Samarasinghe, Marketing Consultant, Thamari Senanyake, Associate Director Corporate of Regulatory Affairs & Consumer Care Fontera Brands Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Rohan Maskorala, CEO of Shippers Academy Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.
The nominations for the awards are open until 15th September 2020, and can be made by visiting www.womeninmanagementawards.org.
'& Pepper' and 'British Pub' specialty restaurants at OGF
Adding a new dimension to Sri Lanka’s F&B industry, full service hospitality provider Gills Hospitality introduces &Pepper Seafood Lounge Bar and British Pub & Fish N’ Chips at One Galle Face Mall.
Facing the tropical expanse of Galle Face Green, &Pepper’s ‘The Fish Boat’ fresh seafood market adds quality, flavour and affordability into an array of fresh seafood including Ceylon Lagoon Crabs, Lobster, Mussels, Oyster, Clams and Prawn.
Themed on a cozy London Pub style, British Pub & Fish N’ Chips on the rooftop sunset terrace of the Mall brilliantly combines London’s pub culture with Sri Lanka’s exotic sunsets and seascapes.
Gills Hospitality, which is a subsidiary of “Gills” Brand, operates Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs & Bars, and Pizzerias in Sri Lanka, Maldives and India. Partners, food specialist G G Roshan De Soyza and hospitality marketer and influencer Suvi Wijayaratna, both veterans in their fields, believe strongly that Sri Lanka’s restaurant circuit must continue to increase its scope given the multiple facets it embraces from within this island’s surfeit of exotic and unique cuisine.
“That’s why at &Pepper, we showcase the best catch of Sri Lankan seafood. We prepare Ceylon lagoon crab in diverse dishes from Jaffna or Negombo curry crab, to Thai chili crab, Ceylon chili garlic crab, black pepper crab or even wood oven baked crab.” says De Soyza. “But that’s not all. Our Ceylon Spice infused Cocktail & Wine Bar offers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages inspired by Sri Lankan spices herbs and tropical fruits.” Wijayaratna adds. With a base of Sri Lankan fruit and spices, &Pepper’s signature cocktails include MyCeylon, Serendib, LoveExotica, Tropical Hint, Herbal Toddy, DevilledArrack, ColomboQueen and LoviCeylon. Wood oven Seafood Pizza, Sri Lankan delights along with wood oven baked roast Paan are some of the specialties at &Pepper.
British Pub, with a live band every night, caters to a diverse customer, from a combo lunch for those at office, to happy hour with beer, cocktails and shared platters and full bar and dinner menus. Signature dishes include British Fish and Chips and Sri Lankan specialty Kochchi sausage platter one of their own produce specialties. Complementing the London bar theme is an expansive array of London Gins, Single Malt Whiskeys and European Beers.
De Soysa and Wijayaratna also explain that fresh and organic farm spices direct from local farmers branded, ‘Ceylon Spice Masters’ are used in all menus and drinks conceptualized for these restaurants. “By sourcing direct from our local farmers we engage our farming communities, their sustainably while also taking Ceylon spices to the world, through our Ceylon Spice Masters value added spices available with a Sri Lankan recipe book.”
UCMAS Sri Lanka Launches New Leadership
Sri Lankan children will now have the opportunity to better improve their learning skills through the introduction of newly revamped brain development program called UCMAS (Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System). This program is aimed at developing the lifelong mathematical skills for children from age four to thirteen years olds
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UCMAS Sri Lanka is going to be launched under the new innovative and experienced management team that is vowing on making the program the leading skills development educational program in Sri Lanka. The new management team will have new direction and vision that keeps the children educational development as its top priority. UCMAS is going to be launched under the new management on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at the Movenpick Hotel, 24 Colombo 3, Colombo. UCMAS program is an abacus based mental arithmetic program for children that will stimulate brain development to make them successful in their educational carrier. While strengthening the mathematical skills of the children, UCMAS approach will enhance the entire development of the brain and establish the fundamental building blocks such as concentration, observation, memory, imagination, creativity, judgment, application, reasoning and self-confidence. UCMAS is an ISO 9001:2008 certified brain development program that was founded in Malaysia by Dr. Dino Wong. The first UCMAS centre opened its doors in 1993 in Malaysia based on the simple premise: Provide quality "Abacus and Mental Math Training" to children in the age group of 4 to 13 years and help them "Discover the Genius Within".
Legions of students registered for this program and over the years UCMAS developed as an International concept offering this wonderful program worldwide in over 6000+ centers across over 80+ countries. UCMAS started offering classes from 2004 in Sri Lanka and trained over 10,000 students so far. Currently, the program is getting re-launched under the new management to take its success to the next level in Sri Lanka.
UFO PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO towards a healthy 2020
Having brought in new dimensions into the local fitness space, UFO Personal Training Studio at Kynsey Road is all about encouraging and promoting health and fitness among those who want their personal space in a gym. Now into its second year of operation and having appointed multi-award winning actress Yashodha Wimaladharma as brand ambassador at its launch in 2018, UFO has built successfully on its customized training formulae focusing on weight loss, strength building, posture, flexibility, stability, balance and healthier lifestyles. "The idea is for each person to meet their specific goals in a peaceful and comfortable environment conducive for both client and trainer," explains Founder of UFO Himal Alahakoon who spoke at a gathering of his clients and the media recently. "This maximises results as not only are training programmes customized but training is conducted in a smaller more intimate setting." UFO's fitness portfolio includes core training to fitness for all ages, pre-natal training to assisting expectant women, sport training for school and collegiate sports and specialised personal training to meet specific goals. Equiped with the cutting edge cardio and weight training equipment, UFO's team of trainers is led by Raghvan Roshan whose twenty years of experience includes being the Cross-Fit Consultant for the Sri Lanka Commando Regiment, Sri Lanka Military Academy, CR&FC Tennis Academy and HSC Basketball teams. Alahakoon also adds that his team of trainers undergo continuous training programmes conducted by gym and sports specialists to ensure that the latest techniques are always used at UFO.
SUN FM presents Boyce Avenue Live with HUTCH
Hutch, Sri Lanka’s preferred choice for mobile broadband services, collaborated as the presenting partner with Sun FM to bring forth the much awaited “Boyce Avenue Live in Colombo” concert at the Taj Samudra South Lawn recently. The evening was serenaded with the melodies of Sun FM’s professed “Slow Flow Sunday” as Boyce Avenue, the reputed American pop band, led the audience through all their original tracks and cover versions of beloved songs. At the event, four lucky winners were awarded two smartwatches and two smartphones courtesy Hutch. Hutch also invited several corporate customers to witness the concert. Furthermore, the event was illuminated with performances by local bands Daria and the Groove, Line One, Shane Zing, John Premshan and Cold Sweat.
Kala Pola 2020 launched
Kala Pola 2020-Sri Lanka's largest art fair- will open on 23rd February 2020ala Pola-the iconic Sri Lankan open air art fair presented by The George Keyt Foundation in association with the John Keells Group - will be held on Sunday, 23rd February 2020. Kala Pola was first launched in 1993 with about fifty artists, at a time where only the artists who could afford gallery space were in the spotlight.
Since then, with the unbroken patronage of the John Keells Group over a span of 25 years, Kala Pola has steadily grown to become the most sought after local platform for painters and sculptors to meet, network and present their creations. Kala Pola 2019 attracted over 350 artists and over 31,000 visitors. In addition, 235 children indulged in painting and clay work at the Children's Art Corner hosted by Kala Pola. Over the years Kala Pola has helped many artists in Sri Lanka to grow their craft and showcase their work both locally as well as internationally.
While John Keells Foundation drives multiple long term and sustainable CSR initiatives under six focus areas, Kala Pola is its main CSR initiative under the focus of Arts &Culture which seeks to develop and promote Sri Lankan arts and artists towards enabling sustained and balanced social development. The George Keyt Foundation (GKF) was established on 18th of June 1988, during the life-time of Sri Lankan artist, George Keyt, to foster visual art and artists.
The George Keyt Foundation has paved the way for emerging artists by providing opportunities to exhibit their work, develop their clientele and enhance their learning and networking. Inspired by the open-air summer art fairs of Europe, Kala Pola brings the vibrance and excitement of these fairs along with an authentic Sri Lankan spin, showcasing Sri Lankan visual artistic talent to a wide array of both local and international visitors from all parts of the world.
Over the years, Kala Pola has been visited by many art connoisseurs, collectors and professionals as well as students and teachers of art. Visitor access to the fair is free-of-charge. Apart from the abundance of art available at the event, it also features live performances of Sri Lankan dance, folk singing, drumming and other local performers, making the event an art hub by showcasing diverse flavours of art in Sri Lanka. Kala Pola also helps artists to expand their horizons by meeting and interacting with other like-minded artists and individuals. This year, the registration of artists for Kala Pola was digitized, attracting over 370 applications.
PEACE EXPO & COLOMBO FOOD FEST 2019
Recognizing strides towards furthering Human Rights and Localizing Global Goals
Peace Expo and Colombo Food Fest 2019 will be held on 14th and 15th December at Independence Square, Colombo. Peace Expo 2019 is a unique two-day event, launched in 2016, as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign activities.
The event is spearheaded by The Road to Rights, a local youth-led organization that engages in advancing Sustainable Development Goals through a Human Rights approach. Peace Expo 2019 will provide an opportunity to celebrate the International Human Rights Day. As such, it is a nonprofit fair where all stakeholders will be brought under one umbrella to celebrate volunteerism, recognize strides towards furthering human rights and to localize Global Goals. The event will also
serve as a forum to discuss issues in terms of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and other related community issues at the SDG Media zone. As part of this initiative Road to Rights is looking forward to introduce the SDG Celebrity Ambassador program where celebrities will pledge their support to spread awareness, and advocate for 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A public
figure can be a powerful tool in mobilizing the support necessary to increase the knowledge of sustainable development goals, therefore these advocates will act as a catalyst of change in the community.
The food festival, which is happening concurrently with the Peace Expo 2019, will be a youth and family friendly food festival featuring independent vendors selling various kind of food, restaurants and hotels. Further it is also part of the fundraising project of the Road to Rights youth-led organization to support their upcoming projects which are listed on the websitewww.roadtorights.org and UN SDG Action campaign activities in Sri Lanka.
“Through Peace Expo 2019, we aim to provide a platform to promote the efforts of the young people, engage them and to raise awareness on civic issues, establish new partnerships, mobilize potential sponsors and volunteers, and increase valued knowledge,” stated Ashan Perera, Founder, Roads to Rights “Sri Lanka being placed first at the Volunteering world map adds more value to this event. As such, Road to Rights plans to make this an annual nonprofit fair, bringing NGOs, NPOs, CSR, Youth led
initiatives in Sri Lanka under one forum. Thus, bridging everyone under one umbrella to collaboration for a visible social change,” further stated Perera.
Youth as a category is often ‘othered’ in the discourse on conflict, peace building, and reconciliation. Therefore, through initiatives of this nature, Road to Rights is visibly putting in an effort to reposition the youth in peace conversations, NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations), NPOs (Non profit organizations), CSRs (Community Social Responsibility) youth-led
organizations, and humanitarian projects that are working towards Peace and Reconciliation.
Furthermore, SDGs, are given an opportunity to present their activities to a diverse audience of young and seasoned professionals, policymakers, and SDG advocates from all walks of life. The Road to Rights is an award-winning youth-led organization establish in 2009 in Sri Lanka aimed at supporting and empowering young people on creating opportunities, skills development,
creativity and innovation by taking a human rights-based approach towards peace and Sustainable Development.
vivo in the forefront of eSports industry - Official mobile partner for PUBG
Live Gaming experience for Sri Lankans with V17 Pro
Vivo mobile joined as the title sponsor at the recently concluded PUBG MOBILE Club Open 2019 (PMCO 2019) ; considered, one of the biggest mobile gaming tournaments in the world.
Through the partnership that they entered in early 2019, it was evident that vivo as a mobile manufacturer is committed towards bringing an ultra-smooth gaming experience to connect with consumers through meaningful partnerships. As such, vivo thrives to be at the forefront of the eSports industry to best serve its consumers. The partnership with PUBG MOBILE
(Player Unknown's Battlegrounds Mobile) is a key milestone especially given that it is a leading mobile game developed by Tencent Games and PUBG Corporation that has over 200 million fans per download excluding China, Korea, and Japan.
“Sri Lanka also has a strong fellowship of PUBG players. V17 Pro, vivo’s recently launched flagship mobile device enables a live gaming experience for the Sri Lankan PUBG Players,” stated Kevin Jiang, CEO, vivo Sri Lanka. “V17 Pro’s Game Center brings the users an immersive gaming experience while collating all their game data in one place. Enabling users with fast analysis on the CPU, phone temperature or data workload. The Ultra Game Mode on V17 Pro also turns off messages and alerts so the gamers can focus on winning the game at hand,” added Jiang.
Through, the signed partnership, vivo sponsored PUBG MOBILE Club Open 2019, which was a strong opportunity to showcase vivo’s vision of ‘enjoying the extraordinary’ by bringing global players a true gaming experience like no other. This global partnership has indeed unfolded and strengthened vivo’s position in being an innovative and stylish brand that always puts consumer experience first.
vivo, as the official title sponsor of the PMCO 2019, provided smartphones to empower players' conquest at the competition. vivo’s fast performing and powerful smartphones provide a seamless gaming experience, making it a special weapon loved by tech-savvy consumers globally and the participating PUBG players.
PUBG MOBILE Club Open 2019 Fall Split Global Finals took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bigetron, a team from Indonesia has been crowned as the winners, who took away the lion share of the $2.5M USD prize pool. A total of 16 teams played for the top spot in the tournament that went on for three days.
India Anew: Bombay Borough at One Galle Face
Pics by Chanaka de Silva
Rediscover India anew at Sri Lanka’s very first Bombay Borough located at One Galle Face. With dishes from different regions of India to choose from, sample small plates or indulge in large ones from an eclectic selection that marries the familiar with the unexpected and serves up the very best of Indian ingredients to the armchair traveller.
Bombay Borough promises to deliver modern Indian cuisine with the spotlight on unique ingredients, in a menu carefully curated after much travel through India. The restaurant is franchised by Charcoal Concepts of K Hospitality Corp, one of India’s largest hospitality and food service companies. In India, the restaurants are famously known as Bombay Brasserie. Charcoal Concepts also owns renowned Indian concepts like Copper Chimney (India, Kuwait, Dubai, London) and Punkah House (India).
In Colombo, Bombay Borough is in a league of its own. The restaurant, which can serve 100 people over separate dining zones, has high ceilings and a white marble bar that make a perfect canvass for the vivid mosaic floors and scattered, kitsch objects that pepper the space on wall shelving along with signature art across the restaurant that hints at the gastronomic journey in store. Fresh and vibrant, the interiors reflect what this bar and eatery is all about: a joyful space where friends and family gather over good conversation and great food.
Mrs Shikha Nath, Brand Director- Bombay Borough of K Hospitality Corp says, “Bombay Borough focuses on flavours that have never been tried before, twisting old school recipes to suit today’s tastes. We use regionally-sourced ingredients from across India, like Aam Papad from Amritsar in the North, Pink Salt from the Himalayas, some unique Podi Spice Mixes from Southern India along with Malwani Masala from the Konkan belt along the west coast of India. After much research and trial, the menu showcases ingredients from across India that are completely unique. Your culinary journey across a brand-new India begins right here, at Bombay Borough.”
From the small plates and grills, the Fiery Thecha Prawn made with Thecha- a classic chutney from the households of Mumbai, the Naga Ghost Pepper Wings, tangy roasted wings dusted with Bhoot Jolokia from Northeast India or the flavorful Panch Phoran Chargrilled Prawns are a few favourites that are reinvented while retaining their authentic soul. The large plates that follow will satisfy even the heartiest of appetites- they are also great for sharing. Finding the right pairing enhances each ingredient and elevates the taste of every large plate in the unique menu; highlights include Bombay Lunch Home Veg Curry, Mario's Mango Prawns and Coconut Rice, Smoked Jodhpur Mutton and the signature Biryanis and Tandoor breads.
An interesting dessert selection means guests can end their meal with something sweet and, in true Bombay Borough style, something surprising. Similarly, the “High Chai” Menu isn’t just a cup of tea at Bombay Borough with the menu offering local Indian street favourites such as Bambaiyya Vada Pao, Okra Fries, Street Style Scrambled Egg & Maska Pao, Lal Qila Tikka Roll paired with the perfect selection of desi cocktails, Pauwa cocktails, beers on tap and indigenous Indian teas from across India along with the Bombay signature Masala Chai.
At the bar, old favourites have travelled from across a diverse range of regions and cultures in India to sit comfortably alongside refreshing new brews. The bar menu brings together homemade liquor infusions and bitters in desi cocktails like Sahebs and Babus, Bombay Prohibition as well as in the Angrezi Gin and Tonics-the Queens Necklace and Bengal Blossom. The desi mocktails, Kairi Sherbet and Rickshaw Refresher are all about seasonality, taking inspiration from the wide range of ingredients that pop up across India throughout the year. Bombay Borough also introduces its signature Pauwa Cocktails, 180ml of desi concoctions, served up in Pauwa (or quarter bottles) as served in the local Bombay bars. Paired with the right Chakhna - crunchy, tasty bar snack specials like Janta Bar and Madras Pop- these will certainly make you crave for more.
Bombay Borough is brought to you by Charcoal Concepts, a company owned by K Hospitality Corp founded in 1972. It is one of the largest F&B operators in India, operating in over 400 locations across the country in sectors such as restaurants, bars, cafes, banqueting, outdoor catering, travel F&B, first class lounges, and more. With the launch of Bombay Borough, the renowned brand is now bringing its passionate team, storied F&B expertise and contemporary culinary innovation to Sri Lanka.
MRS International is the franchise partner of Charcoal Concepts for Bombay Borough. MRS International successfully operates business across F&B, retail and real estate, and is headed by two young dynamic entrepreneurs, Aravind and Santhosh. They run the successful franchise of Bombay Brasserie and Punkah house that has won many accolades in India.
Bombay Borough officially opened on Tuesday, 10 December at the One Galle Face mall (Level 1-69, facing Galle Road). Ready to make a reservation? Call 0117011011.
Blast Thru 2019 at Ramada Colombo
‘Blast Thru’, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve dances over the last 30 years is back after a hiatus of 3 years.
Hosted at Ramada Colombo’s Liberty Ballroom, Blast Thru 2019 promises to be one of Colombo’s hottest tickets this New Year’s Eve. Featuring a couple of Sri Lanka’s most popular bands in Flame and Freeze, this 31st Night Gala promises to keep you rocking well into the dawn 2020.
A grand Dinner Buffet and a Raffle Draw with an array of exciting prizes that includes a multitude of Air Tickets, adds to the night’s excitement, with each table of 10 provided with complimentary bottles of spirits and wine. For those of you who wish to party all night, a traditional New Year’s Breakfast will be served as well.
Tickets for the Dinner Dance are priced at a reasonable Rs.12,000/- per person, while those who only wish to party, could purchase tickets for the Dance only at Rs.8,000/- per person. An early bird discount of 10% will be offered on tickets purchased before 10th December 2019. Tickets and table plans will be available at Ramada Colombo’s Lobby from 1st December 2019.
For more information call +94 11 2422001, 076-6645507, 0771262696 or email chaminda@ramadacolombo.com
Best Luxury Condominium Prime Grand
Prime Grand, Ward Place, the luxury flagship project of Prime Group has been acclaimed for its quintessential opulence at the 3rd Asia Property Awards; as the Best Luxury Condominium Development in Sri Lanka, at the gala ceremony held on 22nd November at Athenee Hotel, Bangkok. Over 500 guests and VIPs from real estate markets around Asia Pacific attended the Grand Final, which was a collocated event of the two-day PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit.
Located in the most sought after real estate in Colombo 07; Prime Grand, No.64, Ward Place is set to become the most prestigious icon of the coveted neighborhood. The only high rise in ombo 07, Prime Grand will be ready for occupancy by December 2021. Constructed by the Sri Lankan construction giant, MAGA Engineering, Prime Grand is currently 03 months ahead of schedule with the ongoing construction of the 31st floor.
Whilst Prime Grand is awarded as the Best Luxury Condo Development in Sri Lanka, its developer Prime Group gained multiple wins at different categories at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards 2019. Prime Group clinched the most coveted trophy, the ‘Best Developer in Sri Lanka’ for the 2nd consecutive year. In addition, Prime Group’s gated housing project, ‘Prime Urban Art’ was awarded the best Housing Development in Sri Lanka along with a Special Recognition award on the Group’s CSR initiatives.
Presented by the global brand Kohler, the 2019 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards felicitates the finest developers of Asia annually. This year marks the 3rd PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards since the Sri Lankan regional awards initiated. The winners of ‘Best Developer’ regional categories represented their countries at the culminating event ‘PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards 2019’ held in Bangkok. The awards programme which has been established since 2005 is supervised by BDO, one of the world’s largest auditing and accountancy firms, through a professionally run judging system. The potential winners ares evaluated based on a range of criteria including reputation, quality of projects (value for money), the sales success, innovation in construction, major accolades and achievements of the past and certifications. Thus, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards is acclaimed as one of the most respected and most sought-after real estate industry honours amongst the industry professionals.
Chronicling on the accolade, Brahamanage Premalal, Chairman of Prime Group stated, “As one of the leading property developers in Sri Lanka, we are extremely proud and humbled by the recognition, which stands in accreditation to the standards we uphold, being an accountable and sustainable group of companies in Sri Lanka. We strongly believe Prime Grand could be highlighted as a pivotal icon of the local real estate arena. The value of Prime Grand undoubtedly lies with the exclusive locale of Ward Place, Colombo 07 and is embellished by the amenities provided which includes being home to Sri Lanka’s longest elevated infinity pool. Prime Grand is an exceptional unique development, which provides a very rare opportunity for purchasers to own an exquisite slice of Ward Place, Colombo 07. We eagerly await its completion in December 2021.
The future residents of Prime Grand will be living in the midst of utmost sophistication, surrounded by the uninterrupted views over the Colombo skyline, where interiors of the residencies have been designed by the Singaporean firm IIDA International, lead by the award winning Interior Designer Benteo Gineva. The residents will enjoy tranquility and utmost privacy due to the architectural genius of The Design Group Five International while the sustainability of the high-rise has been attended through the experienced structural engineers at CSE. Prime Grand includes a tailored collection of Simplex and Duplex spacious residencies complemented by four stories of double height car parking, and three levels of curated indoor and outdoor services and amenities. Ensuring each residence receives a minimum of two (02) car parking spaces and the residents are never wanting for space when spending time to relax and unwind with over 40,000 square feet dedicated to leisure and recreation.
With over 24 years of expertise, Prime Group is a truly Sri Lankan Company crowned the Best Developer in Sri Lanka by Property Guru Asia 2019 consecutively for the second year. Prime Group was also selected as the most respected entities in Sri Lanka in 2019 by LMD and chosen as a Great Place to Work for the past 5 years consecutively. Prime Group stands strong with an undeniable dedication towards excellence and looks forward to bringing a new tradition in Ward Place by December 2021 with the completion of Prime Grand.
Singer unveils ultimate versatile chef 'Kenwood Chef XL'
Kenwood, Europe’s number one Food Preparation Brand
Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, the country’s premier consumer durables retailer, launched an exciting new addition to their array of Kenwood kitchen appliances at the Singer Lifestyle Exhibition 2019 at BMICH recently. The unique live demo event was conducted by celebrity chefs Namal Ranathunge and Suren Perera.
A novel acquisition, the all-new Kenwood Chef Major also known as Kenwood XL, is designed to make light food work preparation and helps create an array of dishes with ease. The Kenwood Chef kitchen machine is the most versatile appliance as it is made with over 65 years' experience to give consumers excellent results and countless years of pleasure creating exciting food. All Kenwood Kitchen Machines come with 3 bowl tool accessories as standard; K-Beater, Whisk and Dough Tool that enable the preparation of delicious food including cakes, breads, pastries, meringue, icing and much more with confidence. In addition, all Kenwood machine come with external attachments of a Meat Mincer, Juicer and a Mill.
Speaking on the introduction Singer Sri Lanka PLC, Marketing Director, Kumar Samarasinghe, said, "Since 2008 we are honoured to associate with Kenwood, Europe’s number one Food Preparation Brand. For over seven decades, Kenwood has designed innovative solutions that have delighted cooks all over the world. They are renowned for their flair for designing trusted products and attachments that allow cooking in your own unique style. We at Singer are delighted to offer this unique all-in-one solution giving a discerning experience for our customers island wide. Kenwood machines have proven to be extremely durable as it has been passed down generations with complete trust to deliver the best in the culinary arts.”
Singer offers a variety of Kenwood products, including blenders, smoothie makers, choppers, sandwich makers, juicers, Kitchen chef, food processors, hand beaters, irons and vacuum cleaners which are available at Singer outlets throughout the country. Creating, making, enjoying and sharing food is at the heart of Kenwood and is a largely contributing factor for Kenwood's successful brand story. A wide range of recipes can be prepared utilizing all the showcased Kenwood products, and these are available to all home bakers on the official Kenwood website, as well as YouTube. Overall, it is a magnificent machine built exclusively for creative cooks and bakers that aspire to be inventive in the kitchen and discover the various delicacies that can be prepared using the Kenwood Chef.
The Singer Lifestyle Exhibition is an annual phenomenon where all brands affiliated with Singer come together and exhibit their products. It would line up array of products of world renowned brands, allowing consumers to choose from a range of thousands of brand new products under one roof. Singer Sri Lanka implies the Life Style Fiesta exhibition as a reciprocal gift with gratitude to all citizens for placing it as the best brand of the country. Over 1500 product in various ranges are available from all household appliances to
Flagship store by ‘Will by Zac’ sustainable clothing brand
Setting a new trend in ethical fashion retail in Sri Lanka, Will by Zac, inaugurated its flagship store at 419, R. A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3 recently. Inspired by the overwhelming response to its eco-friendly range of clothing and homewear, the brand welcomed customers into its tastefully designed store which was opened ceremoniously in the company of the Will by Zac team, friends and well-wishers. The sustainable brand is led by a dynamic leadership team, with decades of experience in the garment industry, strongly supported by a team of talented designers and quality control and production teams. Will by Zac collaborates with suppliers who have a demonstrated track record in ethical operations and who have won international recognition for consistent quality deliverance and authentic linen sourcing.
Commenting on the momentous occasion, Jennifer Thenabadu - Managing Director of Will by Zac said, “We are so excited to inaugurate our flagship store in the presence of special invitees. Will by Zac has been a labour of love; conceptualized as a wholly sustainable brand by an excellent team which is dedicated to charting a new course in sustainable consumption. Will by Zac will set a new standard for responsible and affordable shopping by urging shoppers to consider their choices and Will by Zac fills a much-needed gap for a garment brand that guarantees a low carbon footprint.”
Will by Zac is an eclectic brand of linen and cotton clothing to suit the tropical climes in Sri Lanka, living up to its credo of ethical sourcing, since linen is the most environmentally-friendly fabric. All its fabrics carry the Oeko-Tex certification, which empowers consumers to make responsible choices to protect our planet. The Will by Zac bedding range also has the ‘European Flax’ (Premium Linen Fibre) certification which ensures you bedding is made with the best yarn which grows in Europe and nowhere else in the world. Will by Zac uses pure European flax. Its products come with a plantable seed tag for all clothing and homeware, gaining the distinction of being the first to retail this unique green concept. The company is committed to minimizing water usage in processing linen fabrics by leveraging on the retting process, which is more environmentally-friendly.
The clothing range by Will by Zac fills a much-needed gap in Sri Lanka for a garment brand that guarantees a low carbon footprint. The range of clothing by Will by Zac is available in pretty pastels along with some festive bright colours for the more adventurous. The brand’s linen clothing offers comfort, breathability and a bespoke elegance and is in tune with the tropical climate in Sri Lanka. The elegant designs and classic cuts can take you straight from day to night events without missing a beat.
Will by Zac offers an exotic range of homeware for the discerning customers. Ranging from bedding to carpets, every item has been lovingly sourced for maximum impact in your home. The Bedding range consists of bedsheets fitted and flat, pillow cases and cushion covers in a range of colours and designs. The Linen Bedding is regarded as an exclusive product and shoppers can indulge their love of linen at Will by Zac with the baby soft pre-washed linens offering customers comfort and simplicity. Also, the stunning Carpet range, made from eco-friendly jute and jute/cotton, is locally sourced and manufactured, showcasing local craftsmanship talents.
Singer Launches Six Models of High Capacity Smart Inverter Refrigerators
Singer, the country’s premier consumer durables retailer recently introduced six locally manufactured innovative refrigerator models at a gala ceremony held at The Kingsbury. The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of Singer Sri Lanka Group Chairman Mohan Pandithage, Singer Sri Lanka Group CEO Mahesh Wijewardene, Singer Sri Lanka PLC Director Marketing Kumar Samarasinghe. The highlight of the newly introduced models is their high capacity, ranging from 260 to 300 Litres. The R600a energy saving refrigerant with inverter technology brings in more uniqueness to these refrigerators which otherwise consumes more energy.
Singer was the first to introduce R600a technology in South East Asia in 2013, which quickly became very popular with its efficient energy saving feature. Singer had been able to consistently dominate the refrigerator market with over 50% market share in Sri Lanka. Apart from that, Singer launched the first ever Sri Lankan designed Geo Smart intelligent refrigerator in 2018. Singer is proud to state that Singer has been able to sell over a million of refrigerators since 2013. The satisfied customers have given huge support to promote these eco-friendly refrigerators by spreading the benefits of using these refrigerators, specially low energy consumption.
Sharing his thoughts, Mahesh Wijewardene commented, “It is a great achievement to be the leader in the Sri Lankan refrigerator market. As an innovator we have been producing one of the best refrigerators in the Sri Lankan market coupled with the latest technology, energy saving features in particular and we are proud to see a locally built product meeting global standards. Launching six models is a significant achievement too.’’
Singer took this initiative to manufacture these bigger capacity refrigerators to fulfill customer needs when it comes to upgrading their refrigerators to higher capacities, as well as for people who are looking for bigger refrigerators.
The newly introduced Singer refrigerators are the 260 Litre and 300 Litre models which come in recess handle model, with handle model and Mirror finish elegant black colour model. As a brand which always considers the customer’s choice, Singer has focused on the overall finish and design much to the delight of the customers.
These new models come with key features such as Door sentry, Load detection, Ambient temperature detector, Smart energy saver, Humidity controller, Digital inverter plus a comprehensive 10-year Singer warranty. These refrigerators cater to modern demands by ticking all the boxes when it comes to choosing a refrigerator. Today, customers look towards energy saving features, freshness of the food that goes in and more importantly, the safety feature and these models incorporate all these entities.
Kumar Samarasinghe, Marketing Director, Singer Sri Lanka PLC stated, “As Sri Lankans, we are very proud of these products which are made in Sri Lanka and to be able to dominate the Sri Lankan Refrigerator market with our own products is quite an achievement. We are looking forward to bringing more local products to the Sri Lankan market in the near future.’’
This latest addition to Singer’s product portfolio is available at Singer Mega, Singer Plus and Singer Dealers Island wide and Singer is pleased to offer discounts and other offers to its valued customers along with the best after sales services. Singer also offers hire purchase facilities, credit card and easy payment schemes.
IIT educates over 40 new companies on the benefits of InfoSchol scholarship programme
Pics by Devenda de Silva
Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the countries premier IT and Business campus, successfully carried out a programme to create awareness among over 40 local ICT companies on the numerous benefits of the InfoSchol programme. The InfoSchol programme, a brainchild of Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe — Founder and Chairman of the Informatics Group, offers fully-sponsored British IT and Business degree scholarships. For several years it has been providing talented schoolchildren from across Sri Lanka the opportunity to obtain a 100% sponsored degree from the University of Westminster - UK while doing a full-time internship at leading organizations in the country.
Providing a parent's perspective on how InfoSchol has positively impacted their lives, Mrs. Tamara Dunusinghe, mother of Dr.Shashakthi Abesinghe - Area Tech Lead - Google US stated, "After my son passed his A/L exam we heard about the InfoSchol scholarship programme at IIT and he was fortunate to get a chance to pursue his degree without any financial cost. Since IIT is very close to the best companies in Sri Lanka, they found my son a good job. I always tell teachers and parents to encourage children to take advantage of this amazing scholarship programme from IIT. They can save their hard-
earned money and let their children study and work start right after A/Ls, giving them a head start in life. It is a wonderful opportunity that parents should not miss and I am very thankful to the wonderful staff of IIT for all their kindness and support."Schoolchildren who receive the InfoSchol scholarship will have access to a range of IT and Business degree programs offered by the University of Westminster, UK.
The degree programs are part time and wilt be 5 years in duration during which time IIT will assist the students to obtain placement in one of several reputed organizations in Sri Lanka, including multinational and blue-chip companies, that have partnered with IIT to offer job opportunities to all selected InfoSchol students throughout the entire duration of their degree. At IIT, all students have access to a vibrant, well-rounded student life at an award-winning campus that offers an international study environment and flexible study structure, together with a diverse student community, highly-experienced lecturers, modern lecture rooms, well stocked library as well as several extracurricular activities including sports, clubs and societies.
InfoSchol students will also receive a substantial allowance from the company while gaining valuable experience that is in line with the degree they are pursuing. These students who complete their 5-year degree will make a saving of over Rs.1.8 million due to the zero costs in Registration Fees, Tuition Fees, University Fees and Exam Fees related to the degree. Once they graduate with 5 years of work experience, they will be well-positioned to obtain employment at a managerial level in any local or international company of their choosing. Overall, at the end of the 5-year period, the student will enjoy a financial benefit of approximately Rs.6 million and wilt be geared to face the challenges of the business world of tomorrow.
IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. Since its inception, IIT has produced thousands of graduates who have excelled in hundreds of organisations around the globe.
For more information about InfoSchol, students can log on to www.iit.ac.lk / Admission / InfoSchol Scholarship or call 0112 360212 (Ext. 108), 077 820 9733, 076 820 9668. Interested students can apply for the scholarship programme by filling the Online Application Form or by downloading the Application Form and emailing to infoschol@iit.ac.lk or by mailing IIT under the title, "InfoSchol 2019", to Informatics Institute of Technology, No. 57, Ramakrishna Road, Colombo 06.
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Marlbo Trading join with Good Will Instruments of Taiwan.
Text and Pics By Chanaka de Silva
Marlbro Trading Company having completed a successful 30 years in the business of servicing customers in the field of electrical and allied products was invited to be the Silver Sponsor of the annual Techno Exhibition for 2019.
Addressing the gathering Malbro company. Proprietor, M. Mariymuthu, said we represents several world-famous brands in the field of Industrial Testing and Measuring Instruments & Power Utilities from many pads of the such as Fluke, Fluke Networks, Sensorlink of USA, Dilo of Germany, Kyoritsu of Japan, DV Power of Sweden, Michaud of France, and Baur of Austria Savic of Belgium known for its dependability, accuracy and durability, The Company website www.marlbro.net will give a comprehensive idea of our company and the products we market, he said. .
Speaking further Mariymuthu said these range of products that we are the agents for are proven reliable. The advantage is that for a fraction of the cost of the same version from Europe this brand provides equipment of similar quality and reliability. This is a great advantage, especially for the education sector as for the price of a single unit from a European brand 3 units of ours, could be purchased. This will allow Laboratories and Workshops in campuses to be better equipped for the same price with quality equipment. Of the range of products marketed by us under these brands, round 50 products carry lifetime warranties, Mariymuthu said..
Malbro Trading Company having established themselves in the Sri Lankan instruments market has been invited to represent yet another major brand in Testing and Measuring Equipment by entering into an agreement to promote “GW Instek” products by Good Will Instruments Co Ltd. of Taiwan. The Company having seven subsidiaries in 7 countries and sells its products range such as Oscilloscopes, Power supplies, Spectrum Analyzers, function generators, LCR meters, Video Surveillance Systems, basic testing and measuring instruments with around 300 items in over 80 counties worldwide. These products cater to the Automotive, Medical, Telecommunication, Semiconductors, Consumer Electricals, Computer, factory automation industry. The company is an ISO certified and since the year 2000 company is a public quoted company and is listed in tho Taiwan Stock exchange.
Tho signing of the agreement between Marlbo Trading Company and Good Will Instruments Co. Ltd and product launch of 'GW /nsto/c" Brand Testing & Measuring equipment was held on the 11 October 2019 at the Crystal Ballroom of Taj Samudra, Colombo. Tho Director General of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Dr Ms. Siddika Senaratne graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr Senaratne in her address emphasized the importance using reputed brands in the field of testing measuring as it is an important element to maintain standards of the industry and went on to re-emphasise that quality cannot be compromised when following procurement procedure by giving preference to financial evaluations. Many products come to the market indicating various specifications features but the accuracy and durability can be questionable she said.
The launch was attended by 10 foreign principals representing their companies from across the world besides over 150 members of the engineering fraternity from the Government & Corporate Sector was also present at this function to understand the products on offer.
To coincide with the Techno exhibition Marlbo has also launched a promotions campaign from the 7th to the 14th October on a range of products high quality branded testing & measuring equipment enabling the user to purchase this product at an affordable price.
Sunquick introduces 2-litre canister ready to drink range
Loved by millions all across the country, Sunquick has retained its position as the leading fruit drink in Sri Lanka for decades, and recently the brand introduced yet another novelty for the enjoyment of its loyal fans. For the first time in the world, Sunquick introduced a brand new 2-liter light-weight PET bottle complete with a 12-month shelf-life, handle and facilities for a pump, at a launch ceremony held on the 3rd of October 2019 at the Shangri La in Colombo. The event also celebrated the new partnership of Sunquick’s local distributor - C.W Mackie PLC and Danish company - CO-RO A/S.
Officials from both companies discussed the benefits and features of the new Sunquick canister, the most significant being the improvement in premium product quality. The new packaging has been fine tuned in a manner, which offers superior protection for the high quality of concentrated fruit throughout its product life, including its time on the shelf as well as the duration following its opening and consumption. The bottle’s handle and pump facilities adds to the convenience offered to the consumers, making it easy to use. The material used to produce the bottle is of a lesser weight and carbon footprint. A new tetra pack was also introduced, with the purpose of offering consumers a more convenient form of packaging. As a ready-to-drink (RTD) product, the Sunquick tetra pack, in its smaller, lighter and more durable packaging enables consumers to enjoy the deliciousness of Sunquick anywhere and at any time. The tetra packs come in two sizes – 200ml and 125ml, as well as all the popular fruity flavors of Orange and Mixed Fruit from the Sunquick range.
“The launch of the 2-liter new Sunquick canister in Sri Lanka is a significant milestone in the brand’s history. This new Sunquick 2-liter canister comes with improved and innovated packing quality, and it gives us great pleasure to be the first market to present it to the brand’s loyal fans in Sri Lanka. The new Sunquick canister and the tetra pack have both been introduced with the consumer’s convenience in mind and we hope that these new packages will gain popularity among our loyal customers”, stated Mr. Mangala Perera, the Director of Sunquick Lanka Limited.
These innovations by the management of Sunquick are the result of a careful analysis of global trends and customer needs, which also include catering professionals, chefs and mixology experts who utilize Sunquick in their culinary exploits. The brand new bottling complex in Horana, played a significant role in the entire operation.
The machinery housed within the complex conforms to the strict Scandinavian standards demanded by the product. Quality assurance personnel from the Global QA team ensure that international quality standards are never compromised.
Launched in Denmark in 1966, Sunquick has been available in Sri Lanka for more than 42 years creating happy moments and memories in the homes of all its customers. The Sunquick brand enjoys more than 70% market share in the Squash and Cordial category in Sri Lanka, and is well known for its wide range of flavors, which are made with high quality natural fruit juices.
Picture Caption:
Mr. Soren Holm Jensen – President, CO-RO A/S Denmark official handing over Sunquick RTD dummy pack to Mr. Mangala Perera – Director, Sunquick Lanka
Adventus launches new Colombo headquarters to disrupt international student placement via world-leading technology
Pics by Devenda de Silva
Adventus, a global leader in international student placement services has increased its' investment in Sri Lanka with the unveiling of a new state of the art headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was His Excellency David Holly, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka the and Maldives, who officially inaugurated the new headquarters located at level 1, 142 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 04.
With a mission to help students discover a better life through the power of education, Adventus has rapidly grown globally, with a workforce now surpassing 100 people in 8 offices around the world including the new headquarters in Sri Lanka and offices in countries including Australia, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Singapore, UK and Vietnam,
The new Sri Lankan headquarters will allow more a 120 strong workforce to expand into their new premise supporting global operations. At the launch, Adventus also announced the much-anticipated release of a revolutionary new technology called Adventus Connect, an intelligent Platform as a Service (PaaS). The platform connects universities and recruitment partners by streamlining the selection, application and enrolment process through automation, supported by the highest quality assurance and in-country processing procedures.
His Excellency David Holly - Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka said, “I congratulate Adventus for the establishment of the headquarters in Colombo. The investment is a significant milestone in the relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka, creating new jobs and building upon an already long-standing relationship between Australian Universities and the Sri Lankan community”.
Sharing his thoughts about the significance of the launch, Victor Rajeevan - President of Adventus stated, “The new headquarters and our global expansion will enable the company to offer our world-class services and intelligent platform to a wider market and further establish the company as a global leader in international student placement services and technology.
Global CEO, Ryan Trainor added “It is an exciting time for our company as we strive to champion genuine change in the industry. We are proud to now partner more than 500 high quality, top ranking and flexible Universities and education providers from around the world to support our growing network of global recruitment partners. This headquarters in Sri Lanka will support our global operations and support our mission to help students create a better life through the power of education”
Adventus plans to continue its expansion over the next 12 months with new offices in more than 15 new countries through Asia, Middle East and Africa as they expand their recruitment network and more than double their University partnerships.
Long-awaited JAFFNA FOOD FESTIVAL at the GOH
Pics by Devenda de Silva
Grand Oriental Hotel. is organizing the delicious buffet of Jaffna Cusine for the Jaffna food lovers from 27 of September to 6th of October 2019 at the Harbor Room. The Harbour Room famous for its international flavour is a restaurant which has a breathtaking ambience and the scenic view
of Colombo Harbor.
When we speak about Cultural Diversity, Jaffna Food culture is different from other Srt Lankan food cultures, it is very popular among Sinhalese as well.
History to indulge
The people in Yatpanam enjoyed a very good stress-free life right along for a very tong time. When one spoke to an elder statesman, they would talk about Yal suvai and the variety of frösh food they are. Those people were very modest and ate three cooked types of meat every day and two of which was a sort of main meals, There were no takeaways or ready made food or even restaurants but occasionally one could find a local family which made breakfast dishes at their homes and sold them to those who ordered them in advance and also supplied to small eating houses in the small towns and shopping areas. As these dishes were homemade they were palatable and of good quality. Of course, as time passed all the good old things have changed and elaborate restaurants have established and changed to the present status.
So what is this Yal suvai (Six Tastes) then? Those people believed quite rightly that Yai suvai (Six Tastes) provided them with a good balanced food ond it kept them healthy and fit physically. At the same time, they also had the indigenous spices and herbs which provided them with ready remedies to health problems. Now we know that Yal suvai (Six Tastes), according to Ayurveda should be induded to form a balanced diet and again according to Ayurveda. Sense of taste is the guide to proper nutrition" Yai suvai means six tastes and-they are perceived by the tongue when the food enters the mouth. Atl food can be categorized under six tastes as Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Sour, Astringent and Pungent.
Popular Dishes
The menu is been well prepared to cater the famous dishes which has its own uniqueness.Chef Chandru who has an excellent knowledge and the experience will prepare alt the Jaffna Cuisine with its traditional manner. Indulge in this Jaffna Dinner Buffet infused with aromatic traditional spices. Spice An Introduction is a wide variety of ingredients used to spice dishes in Yalpanam. Some have also been used in indigenous medicines. Here is an introduction to some of these ingredients.
Asafetida, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Cumin, Curry Leaves, Fenugreek, Ginger, Garlic, Mustard, Nutmeg, Onion Pepper, Saffron, Tamarind, Turmeric, Honey, Lemon/Lime Rasam Dishes Variety of Dosai ,Puttu, Onion Dosai, Paper Dosai, Masala Dosai, Plan Dosai, Ghee Dosai, Sura Puttu,
Prawn Puttu, Vegetable Puttu, Egg Puttu, Milk Puttu, Mutton Puttu, Variety of Chicken curry, Mutton Curry, Crab Curry, Prawn Curry, various dishes in fish (Thurukke Varuvel, Sura Varuvel) variety of Kottu, Odial Kool, Rasam, Jaffna Ice Cream, Murukku, Kesari, and Vadai items.
Message from General Manager
Our aim is to offer an insight into Yalpanam Samayai (Jaffna Cooked Food) especially for the guests who have not had the opportunity to get the feel of this cultural food. Also, this is one great opportunity for all In Colombo within few minutes' drives away can experience the delicious Jaffna cuisine. "said GOH General Manager, Lalin Adhikari. He further added that the Jaffna food festival promises to be one of the most ideal occasions to have a different Dine-in with your family and friends. We all at GOH join hands together to welcome you all to this most awaited Jaffna Food Promotion and we assure you that this will be a memorable Dine In/Jaffna Food Promotion for your family and friends said GOH General Manager, Lalin Adhikari.
YAAL VIRINDU - JAFFNA FOOD FESTIVAL
Sri Lanka is a country that is as famous for its delicious variety of native cuisine as it is for the many picturesque beaches and captivating hills that bless this tiny island nation. Jaffna cuisine is an integral and vital component of Sri Lanka's culinary identity. The 'Yaal Virindu' food festival held between 5th and 15th September 2019 at Ramada
Colombo, celebrates the distinct flavours of Northern Sri Lanka that separate it from the traditional cuisine found in the rest of the island.
As one of the first hotels in Colombo to introduce the Jaffna Food Festival back in 2002, Ramada Colombo has built up a reputation as one of the benchmarks for Jaffna cuisine in the city. Iconic favourites such as the Odiyal Kool Soup (prepared in a traditional manner by the pool) and Jaffna Crab Curry, are just some of the delightful array of dishes guaranteed to captivate your taste buds.
The delicious range of food prepared by chefs brought down from
Jaffna is complimented by traditional Tamil Musicians and captivating décor that includes the traditional arch entrance. Head over to Ramada Colombo between 7pm and I Ipm to experience the wonders of Jaffna Cuisine at only Rs: 2,900/- nett per person and half rate for children below 12 years of age.
Upgraded men’s wardrobes by Crocodile
Islandwide online shopping and loyalty club
Pics by Devenda de Silva
The Sri Lankan gent need look no further for sartorial inspiration, for Crocodile Lanka launched their exciting new menswear capsule on Tuesday 27 August at a thrilling fashion show held at The Stables in Park Street Mews. The dapper new collection themed ‘UPGRADE’ was revealed to an exclusive guest list of Colombo’s social elite and local industry titans.
The event showcased a versatile, new-season update for menswear wardrobes, encouraging the contemporary style-conscious man to take control of his image and upgrade his look across the four primary lifestyle categories: professional, social, active and personal.
The Upgrade Professionally line is the expression of an inimitable take on the workwear template, one that defies the monotony of the nine to five. A series of well-tailored shirts presented in a subtle -yet distinctive- colour palette, walked the runway paired with an equally crisp collection of formal trousers, and checked all the boxes for the professional looking to dress for success.
The casual attire had its turn in the spotlight when Upgrade Actively took to the runway. Trendy short-sleeved linen button-down shirts and second-skin crew-neck and V-neck T-shirts perfectly complemented the new line of tailored shorts and jogger pants, chic comfort visibly being at the forefront of this collection.
The Upgrade Socially line brought structured and sophisticated pieces to the ramp, with polo T-shirts, chinos, and relaxed style trousers being pieces that stood out in particular; all style elements for a great night out.
Most striking of the four however, was the Upgrade Personally line. Aimed at every man in the room, this collection with its engaging line-up of varied pieces epitomized authenticity, encouraging an almost personalized sense of style. Whether you want to lead the fashion pack, or just feel comfortable in your own skin, Crocodile had you covered either way.
While new styles were being revealed, latest additions to Crocodile’s diversified product range also took their place on the ramp. Leather goods, travel wear, timepieces, eyewear, and various other accessories were presented to complement every look.
“The launch of this highly anticipated new collection is a call for all men to upgrade their lifestyles by investing in the right wardrobe choices,” said Chamal Fonseka, General Manager of Crocodile Sri Lanka, speaking at the launch event. “All of the new Upgrade lines echo the dedication to craftsmanship, exceptional fabrics and fine tailoring that has been associated with the brand for the past 70 years."
In addition to the new wardrobe staples, another must-have was also announced; membership to Crocodile’s prestigious new loyalty club. Club Crocodile enables members to collect points with every purchase transaction, and gives access to special member-only discounts and offers. Accumulated points can then be redeemed at Crocodile stores and special offers await from partners such as Scope Cinemas, Avirate, and ANC. At the event, three of Crocodile’s most loyal customers were surprised with 5000 points in recognition of their regular patronage.
Yet another exciting unveiling was that of Crocodile’s newly revamped e-commerce website: www.crocodilesrilanka.com. The online shopping platform will allow Crocodile customers across the island to pick an outfit from the comfort of their own homes and have it delivered to their doorstep. The sleek site layout makes for a smooth virtual shopping experience and all in-store products can be viewed and purchased at the click of just a few buttons.
Established in 1947, Crocodile has since etched its reputation across the world as a leader in high-quality menswear. As evidence of the brand’s success, Crocodile recently marked its decade-long presence in Sri Lanka with a new opening of a state-of-the-art Flagship Showroom on Duplication Road.
The new Upgrade collection will be available for purchase via the website, at the Crocodile flagship store and over 100 dealers across the island.
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Trendy Hub flagship store in Colpetty
Runway-ready label Trendy Hub opened its flagship outlet on Galle Road adjoining Aloe Avenue with a private reception on Tuesday, 21 May. The opening was attended by clients, friends and well-wishers with one of cricket’s most fashionable men- Mahela Jayawardena- as guest of honour.
Trendy Hub takes its name seriously. The collections here find their inspiration from the runways of London, Paris and Milan. Think haute couture but wearable, say its founders. “We want our customers to be excited every time they walk into this store,” says Andrew Perera, shareholder of YNM Trendy Hub (Pvt) Ltd. “Our clothes are sourced from and inspired by the fashion capitals of the world, making this a unique experience for Sri Lankan shoppers. Imagine walking into a store and being able to find the perfect outfit for any occasion, be it a casual jumpsuit for Sunday brunch, work looks that say you mean business or an elegant evening gown. That’s the Trendy Hub experience.”
Trendy Hub first opened its doors in Colombo at the Colombo City Centre (CCC) mall last December. The store has quickly become the go-to for any shopper at CCC- the off-runway looks, affordable tags and the frequency of new collections made for easy, exciting shopping for its clientele. With the opening of its flagship store in Colpetty, Trendy Hub creates a more luxurious experience with a more intimate and comfortably spacious setting, which is easily accessible to anyone in the city- the flagship store is next to ACBT on Galle Road.
The clothes at Trendy Hub are stirring up Colombo’s retail fashion scene. From sharply tailored cuts to soft feminine frills and everything in between- the brand is on trend. There is a difference to be had between fast fashion and fashion inspired by the world’s most well-known design houses; clients can find precise tailoring, colourful solids, and striking prints all under one roof at Trendy Hub. The store is designed ergonomically with plush interactive spaces and spacious changing rooms and complemented by a trained team of expert staff to step in on the client’s request.
Trendy Hub is a subsidiary of YNM Capital Holdings Pvt Ltd. The retail chain was founded by shareholders Yoonus Noor Mohamed, Chairman of YNM Capital Holdings, Chanaka Perera and Andrew Perera. Find the latest arrivals on their Instagram (@trendyhubynm), Facebook (trendyhubynm) or on www.trendyhubsl-ynm.com
Olympic timekeeper Omega Trophy to Sri Lanka
Swiss watchmaker Omega is a long-standing partner of golfing events such as the PGA Championship, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega European Masters in Crans Montana.
On 26 January the Omega Trophy was brought to Sri Lanka through a partnership between the Royal Colombo Golf Club and Omega’s representative in Sri Lanka, Chatham Luxury Watches. At Saturday’s tournament, professional golfing took center stage at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, with players bringing their best tee game to the course.
A total of 46 teams, each consisting of 3 players, took part in the tournament. The tournament consisted of two rounds of 23 teams playing in the format of a shotgun start 3-man scramble. This afforded each golfer on the team the chance to hit a drive (a long distance shot played from the tee box), have their results compared, and repeat the process until the ball is holed for one team score. The tournament was followed by cocktails, alongside the presentation of prizes.
The winning team with a Gross Score of 58 and a Nett score of 54.5 comprised of Sachin De Silva, Mrs. A Senadhira and Sheron Fernando. Rusi Captain, S Vairavanathan and Dr Manjula Karunaratne team was placed second with a Gross Score of 60 and a Nett Score of 55.5, while the team comprising Kamlesh Johnpillai, Kapila Dandeniya and Thusith Wijesinghe was placed third with a Gross Score of 62 and a Nett Score of 56.7. The OMEGA box challenge was won by Druvi Sirisena.
The Omega Trophy is its own exclusive tournament licensed only to trusted partners around the world. In 2017, for example, only 6 countries qualified to play the trophy on their home turf and 970 participants vied for the title with seven box challenge winners emerging from the pack. The winners from Saturday’s tournament will travel to Crans Montana to witness and potentially participate in the grand final.
Omega is represented in Sri Lanka by Chatham Luxury Watches, Sri Lanka’s first multi-brand luxury watch boutique. Chatham is known as the home of Colombo’s finest expertly curated selection of designer Swiss watches, viewable at its state of the art Galle Face Court boutique. Omega is one such designer label at the store. The brand is so reputed for its precision that it has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932.
Captions(L-R)
Omega Trophy 1 -The winning team: Sheron Fernando, Sachin De Silva and Mrs. A Senadhira receive their prize from Rizwan Sahabdeen, Managing Director, Sifani Jewellers
Omega Trophy 2 – Druvi Sirisena winner of the OMEGA box challenge with Siddharth Hirdaramani, Director, Hirdaramani Group1st runners up:
Omega Trophy 3 - Thusith Wijesinghe, Kapila Dandeniya receive their prize from Janak Hirdaramani, Director, Hirdaramani Group
Omega Trophy 4 - Rusi Captain, Dr Manjula Karunaratne, S Vairavanathan receive their prize from Mahesh Hirdaramani, Chairman, Hirdaramani Group
Sir Donald McCullin at FGLF Salon
The Le Grand Hotel in Galle was selected as the venue of choice to host legendary photographer Sir Donald McCullin at a literary salon titled ‘Landscapes at Sunset,’ on 19 January 2019. The intimate event was attended by invitees, members of the press, and guests with a special interest in the topic and speaker, as part of the diverse programme for the 10th anniversary of the Fairway Galle Literature Festival (FGLF).
In true testament to Asia Leisure’s commitment to the Arts, Le Grand has been named an official accommodation partner for the FGLF. Le Grand by Asia Leisure overlooks the UNESCO Heritage site Galle Fort, and so just a few steps away from the locality’s annual literary festival’s events. As part of the group’s ongoing arrangement with the annual literary fete, the luxurious Le Grand -the newest of Asia Leisure’s six properties across the island- will be hosting the stays of five esteemed visiting authors, and will also serve as a venue for three other FGLF events in addition to ‘Landscapes at Sunset.’
Having witnessed through his lens some of the most harrowing global wars and disasters through a career spanning over the course of half a century, British photojournalist -and one of history’s greatest war photographers- Donald McCullin is no stranger to urban conflict. His dedication to documenting stories of war has taken him from the Vietnam War to the Lebanese Civil War, from being imprisoned by the Idi Amin regime in Uganda to contracting cerebral malaria in West Africa. Sir Donald McCullin, CBE, Hon FRPS, has since been the recipient (twice) of Premier Awards from the World Press Photo Foundation and received the Cornell Cape Award for Lifetime Achievement. Named Master of Photography at 2016’s Photo London Fair, in 2017 he became a Knight of the Realm, the second photographer (after Cecil Beaton) to have been given such an honour.
At the literary salon, however, McCullin chose to take a step back from military coups and gunshots to focus on the subject of landscape photography, his most recent publication being a stunning collection of iconic landscape photographs. It is this ability to put to use the same unerring eye in capturing striking and unusual imagery of such conflicting themes that has made him the much-lauded photographer he is today.
After having delivered his fascinating take on the subject -captivating both fellow professionals and photography appreciators alike-, the renowned master of the lens took to leading the discourse further by answering questions from attendees, both specific to the topic as well as those related to his many experiences throughout his riveting career.
“When I see something, I kick into my second gear – the emotional side of me. I see things in an emotional way. I’d think my God that road - men would have gone down that road and they wouldn’t have back… So when I’m doing these journeys - they’re journeys into my soul really. It’s not just lugging camera’s around and standing in fields. I’m journeying into my soul and into my mind,” said Sir McCullin during the event, as he shared his life’s work amidst a picturesque setting befitting the scope of the conversation.
Le Grand is the hotel of choice for PM Ranil Wickremasinghe during the course of the five-day literature festival, and unsurprisingly so. With 50 luxury rooms and 7 grand suites to choose from, each offering breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, the ultra-luxury property promises an experience like no other - serving up only the finest fare, and in the most resplendent of interiors.
Guests at Le Grand as well as visitors will also be on the receiving end of a visual treat throughout the duration of the festival weekend, for breathtaking captures by photographer Kesara Ratnavibhushana will be exhibited at the hotel from 18-20 January.
Under its growing portfolio of first-class hotels and resorts, Asia Leisure has yet another property within close proximity to the Galle Fort. Tamarind Hill, a colonial-style luxury boutique hotel offering the perfect blend of old-world hospitality and contemporary luxury, will also be involved in the FGLF through its sponsorship of author tents.
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Royal Colombo Golf Club on a talent search
The Junior Clinic of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) will host A Day of Discovery event to identify new golfing talent on 10 December 2018. With this program, RCGC hopes to recruit a fresh pool of budding young golfers to its existing junior clinic outreach program, which was initiated in 2011 to help the game thrive in Sri Lanka.
The target group for the talent scouting program is boys and girls aged 9 to 13 years. The program targets promising talent outside the RCGC membership. When it was first introduced in 2011, RCGC mandated that a structured, long term program was put in place to identify, train and create the future golf champions of Sri Lanka. Provisions were put in place for 20 students to receive free of charge access to training, equipment, practice facilities and access to the golf course via this program.
The timeline agreed upon was 10 years of training to create a national golf champion. Within five years, one of these students, Tania Minel Balasuriya, succeeded in becoming Sri Lanka National Ladies Golf Champion at just 15 years of age.
“There is no question that this country harbors much talent, but we need to be proactive in seeking out and nurturing it,” says Mr. Jehan De Saram, P.G.A. Head Golf Professional at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. “As golfers, it is our responsibility to strengthen and develop the game in Sri Lanka, and endeavor to be a feature on the international stage.”
De Saram also noted that for a country with so few golfers and limited access to opportunities in this arena, Sri Lanka has made a significant mark on golf in South Asia. “It’s noteworthy that many of our award-winning golfers don’t fit the mould of the typical Colombo elitist that many golf enthusiasts may be perceived as,” he said. “This is why we started the junior clinic outreach program in the first place- to dispel this notion and create an opportunity for anyone to learn and benefit from the game. Through the generous support of the Royal Colombo Golf Club and its members, this initiative has helped to nurture the talents of many young golfers.”
A Day of Discovery is powered by the generous support of MTV/MBC Channel Organisation linked to the Capital Maharaja Organization. To register to participate in the RCGC Day of Discovery, please send a WhatsApp message to 0775445153 by 5 December 2018. Early registrations are recommended in order to avoid disappointment.
Captions (from left):
RCGC 1 - Nadiyah Akram - Founder, Limelight PR, Nimal Piyaratna - President, Royal Colombo Golf Club, Jehan De Saram - Head Golf Professional, Royal Colombo Golf Club, Shiran Fernando - Vice Captain, Royal Colombo Golf Club, Shanthi Bhagirathan - Managing Director, Capital Maharaja and Asiri Abhayaratne - Chief Executive Officer, Q&E Advertising (Pvt) Ltd
Pix by Chanaka de Silva
Amante launches Autumn Winter 2018 collection
Pix by Chanaka de Silva
Starry Starry Nights & Story Book Magic: amanté launches AW'18 collection
Walk in fairy dust and moonlight with amanté's new collection 'Starry Tales', launching this September. Inspired by the dreamy satin textures and ethereal hues of moonlight, this Autumn/Winter 2018 collection from Sri Lanka's leading designer lingerie brand is in stores now.
Amanté's AW'18 is inspired by the night and its ability to bring the mysterious to life. The collection centers itself celestially with the moon, and a garden that comes alive under its light. The key print is chrysanthemum- the runway flower of the season- with other key trends such as three-toned lace, leaf motifs and luminescent moonlit effects incorporated into the collection.
The collection's key pieces include Moonlit Florals; an opulent darted, padded and wired demi bra with bikini. This piece incorporates both floral prints and three-toned lace inspired by the chrysanthemum, with a beautifully crafted cradle made of laminated satin overlapping at the centre-front. Midnight Shimmer is a moulded, padded and wired fully covered bra with cradle and bikini-the highlight of this piece is the iridescent two-toned fabric moulded for complete smoothness, with a trendy key-hole cut and a rhinestone charm. Lace Bloom features brooch embroidery moulded; Night Garden is a printed sweetheart bra available in both wired and non-wired styles; and Nocturne is imprinted with magical floral prints and trendy double-strapping center front details.
"We're calling this campaign Starry Tales to try and capture the almost magical collection that the team has created," says MAS Brands, CEO,Niranjan Wijesekera . "Amanté has always catered to an audience that knows innerwear isn't only functional-it can make you feel incredible if you choose the right design and cut. This collection nicely straddles the end of summer and the impending festive season in December."
The launch event at Barefoot on Monday, 3 September also previewed Ultimo - MAS Brand's newest brand for larger cup sizes. Ultimo was launched in 2017 for full figured South Asian women; the label has been embraced by a growing audience of full-figured women looking for lingerie that delivers perfect fit, support and comfort without compromising on style.
Both amanté and Ultimo are available at the flagship amanté store at the Racecourse mall in Colombo 07 and Kandy City Centre, where experienced fit consultants can guide customers to make the choice that fits best. The brands are also available at leading modern trade retail outlets island-wide and on the amanté e-commerce site www.amante.lk for shipping and delivery.
‘Steeping,’ a journey to remember
Proceeds in aid of ESCAPE, the child protection division of LEADS
‘Steeping’ a book of a life’s journey with all its’ important moments that took place at a time when the world was more simple. Life was to be lived . People were not in any mad rush to get from one point to another.
Saitha Gnanaratnam has in her book ‘Steeping’ appropriately named given the reader the opportunity to enjoy all that lovely nostalgic experience that only one who has been there will know. Based upon the life of the Tea Plantations of a bygone era, it is a book that must be read if one is interested in knowing how real it was. Her unique style of writing will give the reader an actual feel of what is was like. Especially as she describes the estate workers preparing for Deepavali. You cannot help but feel their excitement in the pages.
Reading through, one cannot but notice how this life has had its impact on the writer. One which molded here to greater things. This is a book suited to be read by people of all walks of life. It has something to appeal to everyone.
In her later years, her stint in Kolkata in serving has all come from the experience of the life lived, and in which she above all learned to see what people actually went through in their daily lives. Having lived the last 45 years in Canada , Saitha pursued a career as an IT developer.
There is little doubt where her empathy for those lesser fortunate has come from. In her generosity Saitha has pledged that all proceeds of the book will be given to LEADS a social service organization. The book was launched on March 8 at the Sri Lanka Foundation at 6 p.m.
LEADS, a national NGO, carries out through its child protection division ESCAPE which works towards restoring the lives of children who are sexually abused through psycho-social support, counselling, advocating and by ensuring justice for children through legal support. The book will also be available at LEADS Head Office. For further details check out their website at www.leads.lk
THE BODY SHOP NOW AT KANDY CITY CENTRE
Pix by Chanaka de Silva
UK's iconic beauty brand, The Body Shop opened its third store in Kandy. The Body Shop store is located within easy access at the Kandy City Center building, marking the widespread appeal of
a brand that has become Sri Lanka's most trusted in skincare over a short span of
time.
The Kandy opening was attended by The Body Shop Sri Lanka Director, Trevor Rajaratnam, who touched upon The Body Shop's two-year journey in Sri Lanka in his opening remarks. Trevor
highlighted the warmth with which Sri Lanka has embraced the Iconic International beauty brand, noting its quick success in the market and the many community programs and initiatives done
at The Body Shop stores.
The Body Shop opened its first store at Odel on Alexandra Place followed by its flagship store on Bagatale Road and now its 3rd store in Kandy City Centre Mall. All The Body Shop stores in Sri Lanka
provide the entire range of The Body Shop's global and most iconic product lines, such as
the Tea Tree range, Expert Facial Masksf Vitamin E range, Almond Milk and Honey Range, Pomegranate range, Drops of Youth and Drops of Light range and The Body Shop's cruelty free glamorous make up range.
The Body Shop store has the newest arrivals on shelves in line with their global release dates and customers can choose from the wide range of internationally acclaimed and awarded products..
Customers can shop with a clean conscience: The Body Shop remains as committed as ever to it's founding mission of ethical skincare, recently reaffirming its commitment by petitioning globally to cease the testing of cosmetics products on animals in laboratories through their 'Forever Against Animal Testing' campaign. In addition, all Body Shop products are 100% vegetarian and animal
cruelty free and many of its products are Vegan.
Water Garden Lock Gate opens
By ChanaKa de Silva
The Valentine’s Day was a treat for lovers as the Water Garden Lock gate was launched in Colombo.
The restaurant one of the latest additions to the better places in Colombo offeres a wide range of mouth watering dishes and an unbeatable location of the bank of the Beira Lake , close to the Rowing Club.
This historical location where the new restaurant is located is known as the Mccallum Lock gate and comprises a bridge over a set of lock gates connecting East Beira Lake and the Colombo Harbour. Built between 1951 and 1956 ( 62 years ago ) by the Colombo Public Works Department to facilitate barge traffic between ships docked in the harbour and ports on the Kalani River , the venue brings the nostalgic memories of an era filled with grandeur though couple of centuries ago.
Waer Garden Lock Gate Director Sales & Marketing, Travel Talk, Roshi Stronach said that Travel talk’s first ever venture of restaurant will bring them to the Colombo’s list of preferred restaurants and promises a novel experience to those who chose to patronize.
The Water Garden Café comprises of a restaurant that mainly specializes in sea food, wide area for both corporate and private events with ample parking. Surrounded by many city hotels and places of recreation ranging from five stars to non-classified hotels, the water gate can be considered as an out-of-hotel experience to tourists who have a yearning to explore Colombo and it offers fair deals for tour operators and even mangers as well.
She said that they will also offer this event for corporate functions, mini weddings and other special events. “In addition we will also introduce a second restaurant to the venue soon.”
Tiesh launches festive collection
Sri Lanka's reputed jewellers, Tiesh, recently unveiled an impressive array of trend setting designs from its brand new collection of sapphires for the forthcoming festive season, at an exclusive gala soirée at the Tiesh store in Colombo.
Gracing the champagne soirée was Miss Continental 2017 Natalee Fernando in her first official public appearance after winning the title. Tiesh created the crown for the winner and was also the Official Jewellery Partner of the Miss Continental Sri Lanka pageant.
Designed and created by the master craftsmen at Tiesh, the Rs. 1.2 million hand-crafted rose gold crown weighs 212 grams and is studded with blue topazes and white sapphires. It is indeed a work of art and one which truly befits a queen.
iti-hued sapphires, ranging from the perennially favoured blues, sun-kissed yellows, the pretty pinks
and more, are meticulously hand-crafted and artfully placed on precious metal, thus producing the most exquisitely designed selection of jewellery coveted by all who value the good things in life. Each precious stone and design embodies the credo of Tiesh which is authenticity. creativity, rarity and quality without Compromise.
Speaking about the elaborate designs, Directors of Tiesh, Ayesh and Thiyasha De Fonseka remarked, "This 8 a collection of statement pieces which are perfect for cocktails or evening functions. Using a new range of cuts and styles in fashioning the gemstones we have gained ground in the ever-evolving fashion trends of Milan and Paris".
"While the main focus in the collection is centered on the versatile sapphires, we also showcase other Sri Lankan gemstones, and the timeless value of diamonds which always lives up to its reputation as being a girf's best friend. By setting these stones in precious metals of rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, and silver, we have further enhanced their orginal value many fold, " they added.
The Directors went on to say that Tiesh uses Sri Lankan gemstones as much as possible "since we have Such a vast range of beautiful, naturally-coloured and textured gemstones we can boast of. The collection comprises beautiful necklaces, eamrings, pendants and rings, with a focus on the larger pieces designed primarily for events and cocktails".
Indulging its valued customers, the newly-refurbished Tiesh showroom now has a new internal fleet of stairs which connects the expansive upper and lower levels in a seamless experience. This further enhances the ambiance of the showroom as customers can now leisurely luxuriate in the surroundings created especially for them by Tiesh, as they experience the story behind the sparkle.
Tiesh exudes an aura of elegance intermingled with class on par with internationally acclaimed jewellery stores featuring ultra-modern state-ofthe-art interior designs. On display are beautifully crafted items valued for their unique craftsmanship and attention to detail. The reasonably priced products often feature one-of-a- kind gemstones.
Tiesh offers more than its contemporary styles in jewellery, as it is also the preferred choice for tourists who Visit the two branches in Kandy and Colombo to obtain a holistic knowledge about every aspect of being a jeweller. They are given a hands-on experience at the showrooms which house a gemological museum, a testing laboratory, an auditorium, a jewellery workshop and a replica of a gem mine which is the piece-de- resistance for both local and foreign clients. Pics by Chanaka de Silva